Team Race - CALL B 07     

Rule 20 Room to Tack at an Obstruction

Question 1
Before the start A and X are sailing close-hauled towards a pontoon. X calls for room to tack. A replies 'No, you can go inside'. X protests. What should the call be?

Answer 1
Rule 20 allows X to hail for room to tack to avoid the obstruction, and requires that A responds. It is up to X to decide whether to tack or gybe to avoid the obstruction. A breaks rule 20.1(b).
Penalize A.

Question 2
The situation is the same except that X by luffing slightly is able to avoid the pontoon. X calls for room to tack. A replies 'No, you can luff slightly'. X does this and protests.
What should the call be?

Answer 2
Penalize both boats. Rule 20.1 requires A to act in response to the hail.By not doing so she breaks rule 20.1(b). In addition, because X does not need to make a substantial course change to avoid the pontoon, X breaks rule 20.3 by hailing for room to tack.
If instead A tacks and protests, then X breaks rule 20.3 and A breaks no rule.


A boat hailed under rule 20.1 must act as if the hail is valid even if she believes it to be invalid. If she does not she breaks rule 20.1(b).
A boat hailing under rule 20.1, when not entitled to do so, breaks rule 20.3.