Team Race - CALL D 03      

Rule 10 On Opposite Tacks
Rule 13 While Tacking
Rule 15 Acquiring Right of Way

Question
A and X are sailing on port tack on a windward leg. X tacks onto starboard close to A. When X completes her tack onto starboard, both boats immediately have to luff and tack away to avoid contact. A protests. What should the call be?

Answer
No penalty. Neither boat breaks a rule. At position 3 X acquires right of way through her own actions and must initially give A room to keep clear. By tacking back onto port, she gives A room to keep clear.

If A has to take avoiding action before X completes her tack, X breaks rule 13. If at position 4 the boats are so close that there is risk of contact, or A had to tack in an unseamanlike way, then X breaks rule 15

A boat acquiring right of way may comply with rule 15 by altering course herself. This principle applies on any leg of the course.