{"id":82521,"date":"2025-08-29T14:09:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T18:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=82521"},"modified":"2025-08-29T15:37:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:37:28","slug":"tack-or-cross-or-game-of-chicken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/how-to\/tack-or-cross-or-game-of-chicken\/","title":{"rendered":"Tack or Cross or Game of Chicken?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/\/pcvE8nfxDkQ' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Racing sailors frequently encounter situations where port and starboard tackers converge on the open racecourse. While the rules clearly give right of way to the starboard tacker, there\u2019s often a calculated game of chicken that can happen during these encounters. Understanding how to navigate through the intersection can make the difference between maintaining your tactical advantage and losing critical boatlengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe id=\"x8aa2rgac1\" src=\"https:\/\/Sailingworld.dragonforms.com\/x8aa2rgac1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>Tack or Cross? It\u2019s Starboard\u2019s Decision<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When two boats are approaching on opposite tacks, the starboard-tack boat has right of way while the port tack boat must keep clear. We all know the rules are as simple as that. However, the starboard tacker may have a tactical or strategic play to make: maintain the right of way by making the port boat tack or duck, or waive that right and allow the port boat to cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the port-tack boat hails and asks: \u201cTack or Cross?\u201d What\u2019s the starboard tack\u2019s boat best course of action?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe short answer is, \u2018It depends,\u2019\u201d explains Sailing World Racing Editor, Mike Ingham. \u201cBut I love hearing that hail as a starboard tacker because that means they\u2019re deferring to me for my choice. So, I can either say, \u2018tack,\u2019 and I can keep going that way\u2026or I say \u2018cross.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This decision often comes down to the starboard boat\u2019s broader race strategy. If the starboard tacker wants to continue in their current direction, having the port boat tack in front can be detrimental, forcing the starboard boat into dirty air or requiring a double tack to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOften when I want to keep going, the last thing I want is to get stuck in somebody\u2019s dirty air or have to double tack if I want to keep going,\u201d Ingham notes. In such cases, allowing the port boat to cross means giving up a small immediate advantage for a larger strategic gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tactical Considerations for Starboard Tackers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The key consideration is whether the port tacker could execute a successful lee bow tack if forced to tack. This maneuver, where the port boat tacks in front and to leeward of the starboard boat, can significantly disrupt the starboard boat\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s say you lose a half a boatlength in the tack,\u201d Ingham explains. \u201cThat means they\u2019ve got to be at least halfway in front of you, a half a boatlength in front of you. If it\u2019s a full boatlength loss per tack, they have to be almost crossing to pull off a lee bow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases where a port tacker asks \u201ctack or cross,\u201d the situations involve small ducks that cost the starboard boat very little while preserving their tactical plan. The starboard tacker might lose less than half a boatlength but can continue sailing in their preferred direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clear Communication is Critical<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The language and timing of communication between boats is paramount in these situations. Port tackers must hail early and clearly to give starboard boats time to assess and respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou better say it\u2014you can\u2019t just say it once quietly, and you can\u2019t say it late,\u201d Ingham emphasizes. \u201cVery early, you have to repeat yourself\u2026\u2018tack or cross, tack or cross.\u2019 Maybe even sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Body language also plays an important role. \u201cWhen I\u2019m doing it, if I\u2019m in that port boat, I am looking straight at them, and I\u2019m also taking my arm, and I\u2019m pointing through\u2026You hear a hail and see my arm, you know I\u2019m asking, even if it\u2019s noisy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For larger boats with crews, preparation is essential. The entire team should be ready for either scenario before the hail is even made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf they say \u2018tack or cross\u2019 or don\u2019t say anything at all, the starboard tacker has no obligation to respond,\u201d Ingham points out. \u201cIf I\u2019m the port tacker, it\u2019s a courtesy, and I am fully ready to do that tack instead, and the team knows that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taking Control as the Starboard Tacker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than waiting for the port tacker to initiate the conversation, experienced sailors often recommend that starboard tackers dictate the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve done that a lot,\u201d says Ingham. \u201cI\u2019m the starboard tacker. They don\u2019t say anything\u2026 I\u2019m like, well, I really don\u2019t want them to leebow. And I\u2019ll just say, \u2018cross, cross, cross.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This proactive approach gives the starboard boat control of the situation. If the starboard tacker wants to go right, they might prefer to force the port boat to tack, effectively taking their lane and bouncing them to the left side of the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you don\u2019t do that, it might look like this: you tack instead of pinging them, you want to go right\u2026 and maybe you pinch them off eventually, or maybe you\u2019re now at their mercy,\u201d Ingham explains. \u201cMuch better off flushing them out early. It\u2019s a really nice move to essentially take their lane and leave yourself options.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding the Rules and Cultural Norms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the racing rules don\u2019t specifically address this practice of asking \u201ctack or cross.\u201d As Ingham points out, \u201cThe rule book has no provision for this directly. There\u2019s nothing that says if you waive your rights, then this happens. So this is purely a cultural thing in our sport that\u2019s practiced quite regularly and efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This does create a gray area if conflicts arise, however. If a starboard tacker allows a port boat to cross but then a collision occurs\u2014perhaps because the starboard boat couldn\u2019t bear away quickly enough\u2014the basic right-of-way rules still apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor the most part, I think that the starboard still has right of way,\u201d notes Ingham. \u201cSo, really, you\u2019re taking a little bit of a chance if you\u2019re the port tacker doing this, but it\u2019s tried and true. I can\u2019t think of a race day that I don\u2019t use it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These interactions build the community aspects of racing. When you allow another boat to cross, you\u2019re creating goodwill that might be returned later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of a live and let live sort of thing,\u201d Ingham observes. \u201cIf you just wave somebody through, they\u2019re pretty happy\u2026 And next time that crossing comes and it\u2019s your turn, they\u2019re more likely to say, \u2018cross, cross, cross.\u2019 He let me through once.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This reciprocity benefits everyone on the racecourse, making for better racing and fewer conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advice for Less Experienced Racers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>New sailors sometimes feel intimidated when more experienced competitors hail \u201ctack or cross.\u201d Ingham emphasizes that the hail is merely a request, not a demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI ask all the time. And I\u2019m never trying to make them do something they don\u2019t want to do,\u201d he clarifies. \u201cI\u2019m always trying to give them an option, and I\u2019m not expecting them to give that to me. And I\u2019m certainly not angry with them if they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding this can help newer sailors feel more comfortable making their own tactical decisions rather than feeling pressured to comply with more experienced racers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On opposite tacks, port must yield to starboard\u2014yet a well-timed hail can flip the advantage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":82520,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Dave Reed","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[2812,294,3018,235],"class_list":["post-82521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-how-to-2","tag-rules","tag-sailboat-racing-tactics","tag-tactics"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82521"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82521\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}