Rule 10 On Opposite Tacks Rule 11 On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Question
Two boats A and X are running directly downwind, both on port tack. X,
the leeward boat, gybes onto starboard without changing course, and her
boom hits A's boom. A protests. What should the call be?
Answer
A breaks rule 10. Penalize A.
At position 1 A is required by rule 11 to keep clear. After X gybes, A
is required by rule 10 to keep clear. X cannot have broken rule 16.1,
because she does not change her course. As A has been keep clear boat
throughout, rule 15 does not apply to X.