You and Blue run down to the leeward mark overlapped, Blue on the inside. Blue gybes at the mark and her boom hits yours. Yellow says Blue is on port now, so she must keep clear. Who takes the penalty?
Yellow. Overlapped as the first boat reaches the zone, the outside boat must give the inside boat mark-room (Rule 18.2), and that includes room to gybe: an inside right-of-way boat that must gybe sails no farther from the mark than she needs to before she gybes (Rule 18.4). After her gybe Blue may be on port, but because she is sailing within the mark-room she is owed, she is exonerated if she breaks rule 10 (Rule 43.1(b)). Outside at a gybe mark, leave room for her boom, not just her hull.
📖 Want Rule 18 in more depth? Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules 2025-2028 sets out every rule with plain-English explanations and diagrams. (affiliate link)
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/WEpHOagKHKQ/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules 2025-2028 — Every rule, with plain-English explanations and diagrams.
- Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Spiral-bound pocket guide to the current rules.
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
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