Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing

Sticking to a mooring buoy

Charles Darley
In a race last evening (which was eventually abandoned) we were sailing in changeable air which at one point became extremely light.  A boat was carried by tide onto the riser buoy of a mooring (nothing moored to it).  The boat was held onto it by tide and stopped moving.  Would it break rule 42 for the crew to push the boat off the buoy?
Created: Wed 16:50

Comments

Format:
Jerry Thompson
Nationality: United States
50
Tips

(H)  To get clear after grounding or colliding with a vessel or object, a boat may use force applied by her crew or the crew of the other vessel and any equipment other than a propulsion engine. However, the use of an engine may be permitted by rule 42.3(i).
Created: Wed 17:10
Jerry Thompson
Nationality: United States
A riser buoy is an object.
Created: Wed 17:11
P
Michael Butterfield
Agreed, you can and should push off.
Created: Wed 17:18
Matt Sargent
Why should Mike?
Created: Yesterday 09:02
P
Michael Butterfield
Under rule 45 if she does not push off she could be considered to be "made fast" and in breach of the rule. 
Created: Yesterday 09:15
Matt Sargent
Mike - let’s go OED:

The term "made fast" can have two primary meanings in the Oxford English Dictionary: it can mean to securely fasten something (like a boat) or to speed something up. Without further context, it is difficult to determine the precise meaning, but generally, if referring to an object, it implies securing it, while if referring to a process or progress, it implies accelerating it.

Unless they secure to it they aren’t made fast.  

By your logic above a boat running aground would be in breach of Rule 45.
Created: Yesterday 10:06
P
Michael Butterfield
Running agroind is fine, haulling outis not. 
Created: Yesterday 10:27
Matt Sargent
Good - do you accept my point that a boat which doesn’t secure to the bouy is not in breach of Rule 45?
Created: Yesterday 17:01
Charles Darley
Not always fine.
IMG_0031.JPG 218 KB
Created: Yesterday 10:39
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