PART 2
Rule 19.2(c) is relevant only occasionally in most types of racing, but is a semi-permanent concern on the sort of river where I learned to sail, fringed with reeds and navigable right up to them. Bermudan-rigged boats will often be caught up by traditional gaff- and gunter-rig boats with overhanging booms that are nearly as long as the boats themselves. I am sailing a Bermudan within 4 metres of the leeward bank, with one of these antiques roaring up from astern several knots faster, boomed out and goose-winged, occupying 8 metres of river width. She removes the whisker pole, gybes the jib, hauls in the main towards the centreline, uses her momentum to shoot through the small gap, possibly with the end of her boom sweeping though some of the pliant and insubstantial reeds, and is ahead of me, goose-winged and away in a few seconds, with no risk of contact. Was there room for her to do it? Yes, I suppose, since she did it ‘in a seamanlike way in the prevailing conditions’, which are light to moderate winds and flat water. Elsewhere and in other conditions, it would be more difficult for a gap of that size to be deemed to be sufficient for an entitlement to room.
The entitlement to room will end at a continuing obstruction in the same way as at any obstruction, because it is the same rule 19.2(b) that grants the right to room. That will be when the room is no longer needed, because the obstruction has ended, or because a gybe has ended a rule 17 proper course limitation on what had been an inside leeward boat, which is now able to drive the outside boat further from the obstruction.
Rule 20 20.1 ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION Hailing
A boat may hail for room to tack and avoid a boat on the same tack. However, she shall not hail unless
(a) she is approaching an obstruction and will soon need to make a substantial course change to avoid it safely, and
(b) she is sailing close-hauled or above.
In addition, she shall not hail if the obstruction is a mark and a boat that is fetching it would be required to change course as a result of the hail.
20.2
Responding (a) After a boat hails, she shall give the hailed boat time to respond. (b) The hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1.
(c) The hailed boat shall respond either by tacking as soon as possible, or by immediately replying ‘You tack’ and then giving the hailing boat room to tack and avoid her.
(d) When the hailed boat responds, the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible.
(e) From the time a boat hails until she has tacked and avoided the hailed boat, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.
20.3 Passing On a Hail to an Additional Boat
When a boat has been hailed for room to tack and she intends to respond by tacking, she may hail another boat on the same tack for room to tack and avoid her. She may hail even if her hail does not meet the conditions of rule 20.1. Rule 20.2 applies between her and the boat she hails.
98 RYA The Racing Rules Explained
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