48.2
(a) A Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) shall be understood to mean an area shown on a nautical chart, or in the notice of race, as a TSS.
(b) A boat shall not impede, or present a threat of impeding, the safe passage of a power-driven vessel in a TSS traffic lane.
(c) If a commercial, government, or naval power-driven vessel in a traffic lane makes five short and rapid blasts on her whistle (a danger signal, see IRPCAS rule 34(d)) and the boat causing the danger signal can be identified, then the boat is subject to protest under rule 48.2(b).
(d) If an official complaint/action is lodged against a boat by a commercial, government, or naval power-driven vessel, by a pilot, by vessel traffic service (VTS), or by other local government authority, it shall be presumed that the boat has broken rule 48.2(b).
(e) The race committee will cooperate with and provide relevant information to VTS and other governmental authorities regarding investigations of boats impeding a power-driven vessel.
Application and background:
Approaches similar to TS1 have been shown to work in areas like San Francisco, where extensive racing takes place within multiple TSSs, precautionary areas, and deep-water routes that are tightly managed by San Francisco’s vessel traffic service (VTS). The VTS and pilots appreciate the consideration shown by racers, and racers appreciate being able to race in the waters of the TSSs and other VTS controlled areas. In the San Francisco experience, boats nearly always lose protests filed by the race committee in response to an official complaint/action lodged against a boat by a ship pilot, ship captain, or the VTS, and so boats pay careful attention to not impeding the passage of ships.