Room for an obstruction

If Laser chooses to tack, and does so as soon as possible, she doesn't need to say a word. It's up to Solo to keep her wits about her and know what's going on.

If Laser tacks as soon as possible that completely discharges her obligation under rule 20.2(c). She has no obligation under rule 20.2 to give Solo any room.

Only if Laser responds by hailing 'you tack' is she then required to give Solo room to tack and avoid her.

So, once Laser tacks, rule 20 is over and done with and we are looking at a brand new incident: both boats tacking, then contact, which is going to depend on rules 11, 12 or 13 and rule 15.

And if your question was What should Solo do if Laser does not respond to her hail?, then Case 54 Answer 3 is the answer.


Edited by Brass - 25 Sep 20 at 7:49am

Originally posted by Nacnud_smada how would you find if the did laser tack as soon as possible?

Gather and weigh the evidence.

It may help if you reframe 'Did Laser tack as soon as possible' (or 'immeidately' or 'promptly' if you come across them) as 'Did Laser tack without unreasonable delay'. You can then further decompose this into:

• Did Laser tack immediately/without any delay?


• If there was delay, how long was the delay?


• What were the reasons for the delay


• Were the reasons 'reasonable'?

.

Ask Laser what he or she did when she heard the hail?

Ask Laser when she tacked/how long after the hail she tacked?

Remember Solo has her back to the action and is probably concentrating on the approaching obstruction and handling her boat.

Ask Solo what she was doing immediately after she hailed?

Ask Solo whether she saw Laser begin to tack?

Ask Solo when/how long after the hail she saw the Laser was tacking.

Ask similar questions of any witnesses.

Assume everybody is telling the truth unless and until you have reason to believe otherwise.

Originally posted by Nacnud_smada Did solo Hail soon enough

Case 54 Answer 1 tells us what is the soonest that Solo is entitled to hail.

Answer 2, last sentence tells us how much time Solo must allow Laser to respond.

After that, any lateness in Solo's hail is going to be Solo's problem.

Edited by Brass - 25 Sep 20 at 11:06am