In a race last evening (which was eventually abandoned) we were sailing in changeable air which at one point became extremely light. A boat was carried by tide onto the riser buoy of a mooring (nothing moored to it). The boat was held onto it by tide and stopped moving. Would it break rule 42 for the crew to push the boat off the buoy?
The term "made fast" can have two primary meanings in the Oxford English Dictionary: it can mean to securely fasten something (like a boat) or to speed something up. Without further context, it is difficult to determine the precise meaning, but generally, if referring to an object, it implies securing it, while if referring to a process or progress, it implies accelerating it.
Unless they secure to it they aren’t made fast.
By your logic above a boat running aground would be in breach of Rule 45.
A boat that is trapped by the tide against an object is not 'made fast' by any reasonable usage of the term.
Maybe swapping the terms makes it more obvious for some?
Sorry.
Forget American English or even OED.
Suggest another watching of Master and Commander for some here!
'Made Fast' is a nautical term! It means securely tied on... I use it all the time, but only on boats.
The nautical context is clear in the words around (and that sailors are nautical people).
No need to change it to American or General.It would be a shame.
https://sevendocks.com/en/definitions/make-fast