She hit the mark — and isn't penalized
The situation
Inside and entitled to mark-room at the windward mark, Green is squeezed by outside boat Blue, who fails to give her enough room. Pinned, Green's hull touches the mark. Blue protests Green under rule 31 for touching the mark.
Touching a mark is touching a mark — Green hit it, so she owes a One-Turn Penalty under rule 31. Open and shut.
The question
Green clearly touched the mark — can she really escape the penalty?
The ruling
Yes — Green is exonerated and Blue is the one penalized. Green was entitled to mark-room and was forced into the mark because Blue didn't give it. A boat compelled to break a rule (here rule 31) while taking the mark-room she's owed is exonerated under rule 43; she does no turn. Blue broke rule 18.2 by failing to give mark-room. The boat that touched the buoy walks; the boat that squeezed her pays.
Forced onto the mark while owed mark-room? You're exonerated (rule 43) — the boat that squeezed you broke rule 18.2.
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
- Rule 31 — Touching a Mark
- Rule 18.2 — Giving Mark-Room
- Rule 43 — Exoneration
See the underlying rule: Rule 18 — Mark-Room at a Windward Mark.