Rules of the road

[Broke sailor SV Marcell]

I ran into a poem in a Nautical Almanac. It goes something like ths:
When all three lights I see ahead
I turn to starboard and show my red
Green to green, red to red
Perfect safety-go ahead

But if to Starboard red appear
it is my duty to keep clear
to act as judgement says is proper
to port or starboard, back or stop her

And if upon my port is seen
A steamers starboard light of green
I hold my course and watch and see
that green to port keeps clear of me

Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good lookout
In danger with no room to turn
ease her, stop her, go astern.

Anyway I was looking in the USCG Rules of the road the piece about to starboard the other vessel has right of way, to port you are the stand on vessel. I could not find it. Any ideas?

 

[Ross]

Treat the lights just as you would traffic signals on the road. If you see red, you stop sort of . If you see green, you keep going. But don't trust anybody to not do something stupid.

 

[tommays]

Theres are a lot of R rules that keep it simple


Red right return for bouys when coming back into port

The boat to your Right has the right of way

 

[Calif. Ted]

Anyway I was looking in the USCG Rules of the road the piece about to starboard the other vessel has right of way, to port you are the stand on vessel.

Rule 15 for power vessels:
When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

 

[divinebovine]

Rule 15 for power vessels:
When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

Also think about what the other boat is seeing on your lights, or would be seeing if it were dark...
If the boat is to your right, they would see your green light, meaning 'keep going', and if the boat is to your left, they would see your red light, meaning 'stop' or 'give way'.

 

[Allan Frey]

I learned of a newly invented rule a few months ago. Another sailboat and I were crossing under power and I was on his starboard side. I followed rule 15 and held course and speed. When we were near a collision I yelled starboard to alert him. He yelled back "I'm on a line" and kept on a collision course. I guess he invented a new rule.

I guess I was "on a line" also but that apparently never occurred to him. I stopped and left him pass ahead and then moved well away from him.

Allan

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

The rules are great in a court of law. That being said it is the responsibility of each vessel master to avoid a collision.

Many people out there have not one idea of what they are supposed to do. It can truly be an irritation when you expect the master of another vessel to follow the rules, and they don't.

The rules of the road on a boat are much like the rules when you are on a motorcycle. You may be right, but you'll still be dead. Better to give way than to crash.

 

[Broke sailor SV Marcell]

Thanks California Ted. I couldn't find it when I was looking for it!

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

I learned of a newly invented rule a few months ago. Another sailboat and I were crossing under power and I was on his starboard side. I followed rule 15 and held course and speed. When we were near a collision I yelled starboard to alert him. He yelled back "I'm on a line" and kept on a collision course. I guess he invented a new rule.

I guess I was "on a line" also but that apparently never occurred to him. I stopped and left him pass ahead and then moved well away from him.

Allan

The key point is you are both under power. Thus you are both subject to power boat rules (not kidding). If you were on his starboard, then you were the give way boat. So he was correct, not you.

 

[Ted]

Paul, you're incorrect. Re-read Allan's scenario and your own reply. Allan was on the starboard side of the other vessel therefore Allan had right of way.

Remember this verse.

But if to Starboard red appear
it is my duty to keep clear.

Is there any chance that you were the other vessel?

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

Oh, yeah. My dyslexia kicked in. I guess I better remember the verse.

 

[Calif. Ted]

No problem, I'm pretty familiar with the rules so can find things pretty quick, if I've heard some of the clever methods suggested for memory I've forgotten them, but they all sound pretty good.

 

[Don12364]

The Way I Teach It

I explain it this way for when people are motoring and, because people get to make a real physical effort, they are able to repeat these actions years later without having to remember any words:-

Face dead ahead.

Put your LEFT arm out directly in front of you.
Extend your RIGHT arm outwards to your right as far as it will go.
Now you GIVE WAY to any boats in the arc between your arms.

Try it now and never forget again.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Here is my "Golden Rule" of collision avoidance: always expect the other skipper to not know, or care, about the Rules of the Road so whenever doubt exits I get out of the way, and do it early. I realize this is a very cynical view, but my experience with both power and sailing vessels has proven it right more often than wrong.

On a related topic, I often wonder how many sailors/boaters out there have any understanding of horn signals. So every now and then I give a toot to see who gives a hoot. I never get return hoots and most often get startled looks from the crew of the boat I am passing...

What has been your experience with horn signals?

 

[Nereussailor]

Warren,
you've got it right on that one. Although, I gave up on any other signal than the finger. Most of these idiots down here couldn't tell you the rules of the road if asked. Hell, the only thing most of them could tell you is where the bottle opener is. Last weekend was a prime example of that.

Dave

 

[Stu Jackson]

Horns

Horn signals are unknown here. I have a little leaflet sized instruction that I cut out from BoatUS years ago.

Horn signals: the number of toots = the number of syllables in the side of YOUR boat that you will pass the other skipper.

I find it easier to remember that way. Like Donalex's arm idea. KISS - works for me, 'cuz I can't remember too much more complicated than that.

Seems those two thing are almost ALL you need!