Team Race - CALL E 03      

Rule 13 While Tacking
Rule 16 Changing Course
Rule 18.1 When this Rule Applies

Question
X is on starboard tack at the zone of a starboard hand windward mark. She is half a length clear ahead and slightly to leeward of A. At the mark X luffs and tacks. A luffs to round the mark, and as a result A makes contact with X while A is still on starboard tack. X protests. What should the call be?

Answer
Penalize A.
When X passes head to wind, the boats become on opposite tacks on a beat and therefore no part of rule 18 applies. A becomes right of way boat subject to rule 16. Provided X would have kept clear of A if A had not changed course after X passed head to wind, then A fails to give X room to keep clear and breaks rule 16.1.