Right-of-way involving several boats and the shore

I had a situation while racing on a river at the weekend after which I decided that if I had done the correct thing I wasn't sure if I would be in the wrong or not. I was heading on a run on port-tack towards a mark with a boat either side of me.
Boat A was leeward of me and next to the shore. Boat B was to windward. Both were also on port-tack.
Another boat (Boat X) came towards us having rounded the mark, close-hauled on starboard-tack. His course was taking him between myself and Boat B (windward of me). He called starboard and I tried to leave him room to pass between myself and Boat B by moving as close as I dare to Boat A (rather than cutting across Boat X's bow and risking a collision with both Boat X and Boat B) expecting Boat B to also give him room (we are a fairly friendly club and usually don't moan about moving course slightly to miss other boats). Boat X then yelled that he wanted both of us to do 360's for not getting out of the way. I didn't complain as I didn't want a DSQ (it was a 1 race competition).

My question was this. There was no way I could have got completely out of the way due to Boat A who couldn't give me water as the shore was in the way. Is my conclusion (from after the race) that as Boat A couldn't give me water he was considered an obstacle to me and therefore Boat X had to give me room to keep clear of the obstacle, with Boat B giving Boat X room to keep clear of me (I am effectively an obstacle to Boat X). Would the correct sequence of events that should have happened be Boat X calling "starboard", Boat A calling "water to clear bank", myself calling "water to clear obstacle", Boat B giving enough room for Boat X to pass between us while not hitting me?

Thanks for any ideas

As give way boats (all of you were on port and going DDW) it is your responsibility to keep clear.

You cannot use the excuse that you had no room (depending on how much time had elapsed between Boat X round the mark and the incident).

If you were ouytside of the zone and there was clearly time for all 3 of you to ensure you kept clear then you should have anticiapted this. The obvious answer is that you should have called for room to avoide the obstacle (the boat on starboard and close hauled) from boat B who was able to give this. You are entititled to room on this instance.

With regards to boat A calling for room for the shor all you have to do is ensure he does not hit the shore and has room to manoeveur. You are required to respond for room for an object and I know there are some other conditions about room when going downwind, read up on this and have a chat with your fellow sailors so you all understand your rights (and responsibilities) should this happen again.

Personally were I boat A and I saw 3 of you coming DDW towards me on a narrow river i would have called loudly and early to ensure you all knew what I expected you to do. If I were infringed badly I would have called protest and expected you to do your turns (which are a 720 for infringing another boat and not a 360).

Were I not infirnged badly I may still have called protest but would then have come over for a chat about it after the race will all of you, club racing is meant to be fun and sometimes rules are misunderstood/broken unintentionally and the best way is to spoeak to your fellows.

At an open event I would just call protest (and maybe a sail number) and leave it at that.

This is why I don't like racing on rivers.

Diagram:



Next buoy is up wind, left of the diagram

From what your diagram about Boat B and Me should both have headed up to ensure they kept clear. the boat lebelled Me is entitled to call Boat B from room to avoid Boat X as long as she is overlapped.

Ordinarily Me and Boat A would bear away but as they were close to the shore they are entitled to room on a continuing obstruction (this does depend on how the overlap was established but I have assumed they were entitled to room).

Remember your obligation to keep clear of a Right of Way boat overrides other rules and does give you certain entitlements. In this case the requirement for all of you (who are on port) to keep clear of the boat who is close hauled on starboard over rides the requirements of windward/leeward boat. It is also import to take early avoiding action as Boat X is not required to do anything until it is clear the the other boats are not going to take avoiding action.

Boat B has to give you room to avoid the obstruction (ie Boat X). Even if Boat X wasn't there you have windward/leeward rights over Boat B. So you should head up, giving Boat B time to keep clear, and both pass to windward of Boat X.

This will also give you a better chance of breaking B's overlap as you come in to the leeward mark.