In 2006 a ferry ran down the 26' sailboat Ouzo near the Isle of Wright. All three crew were killed.
The accident report is important reading for anyone who travels at night or in the fog in a small boat near large commercial shipping (warning - this report is longgg). The ferry's bridge was fully manned by an alert and professional British crew but they didn't see the much smaller boat in time (and never thought they hit it).
It also includes a report on radar reflectors. Most did poorly. My take away is that the angle of the radar reflector is surprisingly important to the return echo and on a sailboat this angle changes with heel. Mainsail's reference to "double catch rain" is about getting the best angle. Angle is more important than height.
http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2007/ouzo.cfm
The accident report is important reading for anyone who travels at night or in the fog in a small boat near large commercial shipping (warning - this report is longgg). The ferry's bridge was fully manned by an alert and professional British crew but they didn't see the much smaller boat in time (and never thought they hit it).
It also includes a report on radar reflectors. Most did poorly. My take away is that the angle of the radar reflector is surprisingly important to the return echo and on a sailboat this angle changes with heel. Mainsail's reference to "double catch rain" is about getting the best angle. Angle is more important than height.
http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2007/ouzo.cfm