There is always one

[JVB]

Yes, avoiding chaos requires that people go by the rules. And part of the rules (as least when racing) is that the starboard tack skipper must hail "Starboard" when a collision is threatening. And the port tack skipper must respond with either "Hold your course" or a statement of how he intends to prevent a collision. Without that exchange the starboard skipper logically should assume that the port skipper is deaf or asleep and take evasive action.

On a related topic, the boat going upwind has right of way over one going downwind if in a situation where starboard/port tacks don't resolve right-of-way.

 

[Winkfish]

Racing rules only apply when boats are racing, and they never trump the statutory rules of the road. And as JVB said, only when starboard/port tack rule does not resolve the right-of-way question do the other rules come into play for sailboats.

 

[sinnettc]

I'm going to have to go with the OP. 100' is plenty of room if no collision is imminent and everyone was holding their course. If the guy in the J24 thinks that's too close then he's going to be freaking out during racing with boats 3' apart.

Frankly, I've only ever called Starboard maybe 2 or 3 times, mostly at the start on our Beer Can nights. Once I even got to call Starboard and rule of gross tonnage on a Laser! The latter doesn't happen very often on a 2200 pound Capri 22!