You didnt pass the mark. So ?
Have you mark-room at the instant just before you luffed to Mac ?
Is your proper course to luff to Mac ?
Is your proper course to sail to the mark ?
With the absence of Mac, would you luff to the mark to finish as soon as possible ?
Proper course :
A course a boat would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term.
Being under front sail, to luff to increase your speed before to hoist the spi is your PC, I am ok with that. But I think you luffed much more than neccessary to increase speed and losed speed in luffing so much. In my opinion, it is clear not your PC. Mark-room was given. Of course, you may luff hard but you had to give room to keep clear to Mac. Still thinking it is a 16.1 penalty for Ilya.
JL
TY for interessing discussion