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  3. Rule 20.2

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.

20.2

Responding

  • (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.

Definitions in Context

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.

Related Cases

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.

Case 35

When a boat hails ‘Room to tack’ at an obstruction and the hailed boat replies ‘You tack’, and the hailing boat is then able to tack and avoid the hailed boat in a seamanlike way, the hailed boat has complied with rule 20.2(c).

Rule 20.1

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 obs...

Rule 20.3

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. S...

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