Team Race - CALL D 02  

Rule 10 On Opposite Tacks
Rule 16.2 Changing Course

Question
On a windward leg in light winds, X on starboard and A on port are on converging courses. At approximately three lengths from X, A bears away to avoid X. X then bears away, so that the boats remain on a collision course. Both A and X continue to bear away, until they finally pass one another with the wind approximately abeam. A protests. What should the call be?
Answer
Penalize X. After the start rule 16.2 prohibits a starboard tack boat from changing course if that requires a port tack boat, that is keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of her, to have to change course immediately to continue to keep clear.

When X alters course between position 1 and 2, A does not have to make an immediate change of course, so no rule is broken.

When X alters course between positions 2 and 3, she breaks rule 16.2. Boat A was keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of X, but after X’s latest change of course A has to change course immediately to continue to keep clear.

When the wind is stronger or the boats are moving faster, if X performs a similar manoeuvre she will break rule 16.2 when further from A.