Yup.
But anything that can help visibility is good. Very, very good.
Many folks who have deck sweepers race. Most folks who race have crew, some times many crew.
I don't and have the foot of my jib as high off the deck as the top of my pulpit. The foot of the jib never rubs on anything.
On port tack and I can easily see ahead for any starboard tack boats.
Not so hard to understand.
I agree... no matter if its eyes, devices or technique, one has to be able to see, to understand, and have a reasonable care to maintain safety all around.
after we have done everything within our power to practice safe and observant seamanship, I agree with Walt that its aggravating when we encounter some klutz who has no care of what may be happening around him, or who his foolish ways may be affecting.... but this is the best reason to take action to avoid a situation, BEFORE a situation arises.
by always assuming the other driver is lost and delusional in his own little world somewhere, I can take the proper action to avoid getting tangled up in it with him...
BUT... we arent all perfect all the time
.....
last fall, on a beautiful sunny day, I was motoring up river at full throttle, to our favorite anchorage, but I did NOT have the autopilot on, (which likely would have prevented the situation because it wanders just a bit when running up the river against the shifting currents).... and when steering by hand, I can focus on a point ahead and keep the boat dead on course....
there was only a couple of other boats out as we were early in the day.
then a 16-18ft zodiac passed us, WOT with two people onboard, in the same direction as we were going, a couple hundered yards off of our port side.... I watched it for about a mile or so and then returned to my task of keeping on my "line" of travel.....
in about 5 minutes I heard a single yelp.... then it all happened so fast that it seems like devine intervention....
the zodiac had stalled, and for some reason drifted down dead on my bow, hidden from my position at the helm, behind the mast and sail cover...
I did not see it, but instinctively cranked the wheel to starboard, barely missing a dead center broadside of the zodiac.... I did clip it in the rear quarter, turning it so it came scuffing down the side of our boat, port to port, both occupants still standing up (ready to jump?)..... all this happened within a second, and did not have time to shut the throttle down until they were at my stern......
as they were flashing by, I remember them hollering apologies for being in my way, and Im not sure if the apologies were meant for me or jesus, but they seemed to be looking for forgiveness and possible salvation at the moment for something they though they had done wrong....
I was cussing and feeling terrible because I knew I was the one at fault and in my mind, a near miss ranks up there pretty close to an accident, as it shows carelessness.....
after swinging around and apologizing, then jumping aboard their boat and figuring out what their mechanical problems were (fuel line came detached, but looked as if it was still fully connected), they happily went on their merry way, and I learned that it doesnt matter if there are no other boats around, one needs to be fully aware of their surroundings all the time.
I dont get shaken or excited very often, but that encounter shook me.... I still wonder how I missed seeing such a large boat dead ahead on a calm flat day, and the "what if" I had been a split second slower on the helm
.....
