PART 2
The protest committee disqualified W for breaking rules 13 and 20.2(c). W appealed, saying that she had started to tack instantly and completed her tack in about ten seconds which she asserted was not too long a period for a Merlin Rocket in light winds. Alternatively, if in fact she had broken rule 13, she was entitled to exoneration under rule 21.
Her appeal was dismissed. ‘W was still in the process of tacking nine to ten seconds after the hail, when L had already completed her tack. W did not comply with the requirement of rule 20.1(b) to tack as soon as possible after the hail. Her own evidence that she luffed ‘gradually and progressively’ does not accord with the requirement of the rule. She also broke rule 13, and rule 21 did not exonerate her since it was L rather than W that was entitled to room. Indeed rule 21 exonerated L for breaking rule 16.1 by bearing away into the collision, since L was taking room to which she was entitled.’
While rule 20.3 deals with passing on a hail in a three-boat situation, there will frequently be occasions when three boats (or more) are approaching an obstruction close-hauled overlapped, and the hail for room to tack by L, the first boat, will be heard by W, the third boat, as well as by M, the second boat. WS 113 considers this.
Question 1
Does rule 20.2(c) require W to respond to L’s hail? Answer 1
Yes. When a boat that is not adjacent to the hailing boat has heard the hail, and will have to respond before the hailing boat is able to tack, she is a ‘hailed boat’ in the context of rule 20.2 and she shall respond accordingly.
Question 2
Is M required to hail W for room to tack immediately after L’s hail? Answer 2
Yes, if W is not already responding to L’s hail. Because replying ‘You tack’ is not an option for M in this case, M is required by rule 20.2(c) to respond to L’s hail by tacking as soon as possible. Therefore, if M cannot tack because of the presence of W, she must immediately hail W for room to tack, and rule 20.3 permits her to do so even if, in the absence of L, M would not yet need to hail for room to tack. If she fails to hail for room, and as a result is unable to tack as soon as possible, she breaks rule 20.2(c).
...or by immediately replying ‘You tack’ and then giving the hailing boat room to tack and avoid her (rule 20.2(c))
This usually happens when the hailed boat judges that she can stand nearer into the obstruction (usually the shore in this case) than the hailing boat, and so will bear away if necessary behind the tacking hailing boat to continue further on the same tack.
However, if a hail is made at such a distance ahead or to leeward that the hailed boat judges that the hail was not justified, the hailed boat can, at her own risk, reply ‘You tack’ and then stand on. If the hailing boat then has the space she ‘needs in the prevailing conditions…while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way’1
to tack, and
also then to avoid, the hailed boat, the hailed boat will have complied with the rule. This will be demonstrated if the hailing boat is able either to pass safely astern of the hailed boat, or if she has room first to tack back towards the obstruction and then, if necessary, time to hail again for room to tack and give the hailed boat time to respond (this time usually by tacking).
1 Definition Room. 104 RYA The Racing Rules Explained
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