Colregs Etiquette

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by boatman61

There's a lot of crap being spouted here.. the worst being the assumption two boat lengths is not enough for a competent Skipper to take evasive action to avoid another sailing vessel, especially as so many claim to be 'racers'..

But is the other guy a "competent Skipper"?

Assuming it's not some very tight channel or special situation...on open water, getting within 2 boat lengths is pretty hard to justify as good seamanship.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by StuM

If they have sails up and are not displaying a cone, acting on a guess about their status and assuming that they would respond as a power driven vessel is IMNSHO, plain foolish when you are clearly the windward vessel.

As I said, I would not necessarily do as the OP did.. I know how big my balls are..
There was nothing to stop him going 10 degrees to port early on and take the wind more from the stern at the expense of twiddling the main and spinnaker a tad thus passing the others stern.
However both boats played chicken till the last moment when the OP blinked..
Guess modern sailors don't like veering off way point courses..

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

But is the other guy a "competent Skipper"?

Assuming it's not some very tight channel or special situation...on open water, getting within 2 boat lengths is pretty hard to justify as good seamanship.

Depends on circumstances.. I've gotten within 2ft in open waters without touching the other boat, mind that was to take someone off another boat, he just stepped across.
Good seamanship has many forms..

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by boatman61

We'll let's face it, on a boat your travelling at walking pace or a slow jog.. so your comparison with cars has about as much relevance as comparing apples to pumpkins.
From the OP's description I would have come to the same conclusion that the other boat was motorsailing.. that's not to say I would have followed the same actions however from the account of wind speed and apparent angles I would guess there was motor assist.

The point I failed to get across is that when racing there is some expectation from both sides that doesn’t exist when driving down the road

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Depends on circumstances.. I've gotten within 2ft in open waters without touching the other boat, mind that was to take someone off another boat, he just stepped across.
Good seamanship has many forms..

Reading comprehension...I think that would fall under the "special circumstances".

So you ran up to within 2ft of a random boat without contacting them first to confirm the maneuver and simply trusted they would follow the colregs. Was this some sort of special OPs mission to kidnap an operative?

Or was this a preplanned maneuver where both skippers and crews were fully aware of what was planned and how it was going to be executed?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Reading comprehension...I think that would fall under the "special circumstances".

So you ran up to within 2ft of a random boat without contacting them first to confirm the maneuver and simply trusted they would follow the colregs. Was this some sort of special OPs mission to kidnap an operative?

Or was this a preplanned maneuver where both skippers and crews were fully aware of what was planned and how it was going to be executed?

As you said.. Reading comprehension.. Good seamanship.
The post said it all.