He is to windward of you, has just picked up a gust, is bearing off, and is coming down on you quite fast and will take your wind roll over the top of you and get to the mark ahead of you.
You will not try to luff him up
This is really scary folks, people don't know their rules !
Dermot, the rules give you the right to MAINTAIN your course through the above situation, not to ALTER it amidst of the situation developping.
This is a big difference.
If you had luffed him prior to the gust when he was still behind you, higher and sailing his old course then everything is okay. If he then gets hit by the gust and can't stay clear of you (while you maintain your course) then he simply has to crash it. You have all the rights. He is out of luck.
HOWEVER, you are at fault if you luff him after the gust that'll see him legally overtake you when you had maintained your course !
If you even force a crash on him then you are seriously at fault and can even be disqualified from the event all together with possible wider future sanctions.
Wouter
