CALL UMP 36              

18.2 (b) Giving Mark-Room
18.4 Gybing
Definitions Proper Course

Question 1
Yellow is approaching the leeward mark below the layline and is clear ahead of Blue at the zone. Very shortly thereafter Blue becomes overlapped outside and to windward of Yellow. At position 5 Blue displays her Y-flag. What should the call be?

Answer 1
Yellow is clear ahead when she enters the zone. Rule 18.2(b) applies and Blue must give her mark-room. When Blue becomes overlapped on the outside, she is required by rule 11 to keep clear of Yellow. Blue gives room and keeps clear.
From the moment the boats overlap until Yellow gybes, rule 18.4 also applies and Yellow shall sail no farther from the mark than her proper course. The umpires must consider factors such as the type of boat, current, wind strength and waves to decide whether Yellow complies with this rule. If the umpires decide that Yellow sails farther from the mark than she would in the absence of Blue while rule 18.4 applies, then Yellow breaks rule 18.4. Penalize Yellow. If not, display the green and white flag.

Question 2
Would the call be different if Yellow was having a problem lowering her spinnaker?

Answer 2
No. Neither the room that has to be given by Blue nor the course that must be sailed by Yellow is changed by unseamanlike boat handling.