mudeford sailing club

MOORED BOATS AS OBSTRUCTIONS

The Club has ruled that all moored boats in the Harbour are “obstructions” with respect to the Racing Rules of Sailing.  The 3 cases shown in the diagram below illustrate the most common ways these rules apply.

The wind direction is the same in each case. Note that the 3-boat rule does not apply. Dave Holloway summarises the passing rule "an outside boat must give an inside boat room to pass the obstruction, provided that, at the time the overlap is established, she is able to do so."

CASE 1. A is overlapped and must give B room to pass the obstruction. If between the two moored boats, A gets clear of B, B is no longer entitled to room

CASE 2.1.  The line of boats is a “continuing obstruction”, but because D can tack without C needing to do anything, she cannot call for room to tack.  C can sail on until he chooses to tack (and maintain his advantage).

CASE 2.2.  The line of boats is a “continuing obstruction”. B is entitled to ask A for room to tack or she will crash into the obstruction. The way to do this is to shout “Room to Tack”. A should then shout “Tack when you’re ready”.  It’s A’s choice whether to tack or not, as long as by holding on, he does not impede B in her tack or her course when she sails away on port.

 

CASE 3

A and B are approaching a moored boat; A on Starboard and B on Port tack.  A need not give B room, because A has right of way over B, who must tack off, bear away or stop dead in the water to avoid A.  If B can’t do any of these and sails into or impedes A, B must do a 720 (and should not have got into this position in the first place!)

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