A Collision Waiting To Happen

[Neo]

This was definitely not a port to port situation, even if we had been motoring. It may have looked that way at the last minute, but in the opening seconds of the video they are nowhere to been seen on our starboard side.

[Tim R.]

Neo did the right thing. Avoiding a collision was the right thing to do.

Assuming the other skipper knows anything about COLREGs is pure conjecture.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Neo

I don't want to be difficult, but there most likely would have been a collision if we did not bear off. I don't think the col regs apply on the sub atomic level. That is, much like gravity, when bodies get very close together, it is no longer the governing force.

But, that is just my opinion, and not a very educated one at that.

If I find myself in the same situation again, i.e. with my head up my arse, I will do exactly the same thing.

Hey... your not being difficult... no collision... no blame.. it worked..
This is just batting semantics...

[fstbttms]

Assuming the port-tack boat had intended to take the OP's stern, there was certainly no reason to make it as close as it undoubtedly would have been, especially since he couldn't know if the OP had seen him. So either the port-tack boat was being a real douche or he didn't know the OP was bearing down on him and had right of way. I suspect the later, however. In either case, the OP did the right thing.

Rule #1- Avoid a collision, regardless of who has the right of way.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

If they were both motoring that would be true...but I don't think that was the case here

Actually, pardon my dyslexia. You are right, we were sailing to windward close hauled so we could not have sailed high enough to go port to port safely, unless the other boat bore off significantly.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Neo

This was definitely not a port to port situation, even if we had been motoring. It may have looked that way at the last minute, but in the opening seconds of the video they are nowhere to been seen on our starboard side.

Actually it was... you were hard on the wind.. the only way to go without 'crossing his bow' would have been a tack... whereas all he had to do was fall of the wind slightly...
Once again... Semantics...
This is not a blame game..

[Neo]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Hey... your not being difficult... no collision... no blame.. it worked..
This is just batting semantics...

All smiles.

[s/v Beth]

Who are these Sematics?
And did they put up a good fight?
And what are ancient warriors doing on the water???

[rtbates]

what's the helmsman looking at while he steers? One peek under the headsail would have shown that vessel long ago.

Hope he doesn't single hand, haha.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Seeing as its a one sided argument with no evidence from the other skipper as to what he did or did not see... all it shows is two boats did not hit so no ones to blame.
Your statement re the other vessel is pure conjecture..

If you cut it so close that the other boat even thinks you are going to hit them, you are afoul of the COLREGs. Remember the thing about an obvious course change, and early?

[foggysail]

Been years since I sailed, I see the event clearly a "STARBOARD" situation where the boat doing the filming had so called right of way although in reality, right of way does not exist, period.

All should do what is needed to avoid a collision of course.

And remember when freighters vs sailboats was a hot topic? I can almost envision a screamed "STARBOARD" as a sailboat succumbs to the freighter's 30' diameter propeller . My point here, if there are questions in this simple situation, horrors forbid a shipping lane situation.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

If you cut it so close that the other boat even thinks you are going to hit them, you are afoul of the COLREGs. Remember the thing about an obvious course change, and early?

Don't go sailing in Poole harbour on a weekend... you'll never get anywhere...

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Don't go sailing in Poole harbour on a weekend... you'll never get anywhere...

Same thing could be said for the start line at most races

[mrohr]

Neo was the stand on boat,but as per colregs he followed them exactly and did not insist upon his rights to the point of allowing a collision .
No conjecture necessay.

[monte]

Originally Posted by mrohr

Neo was the stand on boat,but as per colregs he followed them exactly and did not insist upon his rights to the point of allowing a collision .
No conjecture necessay.

incorrect, he did not maintain a proper watch and did not maaintain course and speed. its obvious by the other vessels wake, track and trim that he lowered his course to pass astern of the stand on vessel. Luckily the other vessel was watching and had time to prepare for neo's last second erratic course change.