Sailing race near collision - GIF

[hemmjo]

Not really a near collision.

Both boats were sailing as "close to the wind" as possible on their way to the weather mark that is "up wind" on the course. The boat in the foreground had the right away as they were on Starboard tack. The other boat knew it and stayed on Port tack as long as they could rather that loose position and drop in behind the favored boat and sail through the dirty are that was swirling behind it. Both skippers knew exactly what was going to happen.

If the Port boat had turned too late and forced the Starboard boat to alter course to avoid a collision, they would have had to serve a penalty

Now IF someone had made a mistake... well that is a whole different situation.