There have been several topics where tacking is involved, and one comment was that there used to be a definition for tacking, but it was removed some RRS cycles ago. Tacking comes up in several rules, R 13, R 18.3, R 20, R 44. As tacking is no longer defined, we may use a common understanding of the term. So my question is can tacking have a different meaning or scope when used in different rules.
Based on the definition of “TACK, STARBOARD or PORT” and “LEEWARD and WINDWARD” in the RRS. A boat is on a tack based on its windward side – so can we say that a boat has tacked when her windward side changes (after passing HTW), or does a tack require achieving a close-hauled course, as covered in R 13 Tacking? While R 13 is titled WHILE TACKING, the word tack does not appear in the text, passing HTW is used. When running, a boat changes gybe (tack) as soon as the boom has crossed the centreline, so it is effectively almost instantaneous. May the same be said when a boat passes HTW – its windward side has changed, so in that instant, it has tacked?
Example 1. Under R 20, a boat hails for room to tack, and the windward boat hails back “you tack” under 20.2(c) which requires that hailing boat be given room to tack and avoid – where room is defined, and this brings in seamanlike, so the room would be to achieve a close-hauled course, and then bear away to duck, or be able to tack back. See cases 35 and 101.
Example 2. A boat touches a finish mark while finishing, breaking R 31 hand has to take an R 44 penalty of a tack and a gybe (any order) before recrossing the finish line from the course side. In this diagram, the boat bears away, gybes, rounds up and passes HTW before crossing the finish line again. Has the boat completed her penalty before finishing?
John, you found the definition in RRS 13 While Tacking. The rule defines when a tack starts (passing HTW) and when a tack is completed (close-hauled course). Between those two a boat is tacking and does not have right of way. She has changed from port to starboard or starboard to port, as per the definition, but has not regained rights of a boat that has completed her tack.
In example 2 at position 7 she has not completed her tack before crossing the finish line so she has not executed 44.2. The intent is the penalty is completed before she finishes. I don't believe she has completed her penalty before finishing.
In example 1, I am not fully understanding your description. The hailing boat: "she is sailing close-hauled or above. When the response is "You Tack" the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible. The hailed boat may have to alter course to allow the hailing boat room to tack. They have told the hailing boat that there is room to tack.
Last year there was a thread that discussed the meaning of tacking: https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/posts/3822-def-tacking-to-tack Rob Overton quoted the definition I learned at sailing school before reading any of the racing rules of sailing. Essentially, head up, cross head to wind and bear off to close hauled. After reading the rules I became a bit confused. The introduction to the rules now say that if a word is not defined we should use the definition “ordinarily understood in nautical or general use”.
I’m not sure racers with their constant analysis of rules, are in a position to give an ordinarily understood nautical term. I’m thinking it might be better to ask some cruising sailors.
I refrained from commenting last year because it was all a bit too close to a Match Racing call against me from a poster here who holds the ‘tacking is instaneous’ view.
For me the absence of a definition is irrelevant - it is a question of construction. If tacking happens instantaneously when you pass head to wind then there is no need for the last clause of Rule 13 or of 20.2 c after ‘you tack’.
And Rule 13 would be headed ‘while bearing away after a tack’!
I disagree rrs 13 extends the obligation to closehaulled because otherwise tacking is instantaneous.
I see no rules difficilties on this, keeping a tacking boat as give way is a safety matter, this is mirrored on match racing with the completion of the gybe.
The problem is some of those writing the rules are not natural english speakers, so do not see the "usual meaning of an english term". They make rules on flawed interpretations, and the rules get fuzzy and hard to defend.
I use the word "gybe" which is definative for me. I am told i cannot use this, as it is english english not european english. I have my decisions edited.
Sailing below 90 degrees to the wind, let alone comments on the change of tack ( which is a gybe)
With all due respect to Wayne, RRS 13 does not define tacking. Indeed the rule is very careful to avoid using the word tack in any form. What RRS 13 does do is define when a boat that has passed head to wind (thus changing tack) must keep clear of other boats.
Our match racing colleagues have written a definition of tacking in MR Call N6. For the purpose of taking a penalty, tacking is to change course from close-hauled on one tack, through head to wind, to close-hauled on the other. This appears to be an (yet another?) attempt to introduce a new rule or definition without having to pass through the long process required to change the rule book. Disappointingly, the call then goes on to apply in a way that has no need of this defintion. In the incident, Yellow passes head to wind and does not then bear away, but passes head to wind in the opposite direction, before bearing away. The call would be exactly the same without the superfluous first sentence. According to RRS C7.2(a)(2) Yellow must pass head to wind and then bear away as soon as reasonably possible . She does not bear away as soon as reasonably possible but instead reverses her change of direction, passes back on to starboard and only then bears away. So in the only instance I have found in an authoritative text approved by WS that defines tacking, the definition is irrelevant to the call.
In example 2 at position 7 she has not completed her tack before crossing the finish line so she has not executed 44.2. The intent is the penalty is completed before she finishes. I don't believe she has completed her penalty before finishing.
In example 1, I am not fully understanding your description. The hailing boat: "she is sailing close-hauled or above. When the response is "You Tack" the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible. The hailed boat may have to alter course to allow the hailing boat room to tack. They have told the hailing boat that there is room to tack.
https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/posts/3822-def-tacking-to-tack
Rob Overton quoted the definition I learned at sailing school before reading any of the racing rules of sailing. Essentially, head up, cross head to wind and bear off to close hauled. After reading the rules I became a bit confused. The introduction to the rules now say that if a word is not defined we should use the definition “ordinarily understood in nautical or general use”.
I’m not sure racers with their constant analysis of rules, are in a position to give an ordinarily understood nautical term. I’m thinking it might be better to ask some cruising sailors.
Going down to closehauledhad nothing to do with it
The rules chose to make you give way till closehaulled after tacking, by a aeparate rule.
To me you have room to just tack
You have completed your penalty.
For me the absence of a definition is irrelevant - it is a question of construction. If tacking happens instantaneously when you pass head to wind then there is no need for the last clause of Rule 13 or of 20.2 c after ‘you tack’.
And Rule 13 would be headed ‘while bearing away after a tack’!
I see no rules difficilties on this, keeping a tacking boat as give way is a safety matter, this is mirrored on match racing with the completion of the gybe.
The problem is some of those writing the rules are not natural english speakers, so do not see the "usual meaning of an english term". They make rules on flawed interpretations, and the rules get fuzzy and hard to defend.
I use the word "gybe" which is definative for me.
I am told i cannot use this, as it is english english not european english. I have my decisions edited.
Sailing below 90 degrees to the wind, let alone comments on the change of tack ( which is a gybe)
Our match racing colleagues have written a definition of tacking in MR Call N6.
For the purpose of taking a penalty, tacking is to change course from close-hauled on one tack, through head to wind, to close-hauled on the other.
This appears to be an (yet another?) attempt to introduce a new rule or definition without having to pass through the long process required to change the rule book.
Disappointingly, the call then goes on to apply in a way that has no need of this defintion. In the incident, Yellow passes head to wind and does not then bear away, but passes head to wind in the opposite direction, before bearing away.
The call would be exactly the same without the superfluous first sentence. According to RRS C7.2(a)(2) Yellow must pass head to wind and then bear away as soon as reasonably possible . She does not bear away as soon as reasonably possible but instead reverses her change of direction, passes back on to starboard and only then bears away.
So in the only instance I have found in an authoritative text approved by WS that defines tacking, the definition is irrelevant to the call.