Sailing Instructions vs Racing Rules

And all this just illustrates that if we can't agree, with rule books to hand and a warm office, desk and brew, what chance did Boat B have of working out that he was the Give Way boat, especially in view of Presuming Ed's post above.

And let me give you a hypothetical situation.  Boat B is hove to on starboard tack (perfectly safe and reasonable bearing in mind the time to run to his start.  Is it now "reasonably possible" for him to, as give way boat to avoid Boat A?

More to the point what sort of qualifying adverb is reasonably?  It either is or isn't possible.  Does reasonably refer to the amount of effort involved?  Or the time?

Badly written sailing instructions which placed Boat B in jeopardy - and no-one should find against him (and I don't confine that to my hove to postulation) - protest committee or insurance company.

Ignore what the thoughts of the boats are and go back to the question, although I do agree that observation would help make a judgement call, which should take precidence the SIs or RRS in this case?

In the case mentioned the SIs rewrote part 2 contradicting 86.1, whatever there intention (clarity I would guess), therefore the SIs are NOT valid so the RRS take precidence. Thus creating confusion!!!

Stefan,

I resally can't agree with you that "it really isn't hard to tell the difference between a boat that's racing and one that isn't".  But even if I did I would still say that as the right of way boat (and clearly within an obligation to keep aware and act sensibly) Boat B should stand on until it is apparent that its time to avoid a collision - or until it becomes apparent that Boat A has rights he is exerting as a racing boat.  Therefore its Boat A's problem to make sure Boat B knows that he is exerting those rights no matter what SIs, RRS etc say about rights of boats racing (and clearly remembering the responsibility to avoid a collision).  I see where you are and others are coming from on a theoretical basis, but there is a question of practicality on the water.

Yes - I know what you mean as a Stokes Bay member we're more protected but it can still be an issue.

But that only makes you more aware - it does not change the fact that Boat B in the scenario described has no way of "knowing" that he is the give way boat, and therefore shaping his response appropriately, with an attendant risk in not standing on and altering course unpredictably.