Room to Tack at an Obstruction
A boat needing to tack to avoid an obstruction may hail for room; the hailed boat must respond by tacking or by replying 'You tack'.
When safety or an obstruction (such as a shore) requires a boat to make a substantial course change and she needs to tack to avoid it, she may hail another boat for room to tack. After hailing, she gives the other boat time to respond, and that boat must either tack as soon as possible or immediately reply 'You tack'. Here the windward boat tacks first to give room, then the leeward boat tacks.
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How it interacts with other rules
- Rule 19 — Room to Pass an Obstruction · see also
If the boats can pass the obstruction without tacking, rule 19 (room to pass) applies instead.
- Rule 13 — While Tacking · see also
Both boats are still subject to rule 13 while tacking — neither has rights until close-hauled.