41. Facts found:  Jolly Molly had an inside overlap to leeward of KnitPicker as the two reached the gybe mark in a 5-knot breeze. 

Jolly Molly waited to gybe because his crew was opening his beer. KnitPicker protested because Jolly Molly went five lengths past the mark before gybing at the point shown at left.

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Ruling:  Since this was a gybing mark, Jolly Molly was required by rule 18.4 to pass no farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course. Proper course being a course that Molly would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term, in this case the "other boat" referred to in rule 18.4 is KnitPicker. Jolly Molly has sailed well further past the mark than her proper course would justify and has thus broken rule 18.4. Jolly Molly is DSQ.

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Case #42
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