Welcome to the nineteenth episode of UK Sailmakers’ Lessons Learned podcast series, hosted by Buttons Padin. In this episode, Buttons speaks with Butch Ulmer, former president of UK Sailmakers and a member of the Sailing Hall of Fame.
Together, they break down the 2025 changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing, with this episode’s particular focus on obstructions and proper hailing protocol. Butch shares tactical advice including what to do (and what not to do) when you find yourself in a tough spot like Boat 1 in the “coffin corner” shown in the thumbnail.
Whether you’re a seasoned racer or just getting into the sport, this episode offers valuable insights from a true rules expert and world-class sailor.
You can also read more about the 2025 Hailing Rules in the News section of the UK Sailmakers Website.
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If I am the upwind boat in the first example, when approaching an anchored boat or similar obstruction, if it’s possible for the boat hailing for room to tack to simply duck the obstruction taking the anchored boats stern, can I just yell back for them to do that?
Obviously the boat would rather have room to tack in that situation, but do they not have an obligation to go around the slow way instead of asking for room to tack?
Hi Dan,
Great question — this scenario comes up often in tight fleet racing. Under Rule 20.1, a boat may hail for room to tack when she’s approaching an obstruction and needs to avoid it. The obstruction doesn’t need to be completely unpassable — just significant enough that the boat believes she must tack to avoid it. The key is whether passing behind (i.e., ducking the stern of the obstruction) is a safe and reasonable option. In this example, the intended scenario is that there is not enough space for the hailing boat to safely duck the anchored boat.
Rule 20.1(a) states that the hailing boat must not be able to tack safely without the other boat changing course. So, if the hailing boat can safely duck the obstruction, then she isn’t entitled to room to tack.
However, here’s the nuance: if the hailing boat is too close to the obstruction to bear off and pass behind safely — due to limited space, current, depth, nearby boats, etc. – then she is entitled to room to tack. In that case, the hailed boat must either tack immediately or reply “You tack” and then give room for the hail to be acted on.
If you believe the hailing boat had sufficient room to duck and called for room improperly, you should still comply and then protest — but only after responding as required. There is no rule-sanctioned option to say “You can duck it”. The only recourse if you disagree is the protest room.
It’s not about what the boat would prefer to do — it’s about whether a safe duck is genuinely possible at the moment of the hail. And yes, ideally, the hailing boat would have planned ahead several lengths back. But poor tactical planning isn’t protestable. In fact, they may have created the situation intentionally, seizing an opportunity that puts pressure on the other boat. If they’re sailing close-hauled, and can’t tack away or duck the obstruction without risk, then you are obligated to give room — even if it’s annoying.