Page 57 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

A boat that hails for room to tack at an obstruction must When they do not say so, that line cannot be used to
herself tack as soon possible. Hailing when safety does shorten course unless the sailing instructions change
not require a substantial course change breaks rule rule 32.2.
20.1. Not then tacking as soon as possible after the
hailed boat tacks breaks rule 20.2(d). A boat that was not a party to a hearing does not have a
right to appeal the decision of that hearing.
SUMMARY OF THE FACTS
After rounding the last mark of the first round, some
boats sailed to the first mark of the second round
without passing through the line that was used for both
starting and finishing, and were protested by the race
committee for failing to sail the course correctly. The
race committee argued that:
a. The race consisted of two rounds. The word ‘round’
means something that begins and ends at the same
L4
W4 Wind place.
b. The line had been included in each round of this race
W3 for many years as was the local custom.
L3 c. Any other interpretation made the rules for shortening
course unintelligible and unworkable.
W2
L2 The protest committee dismissed the protest, deciding
W1 that sailing instructions did not require boats to cross
the line between the first and second rounds and that no
L1 mark of that line was a mark of the course on the
relevant leg. Two boats that had sailed the course as
desired by the race committee lodged an appeal.
SUMMARY OF THE FACTS
W and L were sailing parallel courses, close-hauled on DECISION
port tack, under a hull-length apart, approaching the The appeal is refused because the appellants were not
shore. L hailed for room to tack and W tacked parties to the original hearing.
immediately. L maintained her original course for about Nevertheless it should be made clear that the protest
a further three hull-lengths before tacking, some 8
seconds after W tacked. W protested L under rule committee's interpretation of the rules was correct. If
the race committee intended boats to cross the line at
20.2(d) in that she failed, W having tacked, to tack as
soon as possible. the end of the first round, the sailing instructions should
have included the committee boat and ODM as marks
The protest committee dismissed the protest, of the course at the end of the first round.
considering that in view of the conditions prevailing and As concerns shortening the course, a line that boats are
the experience of the helmsman, the time taken by L
complied with rule 20.2(d) W appealed, stating that L not required to cross at the end of each lap cannot be used
for shortening, as it is not one that is listed in rule 32.2.
was the more experienced helmsman of the two and that
there had been no reason why she should not have That is easily remedied with a suitable sailing instruction
that validly changes rule 32.2, but it was not done in this
tacked earlier.
case. If it had been done, it would still not mean that
DECISION boats had to cross that line at the end of a round.
W’s appeal is upheld. L is disqualified.
Race Committee v Red Cloud and others, Civil Service SA
In hailing when safety did not require her to do, as
evidenced by her being able to delay her tack, L broke RYA 1974/5
rule 20.1(a). Rule 20.2(d) requires the hailing boat to Definitions, Obstruction
tack immediately she has room to do so. L sailed on for Rule 20.1, Room to Tack at an Obstruction: Hailing
about three boat lengths after W had tacked, which Rule 20.2, Room to Tack at an Obstruction: Responding
broke rule 20.2(d) When a close-hauled port-tack boat needs to make a
Barfly v Nausicaa, Wewak YC, New Guinea substantial change of course to avoid an obstruction in
the form of a close-hauled starboard-tack boat, she is
RYA 1974/1 entitled to hail a boat on the same tack as her, to
Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course windward or clear astern, for room to tack, even though
Rule 32.2, Shortening or Abandoning After the Start she has an alternative means of escape by bearing away.
Rule 70.1(a), Appeals and Requests to a National
Authority
When a race committee intends boats to cross the line
used for starting or finishing in order to complete a
round of the course, the sailing instructions must say so.
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