I luffed the windward boat and she hit the starting mark — whose fault is that?
Yours. A leeward boat luffed a windward boat overlapped alongside a starting mark; the windward boat responded promptly and kept clear, but touched the mark doing it. Under Rule 16.1 a course change must leave the other boat room to keep clear in a seamanlike way — which includes room to avoid the mark — and Rule 14(c) forbids forcing a boat into an object she should avoid. The windward boat was exonerated under Rule 43.1(b). This holds even when the sailing instructions switch off Rule 31. (World Sailing Case 114.)
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjqsUdiiS6Y" title="Sailing Kiwi" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/YjqsUdiiS6Y/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Recommended reading
- The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — The clearest guide to the racing rules around the racecourse — updated for the current 2025-2028 rulebook.
- Advanced Racing Tactics by Stuart H. Walker — The classic deep-dive on racing tactics — starting, beating, reaching and mark rounding.
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