I'm on port, beating, and a starboard boat is about to cross just in front of me. Should I tack away, or ease my sails and let her through?
Usually slow down. You must keep clear either way (Rule 10), but tacking away costs you speed, the starboard boat rolls straight over you and you end up in her bad air. If you ease the sails for a few seconds, you lose less than a boat length, pass just behind her stern and sail on in clean air. Frozen at the same moment, the boat that slowed down is almost a length further up the course. Tack away only if the side of the course you would tack onto is where you wanted to go. If the only reason is to dodge her, you have let the other boat pick your side.
📖 Want more situations like this one? Bryan Willis's The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 works through the rules as they happen round the racecourse. (affiliate link)
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/qLeHMDzL8cI/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
- The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Situations round the racecourse, worked through for the current rules.
- Five Oceans masthead wind indicator — See the wind direction at a glance.
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