Opinion - COLREGS

[Rogue Sailor]

I had a great singlehanded sail this weekend. After about three hours of vigourous sailing in steady 20 knot winds, I needed a break for lunch and a potty session, so I hove-to with mains'l on starboard (port tack?) and tiller lashed to starboard.
After some time, I saw a laser approaching head on on starboard tack. I could have realeased the jib sheet and sailed away on port tack, but I chose to remain hove-to. The laser approached very close on my starboard side. He hailed "I've got it". But as he passed, he lost his wind and went in the drink. Then he yelled "you slole my wind!"

I know that a powerboat adrift with engines off would still be obliged to give way, but the only direction I would have been able to go would have put be into his path.

My qustion is, was I a "vessel not under command"?

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The answer is "no".

You are "under way and making way", which is why the standard advice is to heave to on starboard tack, so as to give you right of way over those on port, and why, traditionally, boats are laid out with the main halyards and reefing gear to starboard and the galley and heads to port - to facilitate doing everything whilst hove to on starboard tack!

[Bernadette]

IF you were STATIONARY/STOPPED, then code flag M could have been hoisted.

[Doug Wood]

IF you were STATIONARY/STOPPED, then code flag M could have been hoisted.
You folks in Australia are clearly way more advanced in your seamanship skills than most of us here in the States. I'd venture to guess that most sailors here would have no idea what a code flag M would mean if they saw it hoisted on another vessel. Not to mention that most of us don't have code flags on board to begin with.

[Bill Perkins]

Thanks Andrew , I hadn't thought about the reason for placeing head and galley to Port.

[Donn]

..traditionally, boats are laid out with the main halyards and reefing gear to starboard and the galley and heads to port - to facilitate doing everything whilst hove to on starboard tack!
.Ok...my head and galley are on the port side, but as far as I know, I don't tack in my stinkpot. What, exactly, is "hove to on a starboard tack?"

[Bruce Hooke]

While the Laser had the right of way in this situation I don't think you can be blamed for the fact that the he failed to be ready for the sudden drop in wind that he encountered when he passed below you. That was poor seamanship in his part.

Regarding your statement that "but the only direction I would have been able to go would have put me into his path," in theory what I think you should have done is seen him far enough in advance to be able to get under way and get out of his way. In practice, given the speed and maneuverability of a Laser I'm not sure how possible this would have been. Of course, if you had moved out of his way it probably would have meant moving ahead to give him room to pass below you without changing course, in which case he still probably would have dumped for the same reason that he did.

I seem to recall that the "vessel not under command" rule is reserved for some very special cases like a vessel that has lost it's ability to maneuver because of damage to power or steering systems, or a vessel that has been abandoned, or some such, but to get the details I would have to dig out the rule book. In short, it is not something that can be used by most solo sailors. In practice, almost any small pleasure craft, and any solo sailor, spends a lot of time not strictly in compliance with the rules because the I believe the rules require you to keep a "proper lookout", which I understand to mean someone just dedicated to keeping watch, not split between keeping watch, tending sails, steering, etc.

[Bruce Hooke]

Originally posted by Donn:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />..traditionally, boats are laid out with the main halyards and reefing gear to starboard and the galley and heads to port - to facilitate doing everything whilst hove to on starboard tack!
.Ok...my head and galley are on the port side, but as far as I know, I don't tack in my stinkpot. What, exactly, is "hove to on a starboard tack?"</font>[/QUOTE]It's something you can't do without sails! :D It means backing the jib (putting it on the opposite side from usual relative to the mainsail) so that the vessel basically sits all but stopped in the water at a steady angle to the wind. Since this does not apply to power boats the logic regarding putting the galley and head on the port must, in power boats, either be a holdover from sailboats or due to some other reason.

[Matt Middleton]

Another small point, on which my recent BoatSmart instructors placed much emphasis: you do not refer to one vessel as having "right-of-way"; there is a "stand-on" vessel and a "give-way" vessel. The fellow in the Laser was the "stand-on" vessel, and obligated to hold his course. You were the "give-way" vessel, and were supposed to make your course to avoid him. And the rule that supersedes them both- do whatever is best to keep everyone safe.

It sounds like this guy goofed up and needed someone to blame because he felt stupid.

Bruce is correct about a vessel not under command.

Matt

[NormMessinger]

That describes "hove to" Bruce, but you left out the "starboard" part? Danged if I can remember either and I've looked it up many times. Um, when the wind is on the starboard side? or is it the other way.

HELP!

[Ian Wright]

Originally posted by NormMessinger:
Danged if I can remember either and I've looked it up many times. Um, when the wind is on the starboard side? or is it the other way.

HELP!Norm! You sadden me,,,,,,,,,,,
Starboard Tack = with the wind from Starboard therefore the main boom is on the Port side.
Tsk tsk,,,,,,,,
Those of you to whom this is news, click on Amazon and get a copy of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea, with the addition of the US inland rules if you sail on the left side of the Atlantic, and do it now please.

IanW

[Donn]

Ok...I understand hove to on a starboard tack. :D I never have a right-of-way problem with sailboats. I give 'em a very wide berth, no matter where they are, where they are going, or what they're doing.

I almost got nailed by one once, though. I was anchored with 4 or 5 other fishing boats, and one of those silly "Tucks" went berserk, and flashed right through our little group, missing my bow by a couple of feet with his mast. The two passengers were hanging off the port rail to their toes, and I swear that mast wasn't 5' off the water. :eek:

[NormMessinger]

Be of good cheer good sir. I shall remember for sure now. Don't be to sad though I had it right even if I was not confident. Nothin' like a little embarassment to cement long term memory, eh.

[paladin]

uh...fellows.....I wuz always told to build with the galley on the starboard side and the head on the other....reason being that most boats so equipped would have water intakes and outputz and if'n the head is forward then the head outputz into the galley inputz.....or something like that..

[Nicholas Carey]

I gotta say, it's a poor dinghy sailor that went in the drink because he failed to anticipate the wind shadow from a larger vessel. And poorer form to blame the larger vessel for his lack of balance. :rolleyes:


And Ian Wright said
Those of you to whom this is news, click on Amazon and get a copy of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea, with the addition of the US inland rules if you sail on the left side of the Atlantic, and do it now please.Or just get the PDF from the USCG. 72 COLREGS is available from the USCG as Navigation Rules, International&ndash;Inland (http://www.uscg.mil/vtm/navrules/navrules.pdf). The price is righteous, too&mdash;it's hard to beat free. :D


Bruce Hook said:
I seem to recall that the "vessel not under command" rule is reserved for some very special cases like a vessel that has lost it's ability to maneuver because of damage to power or steering systems, or a vessel that has been abandoned, or some such...Rule 3(i). The word "underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

So we're definitely under way here.

Rule 3(f). The term "vessel not under command" means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance (emphasis mine) is unable to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

I don't believe lying hove to constitutes an 'exceptional circumstance' as there's nothing unusual about it -- hitting the head, making lunch, etc. are all rather ordinary.

Now, if one was lying hove to while trying to jury rig a replacement for the rudder that just dropped off...now that would probably constitute an "unusual circumstance" :D

One could make the argument Rogue Sailor's boat was a "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver".

Rule 3(g). The term ?vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver? means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel; vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver include, but are not limited to...[elided]

It would seem to me that heaving to puts you in this category. With the tiller lashed own and the headsails backed, one is certainly restricted in maneuverability. I'd argue that this makes Rogue Sailor the stand-on vessel and Laser Boy the give-way vessel.

The intent of the Rules, after all, is to make the vessel with the greatest maneuverability the give-way vessel.
Matt Middleton said
Another small point, on which my recent BoatSmart instructors placed much emphasis: you do not refer to one vessel as having "right-of-way"; there is a "stand-on" vessel and a "give-way" vessel.Right! COLREGS goes to a lot of trouble to avoid assigning right-of-way.


the rule that supersedes them both- do whatever is best to keep everyone safe.Rule 17(b)/(d). (b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course
and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision. ... (d) This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Norm, just remember that the starboard side's the one with the GREEN bowlight on it; hence starboard tack right of way.

Alan

[Ian McColgin]

That may be a confusing memonic. The red and green lamps inform all vessels of which side of another vessel they are facing if the other vessel is so marked.

With vessels under power, it's about like a traffic light. If you see green it means stand-on.

Nothing to do with what tack you're on as a sail boat.

A yacht undersail should exhibit just side lights and stern light but may also have a masthead red over green.

If she's heeled over, that's all you'll see.

And even if you see the redgreen, it just means you see her port side. She might also be on the port tack and if you're on starboard, you are stand-on even though you see her red and you see her green.

Here lies the body of Michael O'Day
Who died defending his right of way.
He was right, dead right, as he sailed along,
But just as dead as if he'd been wrong.

G'luck

[Meerkat]

Originally posted by Alan D. Hyde:
Norm, just remember that the starboard side's the one with the GREEN bowlight on it; hence starboard tack right of way.

AlanHmmm... I always thought that staRboard was red and Leeboard (former name of "port") was green because it didn't have an "r" in it?! I dimly recall being taught that in sailing school, but maybe I've become confused over the years?

I also thought that the tack a boat was on was determined by which side the boom was on? On a starboard tack, the boom will be on the starboard side (and the port side will be the weather side?)?

[Del Lansing]

But! does the other fella's hailing "I've got it" acknowledge an aberrant passing? then obviously he failed to "have it", and his own fault he got wetted? A variation of two horn blasts acknowledged by 2 blasts for a starboard/starboard passing?

[Art Read]

"I seem to recall that the "vessel not under command" rule is reserved for some very special cases like a vessel that has lost it's ability to maneuver because of damage to power or steering systems, or a vessel that has been abandoned, or some such..."

As far as the rules go, and the proper lights to be shown on the masthead in such a case, "Red over red - Skipper's dead". In other words, A vessel that will NOT, and CAN not, no matter what the situation, respond, react or in any way aknowledge your presence in it's general vicinity. Treat it like a drifting log. A vessel "hove to" would not qualify. Not if her master was still breathing anyway... However, courtesy and common sense would suggest giving any vessel hove to, especially offshore, and even more especially, with nobody in sight on deck, a wide, comfortable berth...

That being said, sailing under your lee and "dumping" because of your wind shadow is the other skipper's problem really. His only claim on you would be if there had been a collision, or if his attempt to avoid one had caused damage because of your wake perhaps.

A vessel is said to be on one tack or the other based upon which side of the boat the wind is coming from. Period. It goes back to the days of square riggers when the two lower corners of a square sail where refered to as the "tack" and the "clew". When on the starboard tack, the WINDWARD, lower corner of the sail, and the line that secured it, on the starboard side was the tack and the DOWNWIND corner to port was the clew. Likewise, the edge of the sail leading from the earing at the head down to the "tack" at the foot was was refered to as the luff. The opposite edge was the leach. When "tacked" through the wind so that those relative positions were reversed, the names changed as well. Kind of like that old joke about the easiest way to get a rat out of the lee scuppers... Just come about! ;)

It always amuses me when "heaving to" is almost always described as some sort of complicated, hairy chested, make your eyes water sort of nautical feat of "daring do" in all the so called "sailing books".... Nothing could be farther from the truth. Don't go "hauling your jib up to windward to 'back' it". Just throw your helm down, leave your sheets alone and lie-to on the opposite tack. If you're not happy with where that will leave you after you go to sleep, just pass your jib across after having hove to, (it'll be easier then) and then bring her back through the wind again after she gains way and there you are. All snugged down again, no fuss, no muss, and drifting off again the way you want to.

For those of you who haven't yet enjoyed the pleasure of watching your vessel lie hove to, tending to herself calmly and compentantly, while all about you is noise and and fury, I highly recomend it. Practice it. Find out what sail trim suits her best in varied conditions. Once you've got it down, you'll be able to put your vessel to sleep, anywhere with enough searoom, and any time you wish. As my old skipper used to say admiringly, "Just like a duck with her head under her wing..."

(...BTW... Powerboats DO indeed "heave to". Though they often call it "jogging". Anytime a power driven vessel can no longer sustain her course due to stress of weather and is forced to lie at a comfortable angle and speed in relation to the seas, she can be said to be hove to. The deck crew often become much more appreciative of the "black gang" down below at times like that...)

[Meerkat]

Ahem. Would someone kindly correct my above post if I'm incorrect: it was at least half a question smile.gif

[Stiletto]

Port wine is red, Have a look at 'can you pass the test' onthe Building /repair forum.

[bugeye]

Hi,
port used to be larboard. It's not hard to see why it was changed to port

[Ian McColgin]

At the Edgartown Race Week some years back we were in a tight crossing situation with our hated rival.

We were on the port tack.

To acknowledge (HehHehHeh) this as we approached I called loudly, "Larboard!!!"

The other Wianno instantly tacked out of our way the realized what had happened.

They tried to protest but the committee all but died laughing that they'd been suckered.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Meerkat:

Can't help you with the red and green lights but I do know that a boat is considered to be on port or starboard tack depending on what side the wind blows across on it's way to the sail.

So, if the boom is hanging off the port side of the boat then you are, in fact, on starboard tack. You then have the right of way over any punt, boat, ship, R/C boat model, creature of the deep, turtle, Sport's Illustrated swimsuit model, and so on. In my book (I don't race) I would keep a wide berth between myself and those big ore tankers. Somehow I'm not sure they are too manuverable even if they could see a sailboat.

[MarkC]

Laser sailors

In our mooring bay in Sydney Harbour, while getting things ready or cleaning up on the Folk Boat we used to watch the Laser sailors training.

They used to 'train' - it was more a game,I used to call it 'sudden death' - they (normally five of them) would line up downwind of the moored yachts and they then race, beating up-wind through the yachts, they would try to run each other into the yachts. Their masts are too light to do any damage - you could end up with two of 'em jammed in your stays, sails flapping everwhere.

Man it was funny.

[Ian McColgin]

I got a kick out of CaptPre's list except that it perpetuates some rather bad errors.

A sailing boat sailing on the starboard tack has the right of way over sailing boats on the port tack. If both boats are on the starboard tack, the over-taking vessel is the give-way vessel.

A sailing boat under sail does not have right of way over quite a few power vessels including:

Vessels constrained by draft;

Vessels with manoevering difficulties;

Vessels engaged in fishing;

. . . add dredging, minesweeping, etc.

And no sail boat has rights over that really really huge Algerian LNG thing that comes into Boston.

Out beyond all that, remember that there is a fundamental rule, not written down anywhere:

"The Law of Relative Tonnage." If you have the tonnage, the other sailor's relatives get the sympathy.

When I was teaching sailing to the kids at Setauket Yacht Club nigh onto 40 years ago now, one of the dear tykes sat in his Optomist in front of a tug with a trap rock barge quite sure of his right of way. Between the tug risking all backing against the tow and my nipping over in the whaler and pulling the boat to safety, we ended with no osterized youngster. I beached the kid for a week.

A little courtesy helps as well. With my engin down, Grana takes up a lot of the channel if I must tack in past Kalmus. I always give a security call on 13 and if it's at all interesting, can by radio let affected commercial traffic know what my plan is so that we pass each other safely and with no 'five or more's".

You cannot count on non-commercial boats listening on 13 - can't count on much from some of those tupperwaretunnatowerterrors - but the boats that really do have limited options as to how they are going to miss you will appreciate a business like security call and subsequent calls as needed. Ch13 is a bridge to bridge channel and you will, of course, observe correct radio ettiquette.

[Frank E. Price]

Wow! Some doin's!

One more nit: Bruce Hooke mentioned believing the requirement to keep a good lookout as "dedicated to keeping watch, not split between keeping watch, tending sails, steering, etc."

Aboard the passenger vessels I worked on (car ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway System) the bridge watchstanders were the helmsman and the Mate on watch. An additional crew member would be posted as lookout either on the bow or on the bridge when entering and leaving port, in heavy traffic (including gillnetters and whales), in ice (rarely) or areas of other heavy flotsam (logs during springs), and in times of restricted visibiliy, especially in fog, snow or heavy rain, and during hours of darkness.

When no lookout was posted it was the responsibility of the helmsman and Mate to keep a good lookout while keeping course, checking the chart, radar, GPS, and using the VHF and ship's phone. As all the Deck officers and Masters I worked with were always careful to comply with regulations, I'm sure such practice must be in compliance with the CFRs.

When everyone is below or asleep, that's not keeping a good lookout.

Frank

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Ian:

Thanks for setting me right on my post above. Despite you having the truth on your side, I do reserve the right to yield to any SI swimsuit model. It's just the gentlemanly thing to do and besides, having intentionally sailed all the way across the lake it is important to be close enough to said subject (target?) to yield. :D

[Clipper]

Is there a signal for a sailing vessel leaving a dock under sail alone ?

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Having been raised a Catholic, my wife still crosses herself when I am at the helm. :D

[ 10-04-2003, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: Captain Pre-Capsize ]

[Art Read]

Ian...

"...A sailing boat sailing on the starboard tack has the right of way over sailing boats on the port tack. If both boats are on the starboard tack, the over-taking vessel is the give-way vessel..."

Perhaps it would be more precice to say that ANY vessel overtaking another shall give way, and that when two vessels under sail are on the SAME tack, (port OR starboard) the vessel to windward shall stay clear?

[Art Read]

"...Is there a signal for a sailing vessel leaving a dock under sail alone ?"

Good question. I would assume it's just the standard, single, prolonged blast. If you were backing out under power, following that with three, short blasts would indicate that you were operating astern propulsion, but I believe the single blast simply means that you are entering, or intend to enter, the fairway. By any means. No?

[Ian McColgin]

I usually fire my cannon when leaving under sail.

My dock is tucked in next to one ferry dock and another line goes further into the inner harbour, so I mainly look for a nice window between commercial boats that would have a hard time standing clear of me.

[Bruce Hooke]

Originally posted by Ian McColgin:
I usually fire my cannon when leaving under sail.I imagine the sight of a nice piece of round shot skipping across the water would pretty well assure a clear passage, at least until the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Harbor Master, and the Police all converge on you! :D ;) :D

[Ian McColgin]

It's just a signal cannon. Father gave it to me for my 40th birthday with the remark that:

"When a man turns 40, he may want a new gun, even if it's only shooting blanks."

But in the night that tounge of flame that the black powder puts out is some impressive.