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.)
📖 Want Rule 16 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/YjqsUdiiS6Y/">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.
- The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Situations round the racecourse, worked through for the current rules.
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
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