I learned to sail on the Tennessee River, a rather narrow body of water on an AquaFinn and a dingy. Never saw other sailboats except my fellow dingy buddy. Now I have a 25' O'day sailing out od a club with lots of other boats. My partner or a guest asks as we approach another boat, "Who has the right of way?" Damned if I know. I'm looking for basic book on rules of the road. I've looked around including this site. I really don't want racing techinque. I don't race. Any suggestions on books available here or elsewhere. Thanks, Mike
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
B
Bob
STARBOARD!!!
Sailboats on a starboard tack have ROW. If both are on a starboard tack, the leeward boat has ROW. If both are on a port tack, again the leeward. While all boats under sail have the ROW over powerboats, use discretion. Don't assume ROW when dealing with commercial traffic, vessels under burden (i.e. towing another boat, barge, etc...). Check out Chapmans and USCG for info on just about any situation. You may want to avail yourself of the many boater safety courses offered. Cheers, Bob
Sailboats on a starboard tack have ROW. If both are on a starboard tack, the leeward boat has ROW. If both are on a port tack, again the leeward. While all boats under sail have the ROW over powerboats, use discretion. Don't assume ROW when dealing with commercial traffic, vessels under burden (i.e. towing another boat, barge, etc...). Check out Chapmans and USCG for info on just about any situation. You may want to avail yourself of the many boater safety courses offered. Cheers, Bob
J
Jim Sullivan
Sailing 101
Mike: Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson is available from Amazon.It has the stamp of approval of the American Sailing Association and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, but even better is Sail Power by Wallace Ross with Carl Chapman if you can find it. Good luck and good sailing: Jim <Why Knot>
Mike: Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson is available from Amazon.It has the stamp of approval of the American Sailing Association and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, but even better is Sail Power by Wallace Ross with Carl Chapman if you can find it. Good luck and good sailing: Jim <Why Knot>
E
Evan
Rules of the road
Mike, I have been sailing for many years and have usually used common sense approach and judgement. Who is going faster, otherwise I assume and sail beneath the oncoming vessel. But here is a web site for just your info. Also, you can probably find basic sailing books on Amazon.com hope this helps, evan ekatz25941@aol.com http://www.sailnet.com/collections/learningtosail/index.cfm?articleid=colgat003
Mike, I have been sailing for many years and have usually used common sense approach and judgement. Who is going faster, otherwise I assume and sail beneath the oncoming vessel. But here is a web site for just your info. Also, you can probably find basic sailing books on Amazon.com hope this helps, evan ekatz25941@aol.com http://www.sailnet.com/collections/learningtosail/index.cfm?articleid=colgat003
J
Josh
Sailing for Dummies
Seems that the ...for Dummies series has everything, and yes they have one for dummies. Helped me a great deal. If has the information you seek, as well as much more you will find useful. It even has a laminated card that pulls out that has rules of the road on one side, and some sailing tips on the other. The other information you might find useful are sections on maintaining your boat, what to do when things go wrong, ohw to prevent problems, navigation, etc. It's a simple, easy to read book that cuts through all the arcane and meandering material I've found in the countless other books I've purchased along the way. It's a good book to start out with if you are trying to learn anything beyond the basics. Josh P.S. There's also a Idiots Guide to Boating, which is of little use. Most of the material in there is for power boats, with just one chapter devoted to sailing. Make sure it's the Sailing for Dummies if you decide to purchase it!
Seems that the ...for Dummies series has everything, and yes they have one for dummies. Helped me a great deal. If has the information you seek, as well as much more you will find useful. It even has a laminated card that pulls out that has rules of the road on one side, and some sailing tips on the other. The other information you might find useful are sections on maintaining your boat, what to do when things go wrong, ohw to prevent problems, navigation, etc. It's a simple, easy to read book that cuts through all the arcane and meandering material I've found in the countless other books I've purchased along the way. It's a good book to start out with if you are trying to learn anything beyond the basics. Josh P.S. There's also a Idiots Guide to Boating, which is of little use. Most of the material in there is for power boats, with just one chapter devoted to sailing. Make sure it's the Sailing for Dummies if you decide to purchase it!
D
Dave
Do not follow the other responses, all wrong!!!!
Go to the coast guard web site and order the navigation rules. Cost is cheap!!! Some responses used ROW (Right of WAY)?? This term does not exist in the navigation rules, boats are either stand-on or give-way vessels. Sailboats DO NOT always have ROW!!! Any overtaking boat is a give way vessel!!! Sailboats do not have ROW over vessels not under command, or engaged in trawling or burdened by draft, or a host of other reasons. READ THE US GOV'T Published Rules and follow them!!! Otherwise you will get in big trouble, which brings up another subject, BIG TROUBLE by Dave Barry is a great book on this subject and many others. Dave
Go to the coast guard web site and order the navigation rules. Cost is cheap!!! Some responses used ROW (Right of WAY)?? This term does not exist in the navigation rules, boats are either stand-on or give-way vessels. Sailboats DO NOT always have ROW!!! Any overtaking boat is a give way vessel!!! Sailboats do not have ROW over vessels not under command, or engaged in trawling or burdened by draft, or a host of other reasons. READ THE US GOV'T Published Rules and follow them!!! Otherwise you will get in big trouble, which brings up another subject, BIG TROUBLE by Dave Barry is a great book on this subject and many others. Dave
C
Chris
Use Both
Actually a combination of Introductory Material and Coast Guard guidelines would be best. Let face it the CG guidelines are written to cover every possibility situation and have lots of use in litigation of disputes. So is not exactly the easiest thing to understand for a newbie. Start with a beginners guide to get the basics, keeping in mind that situations and terminology may be compromised to get accross the fundamentals. Then move on to more formal documentation.
Actually a combination of Introductory Material and Coast Guard guidelines would be best. Let face it the CG guidelines are written to cover every possibility situation and have lots of use in litigation of disputes. So is not exactly the easiest thing to understand for a newbie. Start with a beginners guide to get the basics, keeping in mind that situations and terminology may be compromised to get accross the fundamentals. Then move on to more formal documentation.
G
Gary Bassitt
Stand on/Give Way
All boaters should understand these terms and their implications, but, alas, I think most do not. I believe most state agencies responsible for watercraft enforcement publish excellant concise and free information about this important topic. Too bad all the other craft, esp. PWCs do not have a clue that there really are rules on the water. Check out your state agency (in Ohio it is a division of Natural Resources, the parks people-I don't remember in Tennessee)for free info. Probably on line. Also, the rules are universal, so any information would be applicable to general understanding. toot-toot.
All boaters should understand these terms and their implications, but, alas, I think most do not. I believe most state agencies responsible for watercraft enforcement publish excellant concise and free information about this important topic. Too bad all the other craft, esp. PWCs do not have a clue that there really are rules on the water. Check out your state agency (in Ohio it is a division of Natural Resources, the parks people-I don't remember in Tennessee)for free info. Probably on line. Also, the rules are universal, so any information would be applicable to general understanding. toot-toot.
D
Dave
Navigation Rules FREE!!!
The navigation rules are available on the government web site for downloading for free!!! You can then print them on a color printer or just refer to on your computer. I chose to buy the hard copy book (about 10 bucks) to keep in my hip pocket at all times. Captain d
The navigation rules are available on the government web site for downloading for free!!! You can then print them on a color printer or just refer to on your computer. I chose to buy the hard copy book (about 10 bucks) to keep in my hip pocket at all times. Captain d
D
Dave
Stand On/Give Way Critical!!!
What is critical about these terms is NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY!!!! Right of way implies someone is completely innocent and someone is completely guilty in a collision. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN MARITIME LAW!!! ALL boats are responsible to avoid collisions. Stand on vessels should hold their course until they determine that the give way vessel is not taking appropriate action and then the Stand on Vessel also bears the burden of taking appropriate action to avoid a collision. In a collision EVERYONE IS GUILTY!!! And don't forget it or else, especially if you are in a collision with me!! Captain d
What is critical about these terms is NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY!!!! Right of way implies someone is completely innocent and someone is completely guilty in a collision. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN MARITIME LAW!!! ALL boats are responsible to avoid collisions. Stand on vessels should hold their course until they determine that the give way vessel is not taking appropriate action and then the Stand on Vessel also bears the burden of taking appropriate action to avoid a collision. In a collision EVERYONE IS GUILTY!!! And don't forget it or else, especially if you are in a collision with me!! Captain d
J
Josh
Hmm...Cap'n Dave...
Been in a collision by chance? You seem to be a little too excited about the whole topic....
Been in a collision by chance? You seem to be a little too excited about the whole topic....
R
R.W.Landau
USPS
Mike, It's the winter break here. It is a great time to take a safe boating course. I am sure there is a United States Power Squadron in your area and you could look it up with a browser, USPS. The Coast Guard Aux. also has safe boating classes. Remember, if there is a collision, everyone is at fault. One of the rules says to avoid collisions. It is much better to learn by an organization that does it well. I really don't doubt that within a few years it will be required in many state to have taken a safe boating course to operate a boat. The two orgs. mentioned above are the most recogonized. Do it for you and everyone aboard your vessel. r.w.landau
Mike, It's the winter break here. It is a great time to take a safe boating course. I am sure there is a United States Power Squadron in your area and you could look it up with a browser, USPS. The Coast Guard Aux. also has safe boating classes. Remember, if there is a collision, everyone is at fault. One of the rules says to avoid collisions. It is much better to learn by an organization that does it well. I really don't doubt that within a few years it will be required in many state to have taken a safe boating course to operate a boat. The two orgs. mentioned above are the most recogonized. Do it for you and everyone aboard your vessel. r.w.landau
- Status
- Not open for further replies.