by s vernon » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:29 pm
rule 13 - Tacking
after a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. Durng that time rules 10, 11, and 12 do not apply. if two boats are subject to theis rule at the same time, the one on the other's port side shall keep clear.
A comment - one common situation - on what Rick West said about boats tacking from port to starboard at marks. One problem is that a port tack boat might be ahead or be even with a starboard tack boat, and the port tack boat boat flops over to starboard just below the layline and close to the mark. He is going to try to squeeze in, but even if there is room for him to do that he never gains starboard tack rights if he never falls down to a close hauled course.
He is slightly below the layline. He "tacks" and shoots the mark while never falling down to a closehauled course. This is one illegal thing that people do. He is coasting along with no rights because he is still tacking and he expects the starboard tack boat to head up to avoid him. The starboard tack boat cannot head down and hit him, but the starboard tack boat can legally hold her course and if by doing that she would hit his transom, then the boat that tacked can be protested.
It is not really splitting hairs. It is the rules of the game, how it is supposed to be played. I did that to Stater this summer - me the port tack boat - and I thought gee I just broke a rule.
Scott