Team Race - CALL L 04      

Rule 11 On the Same Tack; Overlapped
Rule 17 On the Same Tack; Proper Course
Rule D1.2(a) Rules Between Team Mates
Definitions Proper Course

Question 1
A is sailing to get clear in order to take a penalty. B is overlapped to leeward of both A and X and subject to rule 17 for both overlaps. B and X are both sailing proper courses and B will make contact with A if she maintains her course. B luffs when she is two lengths from A and as a result B and X pass astern of A. X keeps clear of B and protests. What should the call be?

Answer 1
Penalize A. A is overlapped to windward of B and is required to keep clear of her. As B has to luff to avoid A, A fails to keep clear and breaks rule 11.
Although the incident is between A and B, which are boats on the same team, it also involves X. It is only because A breaks rule 11 that B’s proper course is to luff to avoid her and this luff directly affects X. If A was keeping clear of B, B’s luff would break rule 17. Therefore rule D1.2(a) does not apply and A is penalized.

Question 2
The circumstances in question 1 are the same, except that rule 17 does not apply between B and X, and applies only between A and B. What should the call be?

Answer 2
No penalty. With reference to her overlap with X, B has right of way and is not restricted by rule 17; therefore the umpires cannot assume that B’s change of course is caused by the proximity of A. Although rule 17 applies between B and A, B complies with the rule as, when she luffs, she promptly sails astern of A.

When a boat changes course to avoid another boat on her team, if she only does so because the other boat is breaking a rule and as a direct result a boat on another team must change course, the incident is not solely between boats on the same team and rule D1.2(a) does not apply.