Be Careful Out There.....
- Thread starter Maine Sail
- Start date
Exactly.... simply draw a pencil line on the coaming.... or on a card and tape it to the coaming... that's your reference bearing... no number needed, kind of like a pelorus. But for something really useful, here's a cool smart phone app I really like: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chartcross.seacompassr&hl=en
I'm sorry, Ron, but if you can't tell it's a cruise ship at night, you probably need a new pair of glasses.
Sailing towards St. T from down island last year we had 5 cruise ships around us, and believe me, there was little doubt that they were cruise ships. They are the last vessels out there I worry about, though; way too many witnesses aboard for them to sail irresponsibly.
I like what Merlin said about bearing & range.
Actually, making sure of where you will be in a crossing/meeting situation is a simple no-brainer:
1. you're sitting stationary in your cockpit & keeping a steady speed & course. hopefully, the other guy is doing the same.
2. use a stationary vertical object for starting your observation. A stanchion, bimini support whatever.
3. Using this, look at the distance between the stanchion (or object) and the oncoming boat. Now keeping your head in the same position while watching, if the oncoming boat's distance gets closer to the stanchion, the boat should pass in front of you. If the distance increases from the stanchion, you should pass in front of him.
It's that easy. if unsure, try it a few times & it becomes automatic.
However if he's a squirrel, the above does not apply. The rule is for you to keep a steady course so as to communicate your intention to the other boat. If the meeting/crossing looks to be close-quarter, be demonstrative and turn your boat a good 45°(or more) & hold steady for a bit. This communicates to the other boat you're intention evidenced by your changed course. This show of your hull (side/beam) will let him know your intention & where you will be when meeting/crossing in close quarters.
CR
Actually, making sure of where you will be in a crossing/meeting situation is a simple no-brainer:
1. you're sitting stationary in your cockpit & keeping a steady speed & course. hopefully, the other guy is doing the same.
2. use a stationary vertical object for starting your observation. A stanchion, bimini support whatever.
3. Using this, look at the distance between the stanchion (or object) and the oncoming boat. Now keeping your head in the same position while watching, if the oncoming boat's distance gets closer to the stanchion, the boat should pass in front of you. If the distance increases from the stanchion, you should pass in front of him.
It's that easy. if unsure, try it a few times & it becomes automatic.
However if he's a squirrel, the above does not apply. The rule is for you to keep a steady course so as to communicate your intention to the other boat. If the meeting/crossing looks to be close-quarter, be demonstrative and turn your boat a good 45°(or more) & hold steady for a bit. This communicates to the other boat you're intention evidenced by your changed course. This show of your hull (side/beam) will let him know your intention & where you will be when meeting/crossing in close quarters.
CR
Here's another one. This guy made this run for twenty something years. You can almost see the two points of which he steams. Ten trips a day. HARD aground obviously. Inside the cans, who knows.
I don't wanna give these guys down the road, as a rule they are VERY good at giving the rec traffic a lot of room. And maybe that was it, nobody knows just yet.
But mistakes happen. Even on the 'big boys' where you think they've got their bases covered. Actually I think of this everytime I get behind the wheel of this 82 footer I've been sea-trialing. Guess who trained me to do it?
I don't wanna give these guys down the road, as a rule they are VERY good at giving the rec traffic a lot of room. And maybe that was it, nobody knows just yet.
But mistakes happen. Even on the 'big boys' where you think they've got their bases covered. Actually I think of this everytime I get behind the wheel of this 82 footer I've been sea-trialing. Guess who trained me to do it?
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Number 2: Here's a great place for all those clothes pins you use to dry towels. Clip one in line with your target. Easy to see whether he's faster or slower or on a collision course.
If inshore, watch the shoreline behind your target. If the shoreline is not moving in relation to your target, UT OH!