CALL MR 10              

Rule 18.2(a) Rounding and Passing Marks and Obstructions: Giving Room; Keeping Clear
Rule 31.1 Touching a Mark
Rule 64.1(b) Penalties and Exoneration
Rule C6.1(a) Protests and Requests for Redress by Boats
Rule C8.1(b) Penalties Initiated by Umpires, Rule Changes
Rule C8.2 Penalties Initiated by UmpiresRule

Question
Blue and Yellow are rounding a mark and Yellow touches it. Neither boat Y-flags. The umpires see Yellow hit the mark, but in their judgement Blue did not give Yellow sufficient room to pass the mark. Should they take any action?

Answer
The umpires should give no signal. Although Blue broke rule 18.2(a), she cannot be penalized because no boat protested, and rule C8.2 does not permit umpires to initiate a penalty when a boat breaks a rule of Part 2. Yellow broke rule 31.1 by touching the mark. However, rule C8.1(b) makes it clear that she is exonerated under rule 64.1(b).