race-ready - tip discussion -

Discussion of The Banana Split:

Overview:
Blueberry is a Right-of-Way (RoW) boat to leeward of Raspberry (Rule 11), and ahead of The Banana (Rule 12).
Neither Raspberry nor The Banana are entitled to Room at the RC since Rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water when they are approaching it to start (Rule 18.1) so therefore they must Keep Clear of Blueberry.
The Banana is in big trouble. See the Detailed Explanation below for more info on this scenario.

Detailed Explanation:
Blueberry is a Right-of-Way (RoW) boat to leeward of Raspberry (Rule 11), and ahead of The Banana (Rule 12).
Raspberry is overlapped with Blueberry and keeping clear, and Raspberry has no right to room between Blueberry and the Race Committee "RC" to start (Rule 18) because the rules state that Rule 18 (Right to Room) does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water, in this case the RC, when they are approaching it to start (Rule 18.1).
Raspberry realizes there is likely not enough Room for her and does the right thing by tacking away and avoiding Blueberry and the RC.
There is some tidal current from left to right that contributes to the lack of Room between Blueberry and RC as evidenced by how the RC lies at anchor.
The Banana comes along and complicates things a little. She is not entitled to Room at the RC for the same reason Raspberry was not. She has also not kept clear of Blueberry because of how close she has come to her.
It is important to note that Blueberry is not changing course here so she is not breaking rule 16.
The Banana has no rights on Raspberry until she becomes overlapped to leeward (Rule 11). Raspberry’s manoeuvre is also an attempt to Keep Clear of The Banana, but The Banana has not given Raspberry Room to Keep Clear either (Rule 15) because of her proximity to Raspberry.
Now because there was contact in three places (look closely) the rules say a boat, including a RoW boat, must avoid a collision if possible (Rule 14).
Blueberry can't really avoid the collision with The Banana because of how close The Banana's bow is to Blueberry's stern. If Blueberry bears away, she hits The Banana's bow as she pivots on her keel. Similarly, Raspberry has trouble keeping away from The Banana due to The Banana's proximity to her.
Blueberry is doing the best she can by holding her course. Raspberry is doing the best she can by tacking away promptly.
The Banana is in big trouble, causing a collision with three boats.

Recommended Reading: The Definitions of Room, Keep Clear, and the Rules of Part Two - When Boats Meet - in the Racing Rules of Sailing.