232 UNDE R S TANDING THE RAC ING RUL E S OF SAI L ING THROUGH 2 0 2 4
R U L E 2 0 — R O OM T O TA C K AT A N O B S T R U C T I O N
R U L E 2 0 . 1 — H A I L I N G A boat may hail for roomto 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 respond and change course as a result of the hail.
R U L E 2 0 . 2 — R E S P O N D I N G
(a) After a boat hails, she shall give a hailed boat time to respond. (b) A hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1. (c) A 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 a 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 a hailed boat, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.
