port/ starboard

Ducking would most likely have involved mangoman (I must ask you where you got that handle from, Mike) running headlong into a very solid navigation mark.

Originally posted by mangoman if the mark had not been there and I was happily sailing along on port and I knew I was going to pass clear ahead and then they suddenly alter course I thought they had no rights ?

But you wouldn't as the other boat was obviously not sailing upwind, on a normal beat with no mark you would have been both as close to the wind as possible.

Originally posted by Medway Maniac I guess this was at buoy 31, to be left to starboard before continuing on, on a port fetch as you say, to 30? It was easy to over-stand 31 as the tide was sweeping you above it, so Mr Starboard's hardening up was probably done without malice, as he was just  coming onto the beat again after close reaching in to the mark having overstood.  He had to pay heed to Rule 16.1 "When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear".  Apparently he did this though , as you were indeed able to keep clear?

Yes I suppose I did have room to tack and keep clear; just a bit miffed that it put me going in the wrong direction at the time.
Anyway, as us who were there know with what happened with the wind later it made no difference !

Originally posted by iGRF Why did you tack off if you were easily going to pass in front? I had this yesterday, rounding on port, leeward port on starboard coming up trying a hail to confuse.. just tell them to hold their course, if they clip you then you deal with it by doing your turns, if you know they're going to hit you then rightly tack off, difficult to prove in a starboard port confrontation that they altered course to bring about the situation. Short answer either call their bluff or tack off, only you know if you would have cleared them anyway. He's going to argue that you made him tack off anyway, so unless there is a collision, no harm done, but likely you'll end up in the protest room anyway if it's a serious race, just because of the close proximity. So, either you are clear ahead and there was no chance or he's close enough to call, that is the deciding factor..

I was going to pass ahead until they altered course hardening up into the wind as they passed the mark; then they were coming straight at me so I had to tack to avoid the collision.
I see it that they cannot alter course to get into that position forcing me to take avoiding action and should have held their course and gone behind me; if the mark had not been there and I was happily sailing along on port and I knew I was going to pass clear ahead and then they suddenly alter course I thought they had no rights ?

Originally posted by alstorer Why would he "head up" if he's "over stood" Surely he''d have to bear off?

Sounds like they are rounding the mark on the Stbd side of the boat. The other way to most racing.