Port/Starboard hailing

Originally posted by RS400atC We should not rely on the other chap hailing. If you hailed every port boat at Cowes week, you'd lose your voice by Tuesday. Also it becomes just part of the noise, you hear someone call starboard and put it down to the boat you are watching and are clearly going to miss, meanwhile there is another unseen boat behind the main. There is little point in hailing a competent opponent who is well aware that you are there, if you are already sure he will avoid you.

Agreed. I wouldn't hail anyone who is obviously aware that I am there, unless it becomes clear that s/he is too dim or bloody-minded to comply with the rule.

Originally posted by Wobble Even if the rules don't require it, I'm all in favour of yelling starboard, with no offence offered or taken.  I find quite unnerving the seemingly novel practice of sneaking up phantom-like without uttering a sound. It's almost as if there's some sort of too-cool-to-hail thing going on.

Ooo good, some phantom bashing 

You have to comply with 16.1 (and 16.2 - though it doesn't apply to your situation)

GRF, I'm afraid you're just going to have to start protesting... If they spend a few evenings in the protest room instead of the bar then maybe they'll shape up. Surely you of all people aren't that bothered about winding a few people up!

Originally posted by Foiling_Toff or racing at all really.  Sounds harsh, and as a back-of-the-fleet sailor I'm keen to get as many people involved as possible, but there is a certain level of competence required.

I think it depends on the event... I anticipate raw beginners in club races getting confused, and I cut them lot of slack... The poor 11 year old in his Topper in his first couple of races is feeling stressed enough seeing the very long and very sharp bow of the Canoe hurtling towards him, and I'll probably duck him if he's on port rather than start yelling and get the poor lad even more confused and probably stuck in irons right in front of me trying to crash tack...