"I guess I'm more concerned about what happens if our STRB boat is coming in near the midpoint of the gate, PORT boat(s) can't know for sure which way he's going to go through the gate. If he wants to go left (looking down course), they need to make room for his gybe; if he wants to go right, they need to make room for his harden up. Until it becomes clear which, the port boats will have a hard time."

OK, Matt and I can only say this so many times... the zones should not overlap. I would think you'd have an excellent case to have the race tossed if you filed for redress.

While we're name-dropping / saber-rattling...

I ran the gate boat at the M30 Worlds in Newport in 2008. Peter Reggio (Luigi) was the PRO. The gates were dialed in at 8 lengths (using GPS and a laser range finder), except on the day it was blowing high 20s, then it was 10 lengths. No way in the world those zones would ever, ever be allowed to overlap. The IJ was also composed of rock-star international judges.

Having said that, I am reading the scenario above with the assumption that the gate is the correct width. If that is the case, the guy on port has little to worry about if he is inside the zone going to the port gate mark (looking upwind). He is entitled to mark room at that mark (assumes it can be given). The starboard guy in the middle of the gate only has starboard rights at that point (since he won't be in the zone of either mark in a properly set gate).

Hope this helps.

Mike