All about the Colregs no 3 - single handed sailing and keeping a look out

[secrabtree]

I used to do some deliveries. A dozen Hawaii to SF, a couple the other way, a 20+ from So. Cal to SF, a couple the other way, a few to/from the Puget sound area. Salt atmosphere and electricity breed problems. I've found that few boats that haven't spent a deal of time at sea WILL have running light failures while making an ocean passage. At first I worried about that. But soon I realized that most pleasure craft skippers will see you in ample time even without lights (though we are happier if the warning is in "comfortable" time (more than "ample" time). As for freighters, they are unlikely to see you, and IF they do the most that they can do to prevent a collission is honk their horn. About 30 years ago, sailing down the coast of California, the watch stander called me up. I stuck my head out of the hatch and looked up at about a 60° angle from the horizontal at both a red ligh and a green light. I immediately swung the boat as far as I could with the Monitor still connected and disconnected it as soon as I could get close enough. We passed close enough to see the rust stains on the hull welds on a moonless night. They didn't respond to the VHF on 16, 9 or 14. By that time I was stern to stern with him. I shot off a parachute flare it fell right in front of the bridge. Still no response on VHF. No horns. No response by him indicating he had any knowledge of my Cal 39 being on the same ocean as him. Since then I have not ever relied upon being noticed by a commercial ship (though I've been in VHF conversation with most that I've seen). As I facetiouysly put it - they set their radar alarm to warn them of anything large enough to cause them significant damage.

[Pelagic]

Maybe I missed it...but who in this thread said that solo sailing is illegal?
I only remember CF members discussing the legality of what lights to best show when sleeping and in principal NUC

[Wotname]

Plenty have suggested that single handed sailing is in contravention of Colregs when clearly it is not.

At the very most, sleeping while single handed sailing might be but plenty of single handed sailing is done without sleeping.

I wonder how many of us drive a car solo!

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Maybe I missed it...but who in this thread said that solo sailing is illegal?
I only remember CF members discussing the legality of what lights to best show when sleeping and in principal NUC

Yes, you missed them then. Plenty have quite clearly stated they believe it's illegal and referred to fines etc.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Plenty have suggested that single handed sailing is in contravention of Colregs when clearly it is not.

At the very most, sleeping while single handed sailing might be but plenty of single handed sailing is done without sleeping.

I wonder how many of us drive a car solo!

Well, if you believe that, keep in mind whilst your down in this neck of the woods that the Colregs have been accepted entirely into Law here and there is a technical fine for breaching any part of them of up to $23000. The only part I'm aware that is actively policed are speed breaches.

[Wotname]

Just to clear up a point after some 245 posts:

Simple question.

Does anyone know anywhere in the world were it is illegal to sail solo?

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Just to clear up a point after some 245 posts:

Simple question.

Does anyone know anywhere in the world were it is illegal to sail solo?

What a good question. Couldn't have put it better myself.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Just to clear up a point after some 245 posts:

Simple question.

Does anyone know anywhere in the world were it is illegal to sail solo?

Nowhere that I am aware off and, lets not forget, once you are 'offshore' you are only bound by your flag state requirements.

For example if you are skipper of a Chilean flag yacht in Chile you are required to have an Armada issued captain's ticket.... if foreign flag then you don't even though you are operating in their waters.

As stated somewhere before in one of these zombie threads there are zero problems until you hit something and even then it would be beyond unlikely.
The only sort of incident would be if, while not keeping a lookout, you ran down a dugout and drowned a couple of people in Venezualan coastal waters frinstnce but that is just as likely to involve a 'crewed' yacht.

[monte]

In Australia it's illegal to sail solo if towing a skier

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by monte

In Australia it's illegal to sail solo if towing a skier

You a pollie??? ' cause they always answer a question that wasn't asked

For the record there is a shipload of things that are illegal for solo sailor in Oz.
But sailing isn't one of them.

The question was a bit rhetorical am I'm sure sailing solo is legal everywhere as much as the dissenters don't like the fact.

I with Boatie on this subject along with the others who think the same.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by monte

In Australia it's illegal to sail solo if towing a skier

Entirely reasonable you Aussies are.

[weavis]

Well tine to set the engines on half throttle, settle in at 8 knots, aim for a traffic lane and switch the RADAR off...... need at last 4 hours sleep. Those deck lights are annoying so will hit the switch on them as well.

Cya all on the morrow.

[monte]

I don't think anyone has claimed sailing solo is illegal, or even 'not a good idea' anywhere in this particular thread, apart from a few obvious tongue in cheek replies

[Exile]

Originally Posted by weavis

Well tine to set the engines on half throttle, settle in at 8 knots, aim for a traffic lane and switch the RADAR off...... need at last 4 hours sleep. Those deck lights are annoying so will hit the switch on them as well.

Cya all on the morrow.

You'll be fine since the cats are clearly in command, at least in their minds. No doubt they're maintaining a helluva watch too.

[CSY Man]

. Does anyone know anywhere in the world were it is illegal to sail solo?

Nah, sailing solo is not the question. Sleeping on watch however is, so is not keepin a lookout.

Pretty basic stuff.

Sail by the rules, or ignore them.
Hard to find support across the board for cheating, but hat off to those who keep trying..