"Not Under Control Lights"

[Warren Milberg]

Recently, I was paging through one of the old classics in my boat book library, Chichester's "Gipsy Moth Circles The World, " written in 1967. What caught my eye was a comment he makes on page 26 about lighting "his Not Under Control Lights -- two red lights, one several feet above the other on a staff...in the stem. This would warn any other vessel which might expect me to give way to it when I was asleep in Gypsy Moth. and could not change course, or slow down."

Is this, in fact, a valid signal? I have always believed that Admiraty laws and other international rules required the maintenance of a watch at all times and that you could not simply decide you no longer would give way, when required, because you had decided to take a nap. Being a solo sailer doesn't change the rules. Any thoughts on this? Have the international rules changed since Chichester's time?

 

[BruceG]

"Red over Red, Captain is dead" is how we would remember it in the Navy.

RULE 27: VESSEL NOT UNDER COMMAND
(a) A vessel not under command shall exhibit:

1. 1. two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
   2. two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
   3. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a stern light

This light/shape configuration is displayed when a vessel is unable to maneuver due to a casualty. A vessel not under command has usually suffered a disability, which is not easy to predict or classify. An example would be a vessel with a disabled rudder. The navigation light requirement is, therefore, brief and general.

Sleeping does not qualify under this rule and probably would not stand up in an Admiralty court.

So based on that, what do solo sailors do?
I've never been a fan of the "Big Ocean, small sailboat theory"

 

[gpd955]

I have always believed that Admiraty laws and other international rules required the maintenance of a watch at all times and that you could not simply decide you no longer would give way, when required, because you had decided to take a nap. Being a solo sailer doesn't change the rules. Any thoughts on this? Have the international rules changed since Chichester's time?

To be considered a "Vessel Not Under Command" there has to be an "exceptional" circumstance, such as steering failure. Sleeping does not meet that requirement as even a "Vessel Not Under Command" is still required to have a watch and the watch is expected, even though the vessel cannot be maneuvered, sound a danger signal if danger of collision exists. Don't confuse "not under command" with "no one at the helm".

 

[Don12364]

The signal was correct.
The crime was that he was not keeping a proper lookout.

 

[capta]

A single hander @ sea

It sure would be nice to keep a watch 24/7 when sailing, but a few of us require a bit of sleep from time to time.
I have considered the NUC as an AID, to warn other vessels that no one's @ the helm, but as stated above, it's not legal, nor prudent. Don't really care about legal, but I do take responsibility for my own actions, so I've devised a system that works pretty well for me.
I have an old fashioned kitchen timer (the one w/ the twist knob & LOUD bell) which I set for 12 minutes. Sometime in my past, I figured 12 minutes was the time it would take for a vessel moving between 18 & 22 knots to become visible if I could see nothing while standing in the cockpit or on the cabin top, depending on the boat, to being visible but not dangerously close. So after a GOOD look around I set the timer, sit @ the table (NEVER GO TO BED), & get a few winks. All this was developed when fuel was cheap; vessels move much slower now, but that does not change things in my opinion.
It has worked perfectly, except (here it comes) once; the vessel was a warship, obviously moving at a very high speed, as it took her only 3 minutes to get close enough for me to be aware that she was there (she was emitting a horendous squeak from her radar antenna), which is what woke me. But I pretty much take it on faith that the crew on watch on warships does not sleep as they do on merchant vessels (I've encountered this numerous times).
This is a deep sea tool, outside the normal shipping lanes. I would NOT recommend doing it coastwise, too many buoys, fish boats & markers, etc.
But all in all, it is still our responsibility to keep ourselves safe. We cannot rely on the other vessel to do the correct thing. No one has the "right of way" any longer, and us sailors are "playing" out there while the commercial fellers are working. Keep out of their way!

 

[jimgreen8c]

I learned red over red - should have stayed in bed....'cause you're broke down. He also said that after being in the engine room with water sloshing around and the smell of diesel fuel , after a while you're gonna feel like you got two black balls... The dayshape for Not Under Command.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

If you are single-handing a vessel while passage-making, how can you maintain a watch 24/7?

 

[IanPearce]

You don't sleep

 

[Stu Jackson]

If you are single-handing a vessel while passage-making, how can you maintain a watch 24/7?

Bill, there was a recent post on single handing with a great link to a single handed society and a great 140 page writeup which covered just this issue.

 

[Benny17441]

It is proper for a vessel "under way" but "not making way" to use "not under comtrol lights or markers". A boat laying a hull or drifting can be considered to be "underway", but to be "making way" requires the use of propulsion either by power or sail. It is a common practice for singlehandler sailors out in the ocean to stop the boat, douse sails and lay adrift to get a few hours of sleep. Laws and regulations are written in general terms and can be in complete accord with some interpretations born out of custom and practical sense. Why may you think there are so many attorneys in this land?

 

[Hawk4661]

Thank you for last post...I call common sense off shore.