ronholm wrote:
The way I understand it, it doesn't matter if the port boat is within the three boat circle or not, they are still required to keep clear of the starboard boat is the starboard boat wants head for the other mark, and/or give room to the starboard boat (with inside overlap)should that boat wish to gybe and round the mark leaving on a port tack?
That is correct.
ronholm wrote:
And at the other mark.. A port boat with inside overlap on a starboard boat is entitled to mark room when rounding a gate mark, gybing, and leaving on the starboard tack?
Also correct.
But there is a distinct difference between the two situations - at the right mark (looking upwind, left to port on port tack), a boat coming in on starboard is the right of way boat and has substantially more freedom in how they round the mark, as long as they allow the port boat an opportunity to keep clear. Of course, as soon as they jibe to port to round, they lose that flexibility, as they become the windward boat and must keep clear per rule 11 (to be exonerated by rule 21 for taking mark room).
Rounding the opposite mark, (the left one, left to starboard on starboard tack), the boat coming in on port is entitled to mark room, but because they must keep clear of starboard boats (and will be exonerated by rule 21), as the burdened boat entitled to mark room, they are allowed by definition:
• to leave the mark to starboard,
• to sail to the mark, and
• to round the mark onto a close-hauled course.
The phrase ‘room to sail to the mark’ means space to sail promptly in a seamanlike way to a position close to, and on the required side of, the mark. (See ISAF Case 118 - I was on the jury that decided the original protest of that case.)
The short story is that a boat coming in on starboard at the right mark can make a tactical rounding (in wide-but not too wide, out tight); a boat coming in on port at the left mark must make a "seamanlike" rounding - close to the mark.
In either event, it is very slow to do a 180° turn. It's much better to jibe somewhat away from the mark (like what Black did on the original scenario), as long as you can maintain your inside position. Even if Black protested Blue, and Blue did a one-turn penalty, Black was still in the dirty air of the first boat that rounded because they got pushed outside. They needed to tack, and soon. However, if he had gone to the other mark (on the right), rounded it with speed, he would have been in much better shape. Having 20/20 hindsight is great.
There must have been something tasty about that left mark or the left side for them all to want to go left.