| Click Here for Series Results | Click Here for Printer Friendly Version |
| Protest 11 |
| SWITCHBLADE v OCTOPUSSY (Race 4) |
| Facts Found SWITCHBLADE claimed that she had an inside overlap on OCTOPUSSY at the zone of the Leeward Mark and was not given room resulting in contact and damage. OCTOPUSSY claimed that the overlap with SWITCHBLADE was broken as they entered the zone of the Leeward Mark. As she gybed onto port tack and luffed, inside the zone, her port quarter made contact with SWITCHBLADE’s starboard side, SWITCHBLADE having advanced into an overlap position only after entering the zone. On the 2nd downwind leg, OCTOPUSSY and SWITCHBLADE were overlapped, with SWITCHBLADE to windward. Both boats were on port tack on a converging course to the Leeward Mark. At 4-5 boat lengths from the Leeward Mark, OCTOPUSSY proceeded to luff SWITCHBLADE until a multihull came at speed to round the Leeward Mark inside them. As OCTAPUSSY entered the zone, SWITCHBLADE was overlapped to windward on the inside. When OCTOPUSSY was 1½ boat lengths from the mark, SWITCHBLADE had a half boat length overlap. OCTOPUSSY gybed and luffed, and in so doing, her port quarter made contact with SWITCHBLADE’s hull amidships causing damage. |
| Rules |
| Conclusion The Jury is satisfied that there was an overlap between OCTOPUSSY and SWITCHBLADE as they entered the zone and OCTOPUSSY, the outside boat did not give room to SWITCHBLADE and in gibing and luffing did not keep clear of her. |
| Decision SWITCHBLADE’s protest is upheld, OCTOPUSSY is DSQ (RRS 18.2(a), 16 and 14. |
| Committee Bryan Willis (GBR) Mark Pryke (AUS) Leonard Chin (MAL) Tom Sheppard (HKG) Radm Prasart (THA) Al Chandler (THA) Wayne Boberg (NZL) Rut Subniran (THA) |
