Start of race

Two dinghies are approaching the committee boat end of a starting line in a force 2. A is the windward boat and is about 3/4 boat length to windward of B who has an overlap. They are on Parallel courses. A is in an unfavourable position in close proximity to the committee boat. B ( the leeward boat) doesn’t indicate that they are going to luff until they are in a position where A cannot respond due to their closeness to the committee boat.
A is obviously not entitled to mark room but is unable to “bail out” of the start by the time B starts to luff. What should A’s response be?

Edited by ClubRacer - 16 May 19 at 6:45pm

To answer the original question: A's response should be to try to keep clear of B (since she is windward boat) and to try to avoid contact with the committee boat (since it is a mark). If she can do both those things then no issue. If she cannot then she should protest B.

Phrases that are no longer in the rules were surely removed for good reason, as the aim is always to clarify and simplify (often of course contradictory aims). So if one goes back to language that has been removed its liable to result in less clarity and more confusion.

Originally posted by mozzy Originally posted by GML To answer the original question: A's response should be to try to keep clear of B (since she is windward boat) and to try to avoid contact with the committee boat (since it is a mark). If she can do both those things then no issue. If she cannot then she should protest B. Shouldn't it be B protesting A, if A doesn't keep clear?  B comes from astern so has to give A, initially room to keep clear (i.e space for her transom to swing around as she heads up).  The OP says the leeward boat got her overlaps 3/4 of a boat length to leeward, which I'd say was plenty of room.  Past that initial moment A should really maintain a gap to windward so that if B luff aggressively (i.e. go head to wind) then they are out of reach.