CALL MR 25

Rule 10 On Opposite Tacks
Rule 19 Room to Tack at an Obstruction
Rule C8.1(b) Penalties Initiated by Umpires—exoneration

Question 1
Blue is matched against Yellow and Red against Green. On a windward leg Blue is close-hauled on starboard tack, Yellow and Green are overlapped, both closehauled on port. Yellow, to leeward of Green, cannot tack and clear Green. Blue and Yellow are on a collision course. Yellow hails and signals for room to tack. Green does not respond, Yellow is unable to tack, Blue is forced to change course to keep clear. Blue and Yellow Y-flags. What should the umpires do?

Answer 1
If the umpires of the match between Blue and Yellow are certain that Green broke rule 19 they should display a green and white flag indicating that no penalty is imposed on Yellow or Blue. They should advice the umpires for Green's match, that Green should be penalized. Rule C8.1(b) permits the umpires to exonerate Yellow without a hearing.

Question 2
If Yellow does not Y-flag, would the answer be different?

Answer 2
No. The umpires response would be the same. The umpires may also consider penalizing Green under rule C8.3(b) or (c).