30. Facts found: Rebel Some Assembly Required (port) and Rebel Afterburner (starboard) were closing in on a windward mark to be left to starboard in very shifty 5-10 knot winds. SAR was crossing Afterburner and laying the mark comfortably when SAR was about 3-4 lengths from the mark (see diagram at left).
	At this point, a veered puff came in from the near-by shore, forcing SAR to bear off about 20° and lifting Afterburner by a similar amount shortly thereafter. This left the boats in the position shown at left when SAR was about two and a half lengths from the mark.
	Right after this, Afterburner began to turn into a tack and the boats ended up in the position shown at left.
	Afterburner then bore away to close-hauled and called starboard. About two seconds later, he collided with Some Assembly Required about 4 feet forward of the transom. There was no damage. (Sorry! trouble with this diagram: Afterburner should be shown in collision with SAR here!)

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Decision: Since the boats were beating and approaching the mark on opposite tacks, rule 18 (Buoy Room) did not apply, and rule 10 (opposite tacks) did. As right-of-way boat, Afterburner had his right to alter course limited by rule 16 (Changing Course) but SAR was not bound by rule 16. When Afterburner luffed up about one length away from SAR, he changed course in a way that did not leave SAR room to keep clear. He thus broke rule 16 and would be DSQ.
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Rule 14 was also broken and Afterburner was the only one in a realistic position to avoid contact, but since there was no damage caused by the contact, no penalty would be imposed.

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Case #31
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