Although an inside overlapped boat at a mark breaks rule 11, she is exonerated under rule 21 as she is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled. However, if the inside overlapped boat hits the mark, she cannot be exonerated for breaking rule 31 as she could have passed the wrong side of the mark and was not compelled to hit it.
Question 1
X enters the zone at a leeward mark to be left to port clear ahead of A and Y. X slows down to leeward of the mark in an attempt to trap A outside of her and let teammate Y pass A. There is contact between all three boats and Y hits the mark. Y protests. What should the call be?
Answer 1
Penalize A and Y.
Although Y breaks rule 11 she is exonerated as she is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled from A. Y hits the mark but she cannot be exonerated for breaking rule 31 as she could have passed the wrong side of the mark and was not compelled to hit it. Y also breaks rule 18.2(b) as she failed to give mark-room to X.
A breaks rules 11 (against X) and 18.2(b) against both X and Y. In no case is she entitled to exoneration.
Question 2
If Y sails the wrong side of the mark to avoid a multiple collision, would the call be the same?
Answer 2
No. Penalize A only. Y breaks no rule.
This call is valid until: 2018-01-01