Case Q&A 2025.007

Boats are close-hauled on starboard tack, approaching an obstruction, such as the shore or the bank of a river. Boat A needs room to tack and avoid boat B. Boat A makes a hail in English that does not include the words 'Room to tack'. Boat B understands A's need and responds in compliance with rule 20.2(b) and (c). Boat B protests A for breaking rule 20.1.

How should the protest committee decide the protest?

The protest should be dismissed. Rule 20.1 requires the boat to hail using the words ‘Room to tack’. In order for rule 20 to apply, a hail that includes the words ‘Room to tack’ needs to be made. Since A made a hail that did not include the words ‘Room to tack’, then the hail for room to tack has not been made and rule 20 does not apply. Boat’s B response is not relevant with rules 20.2(b) and (c), since they do not apply. Boat A did not break rule 20.1. Furthermore, no other rule of Part 2 was broken in the incident.

As in Situation 1, except that B understands A’s need, but does not respond to A’s hail. A luffs head to wind to avoid touching the obstruction, and slows. B tacks, sometime after the hail, and A then tacks, and is now behind B in the race. There is no contact between them. A protests B for not responding to her hail.

How should the protest committee decide the protest?

The protest should be dismissed. Rule 20.1 requires the boat to hail using the words ‘Room to tack’. Since A made a hail that did not include the words ‘Room to tack’, then the hail for room to tack has not been made. Rules 20.2(b) and (c) do not apply and Boat B is not required to answer. Furthermore, no other rule of Part 2 was broken in the incident.