So You Fall Asleep On Your Watch?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by bazzer

Bearing off is not the thing to do, what happens if the wind lulls? How about a early tack to increase the distance between you and impending doom?

I have an engine and I'm not too proud to turn it on. That is one of the options for doing *everything possible* to avoid a collision. *Everything possible under sail* is not what the maritime law means.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

On a boat, being the stand-on vessel is only a guideline -- not your right as a boater. ALL boaters' responsibility, the over-arching rule, is to do EVERYTHING possible to avoid a collision. That includes giving way even though you are the stand-on vessel.

I think part of the reasoning here is that the rules are complex and there may not be time to pull out a book and research who's in the right. There are no traffic ligths or lane lines on the sea.

This is an over application of Rule 17 , the rules say that the stand on vessel should stand on. Only of its becomes apparent, that no action is being taken , should it act ( if it can ) , in the Von Humbolt case , the sailing ship cannot respond quickly at that time.

The sailing ship acted completely correctly and was therefore exonerated.

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Mystic38

Colregs really just don't apply when cruising...The day I read an article about a 40ft plastic boat sinking a freighter I will start to think I have some rights while underway..until then I will still exercise the view that it is our responsibility to avoid everything out there.

Of course they do , but for small vessels involved with large vessels I add

Rule 0 - " don't stand on into danger"

Dave

[conachair]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

I have an engine and I'm not too proud to turn it on. That is one of the options for doing *everything possible* to avoid a collision. *Everything possible under sail* is not what the maritime law means.

Anyone know how long it would actually take to fire up the engine on something like the ship in question?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by conachair

Anyone know how long it would actually take to fire up the engine on something like the ship in question?

The main issue would be the sail trim , engine on or not , if she was set aback , it would be trouble

Dave

[conachair]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

The sailing ship acted completely correctly and was therefore exonerated

Completely correct as far as the rules go, but there is a little niggling doubt that the skipper might have been a bit too trusting of fishing boats. Possibly if he a little more paranoia about fishing boats not having a great track record for doing what they should then something might have been possible much earlier on.

Or maybe not

[capngeo]

I tend to think navigating is a bit like riding a motorcycle; you have to assume everyone else out there is an idiot! I sail a small boat... a CAL28. Pretty much anything out there is bigger than me and will cause me damage in a collision. COLREGS notwithstanding, if the "other guy" has the remote resemblance to an idiot, I stay out of his way!

[goboatingnow]

Completely correct as far as the rules go, but there is a little niggling doubt that the skipper might have been a bit too trusting of fishing boats. Possibly if he a little more paranoia about fishing boats not having a great track record for doing what they should then something might have been possible much earlier on.

But the whole point of the COLREGS is to attempt to remove second guessing from the process. It attempts to establish ground rules for passing situations., and in doing so , puts the onus of action on the 'give way' vessel.

I dont think the captain of the Humbolt was "trusting" of the fishing vessel, what he was doing was following the COLREGS.

dave

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by capngeo

I tend to think navigating is a bit like riding a motorcycle; you have to assume everyone else out there is an idiot! I sail a small boat... a CAL28. Pretty much anything out there is bigger than me and will cause me damage in a collision. COLREGS notwithstanding, if the "other guy" has the remote resemblance to an idiot, I stay out of his way!

Darn tootin..... If in doubt I go about....
They don't call me 'Chicken Little' for nuthin.....
One collision in my lifetime is one to many... weren't no fun...

[conachair]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I dont think the captain of the Humbolt was "trusting" of the fishing vessel, what he was doing was following the COLREGS.

And look what happened....

[bazzer]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

This is an over application of Rule 17 , the rules say that the stand on vessel should stand on. Only of its becomes apparent, that no action is being taken , should it act ( if it can ) , in the Von Humbolt case , the sailing ship cannot respond quickly at that time.

The sailing ship acted completely correctly and was therefore exonerated.

Dave

Dave, in is case the skipper of the Von Humbolt should have taken earlier action rather than freezing like a deer in headlights. All he did in the movie was to blast a horn which I very much doubt could be heard on the trawler.
As I said before, " It's better to be alive than right"

Sure the trawler was in the wrong, but have AIS and MARAPA on my radar which would have kept me well out of the way of danger..and You? Rule book in hand?
I know who I feel safer with.
Bazzer