Is it wrong?

[artcarney_agr]

But if another person that is in the tournament cuts me off within 50 yards I can notify the tournament director of the rules infraction

Any tournament I have been in, the trolling motor must be in the upright position and the boat on anchor for the 50 yard buffer rule to apply........maybe you fish a club tournament with a different set of rules, but that's the way I've always seen it.