SAILBOARD
UPWIND / BEATINGBeginner

Does hailing 'Starboard!' give you rights?

The situation

Two boats converge on opposite tacks. The starboard-tack sailor yells 'Starboard!' loudly. The port-tack sailor says she didn't have to move because there was plenty of room.

The question

Does the hail change anything, and who was right?

The ruling

The hail changes nothing about the rules — right of way comes from the rules, not from shouting. The starboard boat already had right of way under rule 10 and the port boat had to keep clear regardless of any hail. Hailing is good seamanship (it warns the other boat) but it is not required upwind and gives no extra rights. What matters is that the port boat kept clear and both boats avoided contact (rule 14).

Key point

Hailing doesn't create rights — the rules do. Starboard has right of way whether or not anyone shouts.

Play this on the board

Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.

Rules cited

See the underlying rule: Rule 10 — On Opposite Tacks.

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