If there is room to pull off a tack but not cross but the following boats are so close that the tacking boat has to pull off a emergency bear away to duck. How is the distance or amount of room judged?
Nothing in Rule 20 says that a boat may hail only one other boat. If a boat is in a position where she needs room to tack from multiple other boats, she can hail each of them, and each must respond under RRS 20. Room is judged according to the definition of
room: "the space a boat needs in the existing conditions... while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way".
An "emergency" bear away is not considered seamanlike. While tacking, and after tacking, the hailing boat is required to keep clear of the other starboard tack boats, but boat(s) hailed under rule 20 must either give her room to do so, or tack themselves.
I hope that helps,
Eric
