Quote:
Originally Posted by nolatom
I think the Yacht racing rules apply only by agreement (all boats agree to them by entering the race, according to the sailing instructions). But if you don't know if that's a fellow racer or "just" a boat or ship, or are in doubt, use the COLREGS. I don't think day or night has much to do with what rules apply. I'm not sure there's much difference in practical terms anyway, except maybe at an offshore mark-rounding.
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I disagree. Imagine being in a yacht race at night. You see, on your port bow, a green running light coming toward you. You are beating upwind on a port tack, the other boat is coming downwind. Because it is dark you can't see what tack he is on. Who has the right of way?
Colregs - you do. He sees red, you see green.
Racing Rules - He does. He is either:
a) down wind on the same tack (he has rights)
b)down wind on a stdb tack (he has rights)
What about if you are on a stbd tack in the exact same situation? It is different again.
Which rules apply and when? Any race instructions I have read do not give a time where the rules change from Racing to Colregs but the racing Rules are really hard to use in restricted visibility or at night.