[Rhodes22-list] Right-of-Way

[Brad Haslett]

Bill,

This time of year there is no wind on Pickwick unless a front is coming
through. Sailing June through August is more like floating a rubber duck in
a hot tub.  My excuse is that I need to get the spider webs and wasp nest's
out of the sails. Last Spring I had my oldest son and some of his fraternity
brothers overnight on the boat and we ran the battery down listening to what
they call music.   We sailed back to the channel but short of tacking every
twenty feet, you can't sail to my dock.  We got a tow from a party barge
with a small block V8!  Why the hell would anyone want a motor that size on
a party barge?  Anyway, I told the guy it doesn't matter how big your unit
is or how strong the line, I've got 4000 pounds of lead in the keel and we
can go 7 knots at 2000 rpm or 8 knots at 6000 rpm.  We went 8 knots.

Brad


On 7/27/06, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
>
> Brad,
>
> People like you are the bane of my existence.  On the Sound on the
> weekends, a lot of people seem to think that's what "sailing" means.
> They motor around with their sales up, luffing.  People on my boat say
> "They're sailing!  Why can't you find any wind?"  As soon as I use the
> word "luffing" I know I'm in trouble.  Sometimes I have to motor over to
> these boats so the people on my boat can hear their engines.  The
> problem is most of the people on my boat would sooner motor around with
> the sales luffing than seek a soft breeze.
>
> The sound is big enough, and the commercial channels far enough away,
> that most people are really quite courteous.  The discourteous people
> are going to mow you down no matter who has the right of way.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
> Brad Haslett wrote:
> > Bill,
> >
> > This is chickenshit but effective.  I have to motor through a narrow
> > channel
> > for about a half-mile to hit the deep channel and then am restricted
> > for the
> > next two until the wide part of Pickwick.  I usually hoist the mainsail,
> > even in zero wind, and let it luff while motoring.  Sailboats under
> > sail are
> > *supposed* to have the right-a-way and the big powerboats can't hear
> > my 13hp
> > diesel running over the noise from their 300+ hp motors.  The bass boats
> > running after 70 knot fish are another story.
> >
> > Brad
> >
> >
> > On 7/27/06, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Wally,
> >>
> >> Even though they are operating at unsafe speeds, it is clear both that
> >> they are unable to maneuver, and that you don't want to get hit by
> >> them.  You must give way when you see them coming.
> >>
> >> Commercial boats have right-of-way any time they are restricted in
> their
> >> ability to maneuver.  That winds up being almost all the time.
> >>
> >> Fishing boats don't have to have lines or nets or traps in the water
> >> attached to the boat to be "fishing".  A lobster boat going from trap
> to
> >> trap has the right of way -- and they know it!  They are sick and tired
> >> of panty waisted sailors getting in between them and their livelihood.
> >> This was one of the first right-of-way lessons I learned on my Sunfish
> >> on Long Island Sound.
> >>
> >> The Law of Tonnage is the only one that really matters when you're out
> >> on the water.  Somebody posted a video of a sailboat cutting in front
> of
> >> a ferry.  I don't think any of us seriously thought the sailboat had
> the
> >> right of way.
> >>
> >> Around here people in kayaks think they have the right of way because
> >> they are less maneuverable than sailboats.  Boating fatalities are
> >> soaring because of these people.  Even in boats as small as ours, you
> >> can't see them until it's too late.
> >>
> >> People in small boats have to learn to stop doing stupid things.
> >>
> >> Bill Effros
> >>
> >> TN Rhodey wrote:
> >> > Bill,
> >> >
> >> > First off I do everything I can to get out of the way of any boat.
> >> > Every boater is supposed to do everything they can to avoid accidents
> >> > including keeping a sharp look out and operating at safe speeds for
> >> > conditions.
> >> >
> >> > Driving a boat at 90 mph does not give one the right of way. You are
> >> > operating at unsafe speeds.
> >> >
> >> > A commerical boat does not always have right of way over sail boat
> >> > under sail. If the commerical craft is not restricted by channel or
> >> > towing they do not have right of way. Commercial fisherman do have
> the
> >> > right a way when they are actually fishing. They do not have right of
> >> > way when they are not fishing.
> >> >
> >> > Wally
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
> >> >> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Right-of-Way
> >> >> Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:44:56 -0400
> >> >>
> >> >> Tom, Herb,
> >> >>
> >> >> Most people get this wrong.
> >> >>
> >> >> Here's the pecking order:
> >> >>
> >> >> (Summary of Coast Guard rules courtesy of the state of Tennessee)
> >> >>
> >> >> Responsibilities Between Vessels:
> >> >>
> >> >> If operating a power driven vessel you must give way to:
> >> >>
> >> >> o Any vessel not under command, such as an anchored or disabled
> >> vessel.
> >> >> o Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, such as a vessel
> >> >> towing, laying cable, or picking up navigation markers, or a vessel
> >> >> constrained by its draft such as a large ship in a channel.
> >> >> o A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
> >> >> o A sailing vessel (sail only) unless it is overtaking
> >> >>
> >> >> If operating a sailing vessel (sail only), you must give way to:
> >> >> o Any vessel not under command
> >> >> o Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
> >> >> o A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
> >> >>
> >> >> Michael and I sail in waters where we see all kinds of vessels
> >> >> (including submarines) all the time.  Every summer we read about a
> >> >> novice sailor getting killed while yelling "I've got the right of
> >> >> way!"  -- when in fact he doesn't.
> >> >>
> >> >> All military vessels have right-of-way over all other vessels.  Next
> >> >> comes the Coast Guard.  Next comes emergency vessels.  Next comes
> >> >> tugboats.
> >> >>
> >> >> Then comes vessels engaged in commercial fishing.
> >> >>
> >> >> But way up at the top are vessels not under command, and just below
> >> >> is any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver.
> >> >>
> >> >> As a practical matter try to think of a commercial vessel that is
> not
> >> >> restricted in its ability to maneuver.  We already know that if you
> >> >> try to turn a cruise ship too fast it can tip over.  A Cigarette
> >> >> boat, traveling at 90 miles an hour, is restricted in its ability to
> >> >> maneuver.  Sailboats must give way -- early!
> >> >>
> >> >> Some of these big commercial boats have 40 foot drafts.
> >> >>
> >> >> I can't think of a commercial boat that wouldn't have right of way
> >> >> over a sail boat under sail--can you?
> >> >>
> >> >> Experienced sailors always follow "The Law of Tonnage": if something
> >> >> bigger than you is bearing down on you -- get out of its way!
> >> >>
> >> >> Bill Effros
> >> >>
> >> >> PS -- Anchored vessels must be in designated anchorages -- you can't
> >> >> anchor in the middle of a busy waterway and think for one second
> that
> >> >> you've got the right of way.  And if you're disabled, but the other
> >> >> boat can't maneuver, and can't give way...don't get disabled in
> front
> >> >> of big boats--it won't turn out well.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Herb Parsons wrote:
> >> >>> I'm curious too. Commercial fishing vessels are stand on over sail
> >> >>> boats, when they're engaged in fishing. ANY boat (commercial or
> >> >>> other) limited in their ability to manuever and in a channel is
> >> >>> stand on over a sailing boat as well. But I believe that the
> blanket
> >> >>> statement that all commercial vessels have the right-of-way over
> any
> >> >>> sailing vessel is incorrect.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Herb Parsons
> >> >>>
> >> >>> S/V O'Jure
> >> >>> 1976 O'Day 25
> >> >>> Lake Grapevine, N TX
> >> >>>
> >> >>> S/V Reve de Papa
> >> >>> 1971 Coronado 35
> >> >>> Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>>>> Tatflies at cs.com 7/26/2006 10:29:26 pm >>>
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>> Bill,
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Why do commercial vessels have the right-of-way over any sailing
> >> >>> vessel (unless limited in their ability to manuever)?
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Tom T.
> >> >>> __________________________________________________
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> >> >>>
> >> >>> __________________________________________________
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> >> >>>
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> >> >
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