Room for an obstruction

Hi,
Was hoping for some extra input into the following.
We had a great debate about it after sailing but did not seem to find an answer well one thag made sense.. As it stand the solo is wrong.. What do you think?

Two boats a solo and laser sailing up to a windward mark.
There is an obstruction in the way in this case a pontoon.

Solo calls for room to tack.. Here's no reply so tacks and then there is a collision (no damage or injury) on the back corner of the laser.

Laser is saying. Solo did not give room and opertunity - solo. Said I called waited no reply and needed to tack
I said that there has to be some atcipation as both boats know there pontoon is there.

Will do thank you

And startboard

Originally posted by Nacnud_smada "I can't see any 'room and opportunity' there" Do you mean as it does not state it there. It does not need to happen... Or solo did not give?

I think you'll get the drift once you look at the rule (and links to on-line versions are in the Rules Resources post at the top of this forum).

If something doesn't appear in the relevant rule, why would anyone think they were entitled to it?

Originally posted by Brass Originally posted by Nacnud_smada "I can't see any 'room and opportunity' there" Do you mean as it does not state it there. It does not need to happen... Or solo did not give? I think you'll get the drift once you look at the rule (and links to on-line versions are in the Rules Resources post at the top of this forum). If something doesn't appear in the relevant rule, why would anyone think they were entitled to it?

Originally posted by Brass OK, so if both boats started out close hauled on starboard, then the Solo is going to be required to keep clear from the time she passes head to wind until and after the point of contact.

OK, so when tacking for an onstruction the whole tacking rule still applies? But room and opportunity does not..
Intresting