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  3. Rule 20.1

Part 2 — When Boats Meet

Section C — At Marks And Obstructions

Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those rules is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or its anchor line, from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have left it astern.

20.1

Hailing

A boat may hail for room to tack and avoid a boat on the same tack by hailing ‘Room to 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.

Definitions in Context

Fetching

A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it and leave it on the required side without changing tack.

Mark

An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, a race committee vessel surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends, and an object intentionally attached to the object or vessel. However, an anchor line is not part of the mark.

Obstruction

An obstruction is

  • (a) an object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it;
  • (b) an object that can be safely passed on only one side; or
  • (c) an object, area or line that is so designated in a rule.

However, a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her.

Room

The space a boat needs in the existing conditions, including space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31, while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.

Tack, Starboard or Port

A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side.

Related Cases

Case 11

When boats are overlapped at an obstruction, including an obstruction that is a right-of-way boat, the outside boat must give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction.

Case 33

When a boat approaching an obstruction hails ‘Room to tack’, but does so before the time when she needs to begin the process described in rule 20 to avoid the obstruction safely, she breaks rule 20.1(a). However, even if the hail breaks rule 20.1(a), the hailed boat must respond. An inside overlapped boat is entitled to room between the outside boat and an obstruction under rule 19.2(b) even though she has tacked into the inside overlapping position.

Rule 20.2

- (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 boa...

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