How many of you know whether you have the right of way or the other vessel does? Do you know what your responsibilities are if you do or do not have the right of way? Have you made mistakes in the past? What happened? What about nav lights (You don’t run your masthead tricolor light under power or with your deck nav lights on simultaneously... do you?) Cracked a copy of the COLREGS book lately? (Discussion topic and quiz by Trevor MacLachlan)
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happens
A few short years ago I was sailing on my boat with several friends, all captains of their own sailboats. To the West we could see a huge storm coming. To the East, several boats were in a regatta heading due South. We were heading due West. We decided to turn and run for cover as the sky was black and moving fast. Our angle to the marina was ESE and we had slowly made ground on the racing boats. Then the horn sounded and the stampede turned due West and was coming straight for us! We had the starboard tack and so we thought we were in the right. They were racing and thought they were in the right. And they were heading right into the approaching storm. Who won? As they passed us on our aft side, one boat of all women swore at us in the most vile tongues. One lass was near the mast and as they passed us, we sucked the wind from their sails, the boat stood straight up, and she flew into the mast, saving her from a swimming lesson. We kept going, they kept going. We reached the dock and tied up just as the torrent let loose. We left my radios on, I have 3 VHF's, and waited for the mayday calls. 4 came in, might have been 5. Three boats were swamped and needed a tow in. A few racers were tossed in the drink, but were rescued by the same boat they left. And when they came in, a few sported the nicest of the Piratey look of torn jibs and mains. The all girl boat filed a complaint with the CG who re-read them the rules saying we were in the right as their racing zone was not clearly marked and safety, the need to seek shelter immediately, over ruled their racing.
A few short years ago I was sailing on my boat with several friends, all captains of their own sailboats. To the West we could see a huge storm coming. To the East, several boats were in a regatta heading due South. We were heading due West. We decided to turn and run for cover as the sky was black and moving fast. Our angle to the marina was ESE and we had slowly made ground on the racing boats. Then the horn sounded and the stampede turned due West and was coming straight for us! We had the starboard tack and so we thought we were in the right. They were racing and thought they were in the right. And they were heading right into the approaching storm. Who won? As they passed us on our aft side, one boat of all women swore at us in the most vile tongues. One lass was near the mast and as they passed us, we sucked the wind from their sails, the boat stood straight up, and she flew into the mast, saving her from a swimming lesson. We kept going, they kept going. We reached the dock and tied up just as the torrent let loose. We left my radios on, I have 3 VHF's, and waited for the mayday calls. 4 came in, might have been 5. Three boats were swamped and needed a tow in. A few racers were tossed in the drink, but were rescued by the same boat they left. And when they came in, a few sported the nicest of the Piratey look of torn jibs and mains. The all girl boat filed a complaint with the CG who re-read them the rules saying we were in the right as their racing zone was not clearly marked and safety, the need to seek shelter immediately, over ruled their racing.
What about common courtesy
What burns my *** is when you determine the other boat is stand on and they alter course. Stand on means maintain your present course and speed. The other is when boats(not racing) assert their rights in the middle of a race. Now if there is an emergency and you need to cross the course, then fine but I have seen skippers who had plenty of room, tack into the path of a racing boat just because they could. If you are out pleasure sailing, why not avoid them? Besides, some racers have nicknames like "crash" or "broken" or "bandaid" and they will hit your boat because they are no good at close quarters sailing. Even I don't assert my ROW when racing against them. Otherwise, every other idiot on the water has ROW over me. Thanks for letting me rave Tim R.
What burns my *** is when you determine the other boat is stand on and they alter course. Stand on means maintain your present course and speed. The other is when boats(not racing) assert their rights in the middle of a race. Now if there is an emergency and you need to cross the course, then fine but I have seen skippers who had plenty of room, tack into the path of a racing boat just because they could. If you are out pleasure sailing, why not avoid them? Besides, some racers have nicknames like "crash" or "broken" or "bandaid" and they will hit your boat because they are no good at close quarters sailing. Even I don't assert my ROW when racing against them. Otherwise, every other idiot on the water has ROW over me. Thanks for letting me rave Tim R.
Racing fleet has rights over everyone else?
What nonsense! A Regatta (or sailboat race if you wish) requires that all participants obey the COLREGS. Granted - half of them probably don't have a clue of what the COLREGS are. Courtesy dictates that you should try to stay clear, but it's not compulsory. Take a look at a race fleet's navigation lights when they are coming in after a late regatta - what a mishmash of lighting display. Not too many seem to get it right.
What nonsense! A Regatta (or sailboat race if you wish) requires that all participants obey the COLREGS. Granted - half of them probably don't have a clue of what the COLREGS are. Courtesy dictates that you should try to stay clear, but it's not compulsory. Take a look at a race fleet's navigation lights when they are coming in after a late regatta - what a mishmash of lighting display. Not too many seem to get it right.
In response to " What burns my ***"
A few months ago, on a starboard tack, I found myself in a collision course with another sailboat, which was on port tack. I could see nobody in the cockpit of the other vessel, and with lots of room bore off to port and avoided a collision, as per common sense and the most basic rule of the road. I do hope that I did not burn your ***.
A few months ago, on a starboard tack, I found myself in a collision course with another sailboat, which was on port tack. I could see nobody in the cockpit of the other vessel, and with lots of room bore off to port and avoided a collision, as per common sense and the most basic rule of the road. I do hope that I did not burn your ***.
apologies
Tom: Please accept my apologies. I'll bet were we to sail together, our responses to these Right of Way issues would be identical. in contrition, Don
Tom: Please accept my apologies. I'll bet were we to sail together, our responses to these Right of Way issues would be identical. in contrition, Don
I normally get out of everyone's way...
Just to play it safe. I only use my running lights when it is time to do so. Several weeks ago, I was heading starboard tact close haul down San Diego Bay. To my port quarter was a large ferry heading to cross in front of me, but our bearings to each other did not change. We were headed on a collision course. But to my starboard quarter was a very large motor yacht. My dilemma... If I fall off to port, I would have headed right into the ferry. If I tacted to starboard, I would have lost boat speed and faultered in the path of the motor yacht. But to my surprise, both boat changed course to starboard. The ferry passed behind me and the motor yacht open the distance between us. I maintained course and waved to both skippers my thanks.
Just to play it safe. I only use my running lights when it is time to do so. Several weeks ago, I was heading starboard tact close haul down San Diego Bay. To my port quarter was a large ferry heading to cross in front of me, but our bearings to each other did not change. We were headed on a collision course. But to my starboard quarter was a very large motor yacht. My dilemma... If I fall off to port, I would have headed right into the ferry. If I tacted to starboard, I would have lost boat speed and faultered in the path of the motor yacht. But to my surprise, both boat changed course to starboard. The ferry passed behind me and the motor yacht open the distance between us. I maintained course and waved to both skippers my thanks.
Rules? Are there rules?
Wow I didn't know there were rules eveyone had to follow. From all appearances they only apply to some of us. I've been pushed to the edge of a channel more than once by skippers who think they're in England and like to run up the opposing side of the road. I've had a commercial captain on a large day sailer choose to tack in front of me after watching me make clear and apparent moves in order to avoid him. Best of all I've had the US Navy training sail vessel cut me off while I was on STBD and he on Port tack. They were apparently too busy looking at something other than the other boats around them. At that point I figured if the US Navy didn't know or care abou the rules who the heck does and decided to make the first move in all cases, sail or power. It helps keep me safer, calmer and keeps my "Constant Advisor" from grumbling at me as well. Expect nothing from the other guy and you won't be disappointed and when you do receive some courtesy you'll be delighted. Mike
Wow I didn't know there were rules eveyone had to follow. From all appearances they only apply to some of us. I've been pushed to the edge of a channel more than once by skippers who think they're in England and like to run up the opposing side of the road. I've had a commercial captain on a large day sailer choose to tack in front of me after watching me make clear and apparent moves in order to avoid him. Best of all I've had the US Navy training sail vessel cut me off while I was on STBD and he on Port tack. They were apparently too busy looking at something other than the other boats around them. At that point I figured if the US Navy didn't know or care abou the rules who the heck does and decided to make the first move in all cases, sail or power. It helps keep me safer, calmer and keeps my "Constant Advisor" from grumbling at me as well. Expect nothing from the other guy and you won't be disappointed and when you do receive some courtesy you'll be delighted. Mike
Tonnage and Judgement
I try to keep away from motor yachts running at slow speeds when their maneuverability is limited and from commercial craft simply because they are working and I am playing. In doing so, I try to make my moves obvious and from a distance when they will be understood well in advance. As far as rules of the road in a regatta, if you are participating in one, you better know and abide by them or you’ll be called out quickly enough. As far as boats in a regatta, just don’t take their wind or require them to alter course and happiness will reign. Had an interesting thing happen a few years ago on the way to Santa Catalina Island. There is an active shipping lane to cross on the way. I was running hard and watching a freighter that was crossing at 90 degrees on a constant bearing. I was running with a Bristol 40 and hated to pull up since my ego demanded I beat him, but prudence dictated I change course to go aft of the ship. I tacked and the Bristol also headed up a bit. When I tacked back, I could see that the coastal freighter had slowed to let us cross in front! When he saw we were going to take his stern, he resumed speed. I have never before or since seen a ship in the shipping lanes make any movement for pleasure craft (short an emergency). Rick D.
I try to keep away from motor yachts running at slow speeds when their maneuverability is limited and from commercial craft simply because they are working and I am playing. In doing so, I try to make my moves obvious and from a distance when they will be understood well in advance. As far as rules of the road in a regatta, if you are participating in one, you better know and abide by them or you’ll be called out quickly enough. As far as boats in a regatta, just don’t take their wind or require them to alter course and happiness will reign. Had an interesting thing happen a few years ago on the way to Santa Catalina Island. There is an active shipping lane to cross on the way. I was running hard and watching a freighter that was crossing at 90 degrees on a constant bearing. I was running with a Bristol 40 and hated to pull up since my ego demanded I beat him, but prudence dictated I change course to go aft of the ship. I tacked and the Bristol also headed up a bit. When I tacked back, I could see that the coastal freighter had slowed to let us cross in front! When he saw we were going to take his stern, he resumed speed. I have never before or since seen a ship in the shipping lanes make any movement for pleasure craft (short an emergency). Rick D.
Great discussion
I try and follow the navigation rules as most everyone on this site does, but my first thought is that the vessel that I am about to encounter knows nothing about right of way, so I always err on the side of caution. Check out the SF Fleet Week pics on the attached link. Not sure why but you probably need to enter in the address in your address bar and not just click on it. It's probably the only weekend that the majority of these yachtsman take their boat out!! http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1a/ Jeff
I try and follow the navigation rules as most everyone on this site does, but my first thought is that the vessel that I am about to encounter knows nothing about right of way, so I always err on the side of caution. Check out the SF Fleet Week pics on the attached link. Not sure why but you probably need to enter in the address in your address bar and not just click on it. It's probably the only weekend that the majority of these yachtsman take their boat out!! http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1a/ Jeff
Sail versus motor in narrow channels
I was sailing on Kentucky Lake a couple years back - a place where there is much barge traffic. I was in a narrow part of the Lake with maybe a 1/4 mile of width beating downstream with the wind on the nose. When I first made eye contact with the tow pushing two barges, I saw him change course to port to give me room. Unfortunately, I coulnd't maintain my tack much longer without running onto shoals, so tacked. It surprised me to see the tow change course again to accommodate me. It was really nice of him (her) and I'll never forget it. He made it easy on me, as I could easily have had to luff in the 20 knots of wind and wait for him. There just wasn't any way to behave like a stand on vessel (maintain course and speed). Another incident was when I passed about 40 large motoryachts queueing up before entering a narrow channel on the Great Lakes. I waited 10 minutes and saw no movement, so I went ahead. I predicted it would take me about 6-8 minutes to get through the channel. The wind was again on the nose. The channel was only 200 yards wide, so it would take about 4 tacks. To my chagrin, the fleet started through as soon as I had entered the channel. These were all 50 footers plus and were throwing their wakes and honking their horns like I was an idiot to impede their channel. I couldn't leave the channel as it was too shallow and the bottom was rocky. Plus I had maybe 18 knots of wind and I was single handing it and had my hands full trying to stay in the channel, not hit the ATN, and stand up as the wakes hit my boat. I had been monitoring the VHF, but they weren't on any of the channels I was scanning. They were absolutely clueless about sailboats.
I was sailing on Kentucky Lake a couple years back - a place where there is much barge traffic. I was in a narrow part of the Lake with maybe a 1/4 mile of width beating downstream with the wind on the nose. When I first made eye contact with the tow pushing two barges, I saw him change course to port to give me room. Unfortunately, I coulnd't maintain my tack much longer without running onto shoals, so tacked. It surprised me to see the tow change course again to accommodate me. It was really nice of him (her) and I'll never forget it. He made it easy on me, as I could easily have had to luff in the 20 knots of wind and wait for him. There just wasn't any way to behave like a stand on vessel (maintain course and speed). Another incident was when I passed about 40 large motoryachts queueing up before entering a narrow channel on the Great Lakes. I waited 10 minutes and saw no movement, so I went ahead. I predicted it would take me about 6-8 minutes to get through the channel. The wind was again on the nose. The channel was only 200 yards wide, so it would take about 4 tacks. To my chagrin, the fleet started through as soon as I had entered the channel. These were all 50 footers plus and were throwing their wakes and honking their horns like I was an idiot to impede their channel. I couldn't leave the channel as it was too shallow and the bottom was rocky. Plus I had maybe 18 knots of wind and I was single handing it and had my hands full trying to stay in the channel, not hit the ATN, and stand up as the wakes hit my boat. I had been monitoring the VHF, but they weren't on any of the channels I was scanning. They were absolutely clueless about sailboats.
Jeff...
those shots were awesome! I will forward to my father-in-law, who is retired #1 from Delta a while back... (when it was safe to fly). We always go to Brunswick, ME to see the Air Show. To bad they decided to close the base... I think our air show days are over. I though it was GREAT seeing the show from the tarmac (spelling). I can't imagine seeing AND FEELING it from the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am coming back as a fighter pilot and/or Merchant Marine in my next life... as long as I can carry a gun. OH... THE JET HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY! I will stand down. Thanks for the photos, Rich
those shots were awesome! I will forward to my father-in-law, who is retired #1 from Delta a while back... (when it was safe to fly). We always go to Brunswick, ME to see the Air Show. To bad they decided to close the base... I think our air show days are over. I though it was GREAT seeing the show from the tarmac (spelling). I can't imagine seeing AND FEELING it from the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am coming back as a fighter pilot and/or Merchant Marine in my next life... as long as I can carry a gun. OH... THE JET HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY! I will stand down. Thanks for the photos, Rich
Rich
You definitly have the quote of the day regarding ROW!! "OH... THE JET HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY!" Glad you enjoyed the pics. Several years ago I was out on the bay with my 46' Marine Trader trawler and we were about 100 feet off the port bow of the carrier USS Enterprise. It was like looking up the side of a 50 story building! Later we rode in the wake of a nuclear submarine! Those days are long gone. Jeff
You definitly have the quote of the day regarding ROW!! "OH... THE JET HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY!" Glad you enjoyed the pics. Several years ago I was out on the bay with my 46' Marine Trader trawler and we were about 100 feet off the port bow of the carrier USS Enterprise. It was like looking up the side of a 50 story building! Later we rode in the wake of a nuclear submarine! Those days are long gone. Jeff
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