Last year we had a related issue. It was a mixed keelboat/larger multihull race with a gate mark set. I was crewing on a F28r trimaran. We were closing on the port side (looking downwind) gate mark on starboard tack. Another F28 was to behind and leeward of us also on starboard. I watched as the other boat seemed to head lower than the layline. We prepared to gybe around the mark when I suddenly realized what that other guy was doing...he was trying to round the port mark from the downwind side...intending to harden up and tack through the gate!! This is completely backwards to every gate I'd ever sailed. I then realized my helmsmand was also confused, not sure which way to go through the gate. I quickly assured him we were OK. But we had to take avasive action with the other tri now coming at us on starboard after we'd gybed to port. What a mess.

After getting out of the gate area, I saw several other boats doing the same wrong-way gate passing. I guess gates must be quite a new thing still for lots of racers.

The sailing instructions were vague...just that a downwind gate would be set. Even the old 2008 rules didn't specify direction through the gate. The new 2009 rules state something like gates must be passed/entered from the windward side.