A close-hauled port-tack boat that is sailing parallel and close to an obstruction
must keep clear of a boat that has completed her tack to starboard and is approaching
on a collision course.
Assumed Facts
P is sailing up-river, close-hauled on port tack, very close to the bank.
S, unable to point as high as P, is forced to sail away from the bank.
She then tacks onto starboard and immediately hails ‘Starboard’
to P. P sails on and, when she reaches a position at which she cannot
luff without hitting the bank or bear away without colliding with S, she
hails S for room.
Question
Which rule or rules apply?
Answer
P is subject to rule 10 and must keep clear. P is also required by rule
14 to avoid contact if reasonably possible. S establishes right of way
over P when she tacks onto starboard, but must observe rules 13 and 15.
S meets rule 13’s requirement by not tacking so close that P has
to take avoiding action before S reaches her close-hauled course. After
S acquires right of way over P under rule 10, S complies with rule 15
by initially giving P room to keep clear.
Rule 19.2(b) does not apply because S and P are on opposite tacks, are
not both sailing more than 90 degrees from the true wind, and so are not
overlapped at positions 3 and 4 (see the last sentence of the definition
Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap). Rule 20 does not apply because
P and S are not on the same tack. Therefore, S is not required to give
P room in response to P’s hail for room. However, after it becomes
clear that P is not keeping clear, rule 14 requires S, if it is reasonably
possible, to avoid contact with P. S would risk disqualification if there
were contact that caused damage or injury.