Hearing Decision

Procedural Matters:

1. 1555 did not come to the hearing. The hearing proceeded in accordance with RRS 63.3(b).

2. Mathew Quinlan (Coach of 1404), Damion Whitehead (Parent of 560), Rebekal Marley (Parent of 799) and Grant Alderson (Coach WA team) attended the hearing as observers.

Facts Found:

1. The wind was around 10 knots with 0.5m waves.

2. Boats 799, 560, 1404, an unidentified boat and 1555 were approaching mark 4 on a run, all on port tack, during leg 2.

3. When 799 entered the zone, boats 560, 1404, the unidentified boat and 1555 were overlapped, with 799 the inside most boat and 560, 1404, the unidentified boat and 1555 on the outside, in that order.

4. At that time, the distance between the track of 799 and the mark was around one boat length, while the distances between the other boats was less than half boat width.

5. When 799 was around one boat length short of the mark, she luffed up and tacked back, while the other boats proceeded to the mark.

6. When 560 was at the mark, the distance between her and the mark was less than one boat length and the lateral distances between the boats were less than half boat width.

7. While rounding the mark, contact took place between the starboard side of the hull of 560 and the port side of the hull of 1404.

8. Contact also took place between the unidentified boat and 1404 as well as between the unidentified boat and 1555.

9. There was no damage or injury.

10. Only 1404 took a two-turn penalty immediately after rounding the mark.

1. 1555 outside overlapped at the zone failed to give the unidentified boat, boats 1404 and 560 mark-room, and broke RRS 18.2(b).

2. 1555 did not avoid contact when it was reasonably possible, and broke RRS 14.

3. The unidentified boat outside overlapped at the zone failed to give the boats 1404 and 560 mark-room, and broke RRS 18.2(b).

4. 1404 outside overlapped at the zone failed to give the boat 560 mark-room, and broke RRS 18.2(b).

5. Since the unidentified boat and boat 1404 were compelled to break RRS 18.2(b) as a consequence of 1555 breaking RRS 18.2(b), they are exonerated under RRS 43.1(a) for this breach.

6. It was not reasonably possible for the unidentified boat, boats 1404 and 560, the boats sailing within the mark-room to which they were entitled, to avoid contact with each other when it was clear that 1555 was not giving them mark-room. The unidentified boat, boats 1404 and 560 did not break RRS 14.

1555 is DSQ in Race 2