No. Blue is leeward boat and rule 11 allows her to luff, but only if no other rule conflicts. Rule 18 begins to apply at the latest when one of the two boats reaches the two-length zone (see also case 84). Here, rule 18.4 applies and Blue must not sail further from the mark until she gybes than needed to sail her proper course, and by no stretch of the imagination can this be considered Blue's proper course. Thus Blue breaks rule 18.4 and will be penalized.