Anchoring - Laws

[Scillypete]

Now I'm not fully up on what may or may not be the law on this, but yesterday I had the pleasure/misfortune to meet a guy sailing one of those 'Jester' type folkboats and he could rabbit on for ages. Now he reckoned that it is illegal to anchor your boat and then go ashore and leave it with nobody aboard.
This is not a law that I have ever heard of before and I will admit to thinking the guy to be more than a bit strange. So the question is whether it is or not a law?

 

[Athene V30]

Not aware of any law.

Accept it may be inadvisable if likely to be change in weather conditions / tide turn / poor holding or so on.

What next? Compulsory training??!!

 

[Dalliance]

He was talking complete ******

 

[Evadne]

I doubt such a law of the land exists, but some harbours do have rules or bylaws, for example Dover, that you are not to leave an anchored boat unattended.

 

[Roberto]

maybe something to do with colregs "proper lookout at all times" ?

 

[rickp]

Indeed - and Chichester has this rule:

[ QUOTE ]
Vessels are not to be left unmanned at anchor for periods of more than four hours (Byelaw No. 12).

[/ QUOTE ]

Rick

 

[ashanta]

Usually in rivers/estuary the harbour master rules that you should be on board for any changing tides. This I think is a sensible thing and I personally would want to be on board at such times regardless of any rule.
Not illegal though

 

[jhr]

Quite a lot of insurers specify that you shouldn't leave an anchored boat unattended unless it's visible from wherever you have gone.

 

[Cruiser2B]

I think generally the Colregs intend for a watch to be kept at anchor, for lookout and compliance with light and sound regs, but of course there are allowances in the Rules for smaller boats. STCW VIII/2 states: "an appropriate and effective watch or watches are maintained for the purpose of safety at all times, while the ship is anchored or moored..." This is just an international convention, so has no force of law, unless there is a statute to that effect in your jurisdiction.