Lets have a friendly discussion about the Rules of the Road

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Well this will get interesting.

So now we are bringing Common Sense into this thread, 243 years and eight days from the publication of the first edition by Thomas Paine. Common Sense remains the all time best selling American titled publication and is still in print today. Truly a worthy read if there ever was one, so many notable subjects for quotation. It does not have a first rule, instead it has a four sections, the first being:

I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in General, With Concise Remarks on the English Constitution.

Common Sense made public a persuasive and impassioned case for independence, which before the pamphlet had not yet been given serious intellectual consideration.

Ah... you are confusing Paine's 'Common Sense' with Ping's 'First Rule........'

[Montanan]

Everyone should be required to have hands on experience practicing COLREGs before leaving port.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTs_e5p_OVg

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

and those with not so recently acquired hands on practical experience.

You mean like don't argue with French fishermen, they make their own rules. I was held captive for 4 days the last time.

Pete

[El Pinguino]

I've posted this photo before... however...

Several hundred miles offshore... us under sail.... a 'commercial fishing boat' drifting with no gear out... just after sunset.... no 'fishing' shapes... no 'fishing' lights....

We passed this close without any alteration of course.

So... if we had been going to hit her .. ie risk of collision extremo .. what should we have done?

Blown our tooter....

Called them on VHF and quoted Cockcroft to them?

Altered at the last moment and roundly abused them as we bounced down their side...?


Or used some common sense?

Moving right along........ or sailing right along if you so wish...

At night... no radar... no AIS... no VHF.... you have a single white light on a steady bearing... right ahead.... what do you do?

[Montanan]

Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it.

Priceless, absolutely priceless.

[Montanan]

Hoping that during 2019 that the US Navy has a better track record.

[Montanan]

An aircraft carrier trying to give way to a sailboat that is tacking, be like:

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

...........

Or used some common sense?

Moving right along........ or sailing right along if you so wish...

At night... no radar... no AIS... no VHF.... you have a single white light on a steady bearing... right ahead.... what do you do?

Dunno 'bout you Señora Ping, but I would use some common sense which contrary to current popular belief, does still exist in some circles.

It is best described in Rule 2, particularly by the phrase "by the ordinary practice of seamen".

And I reckon you just might do the same?????

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Dunno 'bout you Señora Ping, but I would use some common sense which contrary to current popular belief, does still exist in some circles.

It is best described in Rule 2, particularly by the phrase "by the ordinary practice of seamen".

And I reckon you just might do the same?????

What is this 'Señora' business, Missy?

I think the steady white light is well covered in the rules when you consider what it may be...

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

What is this 'Señora' business, Missy?

I think the steady white light is well covered in the rules when you consider what it may be...

I must edit the spellchecker / autocorrect :reface:

And that is M'Lady to the likes of you...

[Captain Graham]

All in all I think this thread achieved its goal.

Have a thread friendly discussion about the rules of the Road.

Thanks to all who contributed.

[KJThomas]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

It's not though. It is rule 34.

"(h) A vessel that reaches agreement with another vessel in a head on,
crossing, or overtaking situation, as for example, by using the
radiotelephone as prescribed by the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge
Radiotelephone Act (85 Stat. 164; 33 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), is not obliged to
sound the whistle signals prescribed by this Rule, but may do so. If
agreement is not reached, then whistle signals shall be exchanged in a
timely manner and shall prevail."

Guys, you have to take COLREGS in its entirety. You can't just harp on one rule until you are blue in the face. It is a cohesive rulebook and it starts foremost with rule 2.

True. But rule 34 in the international colregs does not mention VHF. That is a US adulteration. For obvious reasons, omitting whistle signals and using VHF is not best practice.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I've posted this photo before... however...

Several hundred miles offshore... us under sail.... a 'commercial fishing boat' drifting with no gear out... just after sunset.... no 'fishing' shapes... no 'fishing' lights....

We passed this close without any alteration of course.

So... if we had been going to hit her .. ie risk of collision extremo .. what should we have done?

Blown our tooter....

Called them on VHF and quoted Cockcroft to them?

Altered at the last moment and roundly abused them as we bounced down their side...?


Or used some common sense?

Moving right along........ or sailing right along if you so wish...

At night... no radar... no AIS... no VHF.... you have a single white light on a steady bearing... right ahead.... what do you do?

Make a large course change to stbd.

[Uricanejack]

What are all the possible vessels. When you see a single white light.