Rule 19 – Room to Pass an Obstruction

When an obstruction comes into play, sailors usually get caught out by either their hail or their timing. When approaching an obstruction, remember to have a clear plan and strategy out. It may be better to tack away early if you are not the right of way boat.

An Obstruction is an object that a boat could not pass without changing course.

Rule 19.1 – When Rule 19 Applies

“Rule 19 applies between two boats at an obstruction except

1. when the obstruction is a mark the boats are required to leave on the same side, or
2. when rule 18 applies between the boats and the obstruction is another boat overlapped with each of them.

However, at a continuing obstruction, rule 19 always applies and rule 18 does not.”

Rule 19.2 – Giving Room at an Obstruction

1. A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side.
2. When boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, unless she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began.
3. While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass between them, she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b). While the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and rules 10 and 11 do not apply.”

Things to remember:

• Rule 19 does not apply when the obstruction is a mark or in mark-room situations with more than two boats overlapped.
• Under Rule 19, the right-of-way boat gets to choose which side to pass an obstruction.
• The outside boat must give inside overlapped boats room to pass an obstruction.

Rule 20 – Room to Tack at an Obstruction

• Again with this rule, make sure you know your plan. You must hail “room to tack” when approaching an obstruction if you need to avoid a boat on the same tack. The hailed boat must respond either by tacking as soon as possible or by hailing “you tack.”
• When a hailed boat responds, the hailing boat must tack as soon as possible. Remember to give yourself enough time in a hail must be passed onto multiple boats.

Rule 20.1 – Hailing

“A boat may hail for room to tack and avoid a boat on the same tack. However, she shall not hail unless

1. she is approaching an obstruction and will soon need to make a substantial course change to avoid it safely, and
2. she is sailing close-hauled or above.

In addition, she shall not hail if the obstruction is a mark and a boat that is fetching it would be required to change course as a result of the hail.”

Rule 20.2 – Responding

1. After a boat hails, she shall give a hailed boat time to respond.
2. A hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1.
3. A hailed boat shall respond either by tacking as soon as possible, or by immediately replying ‘You tack’ and then giving the hailing boat room to tack and avoid her.
4. When a hailed boat responds, the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible.
5. From the time a boat hails until she has tacked and avoided a hailed boat, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.”

Rule 20.3 – Passing On a Hail to an Additional Boat

“When a boat has been hailed for room to tack and she intends to respond by tacking, she may hail another boat on the same tack for room to tack and avoid her. She may hail even if her hail does not meet the conditions of rule 20.1. Rule 20.2 applies between her and a boat she hails.”

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