Team Race - CALL M 04      

Rule 11 On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Rule 18.2 Giving Mark-Room
Rule D2.2(d) Penalties Initiated by Umpires

Question
At a starboard-hand leeward mark, A and X are sailing on a close reach, overlapped on starboard tack, when they reach the zone. Y is approaching the mark on a beam reach, sailing faster but just clear astern of A and X when they reach the zone.
X bears away to give Y room to round the mark inside her. A protests. What should the call be?

Answer
X is keep clear boat with respect to A, but A must give her mark-room. Because Y is clear astern when X and A reach the zone, she must give mark-room to both A
and X.
In causing A to give extra room for Y to round inside her, X breaks rule 11 Penalize X.
If as a result of the incident Y overtakes A, then the umpire will consider whether X’s team has gained an advantage despite X being penalized (or taking a voluntary turn). If X’s team has gained an advantage, penalize X further (if this removes the advantage) or report the incident to the protest committee ashore which may penalize X’s team further.