Port/Starboard hailing

There is no obligation in the rules - despite what older club members may claim as their reason for not giving way if you didn't hail "Starboard".

1) No hail required by the rules, but a hail does make it clearer to a protest committee that you're aware of your rule 14 (no contact) obligations.

This thread has made me think about an incident I had in a race once.  Started right in the middle of the line on starboard, and shouted loudly and enthusiastically at several boats on port, which most of the fleet heard.  I then tacked on to port, ducked one boat, but missed one right behind it which ended with me doing turns.  I felt so silly at the time, having shouted so loudly at everyone else, then failing to keep clear of another boat seconds later.  Of course I don't blame the other boat in the slightest, but had they called, I would have easily avoided them, which would have befitted both our races, let alone help to avoid a collision.

I think there's a strong argument to suggest that if you can't tell port from starboard you shouldn't be calling for right of way...

I had a Port Starboard incident last night, racing boards, I was on the layline on an evaporating lift, the other fella was coming in on Port, I warned him with a 'you're not going to make it Barry' he ignored it as they all seem to these days (I'd sworn not to race with them until they cleaned up their rule adherence) we collided his momentum carried him through I got forced round had to tack then tack back he wouldn't do his turns and I eventually stropped off, before I left, I caught him and a couple of others up by missing a buoy, they started whining.. I said "Well why?  Is it in the rules you have to race around all the buoys? It's much easier to miss one if your not doing well, like ignoring Port Starboard collisions..

Edited by G.R.F. - 13 Apr 11 at 11:32am