You are the outside boat running down to the leeward mark and Yellow is overlapped on your inside. If she is still overlapped when the first boat reaches the zone you must give her room. Do you give room, or break the overlap first?
Break the overlap first. Room at the mark is decided the moment the first boat reaches the zone: overlapped then, the inside boat gets room; clear astern, she doesn't. Head up early and give her room to keep clear, which collapses her kite, then bear away hard while she is still high and slow. Her bow drops behind your stern, the overlap is gone, and at the zone she is clear astern with no room owed. You round tight and come out on the beat about two lengths ahead. You can't sail above your proper course if you came up from behind to leeward of her. And if you're the inside boat, keep your kite full and bear away with her.
📖 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/rn0QGqeyBJg/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
- 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.
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