PART 2: WHEN BOATS MEET— ROOM TO PASS & TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION 233 R U L E 2 0 . 3 — PA S S I N G O N A H A I L T O A N A D D I T I O N A L B O AT


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 roomto 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 a boat she hails.


R U L E 2 0 . 4 — A D D I T I O N A L R E Q U I R EME N T S F O R H A I L S


(a) When conditions are such that a hail may not be heard, the boat shall also make a signal that clearly indicates her need for room to tack or her response.


(b) The notice of race may specify an alternative communication for a boat to indicate her need for room to tack or her response, and require boats to use it.


This is the rule that is used when calling for “sea-room” or room at a shore, breakwater or dock. However, it is also commonly used when two port-tack boats are sailing side-by-side up a beat and are converging with a starboard- tacker. It is a “safety” rule. The purpose of the rule is to permit a close-hauled boat caught between another boat on the same tack and an obstruction to avoid the obstruction without loss of distance when a substantial change of course is required to clear it. Notice that rule 20.1 does not apply to boats on opposite tacks. Case 43


describes a situation where a port-tack boat (P) is sailing close-hauled as close to shore as possible. A port-tack boat to leeward (S) tacks to starboard tack onto a collision course with P. S hails “Starboard” and P hails for “sea-room.” In Case 43, the Appeals Committee said, “P is subject to rule 10 and must keep clear…S establishes right of way over P when she tacks onto starboard, but must observe rules 13 and 15. S meets rule 13’s requirement by not tacking so close that P has to take avoiding action before S reaches her close-hauled course. After S acquires right of way over P under rule 10, S complies with rule 15 by initially giving P room to keep clear.” Therefore, P is not entitled to hail for roomto tack since rule 20.1 applies to two boats on the “same” tack. So, in this situation P must slow down or bear away and pass astern of S. When all the conditions in rule 20.1 are met, a leeward boat or one clear


aheadwill be able to call for “roomto tack” from a nearby boat that is other - wise preventing her from tacking.


Table of Contents


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