25. Facts found:  Daymare (windward) and Naval Non-Entity (leeward) were beating on port tack as shown on the left. They were on a collision course with Zebra Muscles who was approaching on starboard tack. Daymare asked Naval Non-Entity for room to pass astern of Zebra Muscles but Naval Non-Entity requested that Daymare tack away instead.
	Daymare refused to do so and squeezed in astern of Zebra Muscles and collided with Naval Non-Entity as shown in the diagram on the left. Both lodged valid protests.

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Decision: Since Daymare and Naval Non-Entity were both required to keep clear of the starboard boat, Zebra Muscles, the latter ranked as an obstruction to both of them. Since they were about meet this obstruction, rule 19 (Room to Pass an Obstruction) applied. Since both Daymare and Naval Non-Entity were close-hauled, rule 20 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction) was also a possibility, since Rule 19.1(a) states: "A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side."
The preamble to Section 2C states: "When rule 20 applies, rules 18 and 19 do not." However, since Naval Non-Entity did not choose to call for room to tack, rule 20 did not apply. Telling Daymare to tack but then not tacking herself is not an option under rule 20. In any case, if Naval Non-Entity wants "room to tack" to keep clear of Zebra Muscles, she needs to hail in plenty of time to give the windward boat (Daymare) ample time to respond. Plenty of time also needs to include time for a second hail, if the first gets no reaction. Thus Naval Non-Entity has let her "window of opportunity" go by even as she reaches her position in the top diagram.
Therefore rule 19 applies. Under rule 19.2(b), Naval Non-Entity was required to give Daymare room to pass the obstruction, Zebra Muscles. She did not do so and is therefore disqualified.

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Case #25
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