Avoid creating risk of collision

[Stemar]

My rule of thumb is to try and stay out of the way of everybody, whether or not I technically have the right of way.

Mine too, within the limits of being predictable, though leisure boat forcing me to take avoiding action when I'm stand on under sail without good reason is likely to get an earful.

 

[johnalison]

I doubt if many sailors are unaware of the port/starboard rule, even if that is the only rule they know, but I suspect that many close encounters are due to errors of judgement rather than wilful disregard of the rules. That doesn’t apply to the several failures to appreciate port-to-port rules or rule 13 that I have been the near victim of. I will generally keep clear of racing fleets, whether dinghies or larger yachts, but if I need to make progress to a particular destination I will proceed according to the rules.

 

[capnsensible]

For me, this thread demonstrates why even basic training to say, day skipper Theory level of the colregs is such an asset....

 

[The Q]

Of course if you sail in some waters colregs (IRPCAS) do not apply. This certainly is the case on the broads.
The broads regulations are similar but but not the same.

Dodging tourists who stop in the way, or do strange manoeuvres are unfortunately routine.

One handy thing for us for sailors on the broads, is that fishing from boats under sail or motor power is illegal, and those fishing generally, are not to impede the navigation.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

My rule of thumb is to try and stay out of the way of everybody, whether or not I technically have the right of way. For one thing you can't assume the other person knows the rules of the road or will adhere to them, or if they even see you. Whenever possible I will not travel in marked channels unless necessary with my draft. Here in New England you will encounter fishing vessels of all sizes, sport and commercial, that will ignore every rule, keep no watch, and couldn't care less about you. I have had them repeatedely block me when I was under sail by moving and dropping lines, with the excuse they are fishing I suppose. One time a small open boat just dropped his anchor in the middle of the Miami shipping channel. The Pilot Boat asked me to go over and tell the guy to get out of there, but he refused to move, forcing a cruise ship to squeeze around him.

I am reminded about the old "poem" about a certain steamship captain: - He was right, dead right, as he sailed along. But he is just as dead as if he was wrong

 

[Chiara’s slave]

My last colregs interaction was us against a 50 odd ft motor boat. Under sail in 12-14kn of wind, the motor boat I felt would have passed behind us if he’d done nothing. But, he altered course to attempt to pass in front. Realising we were quicker than he first thought, he altered course futher. Then realising that we were quicker than he’d second thought, he opened the throttles. When that was clearly still not enough, he turned a little more, and crossed our bows, clearing us by 15 metres with a 1 metre stern wave. I was less than pleased. Forethought and good judgement are needed when applying colregs in practise. No amount of adherence to the rules is a substitute for that.

 

[Daedelus]

I was taking part in the annual club race and we were watching one of the racing fleets go well ahead of us and when on starboard the last boat of their fleet who was on port hailed "we're racing", the reply "So are we and we're not last" shut them up totally.

 

[Richard10002]

Hello,
a Colregs question
Is there any provision in the Colregs (or court cases/interpretation) for a vessel not to create risk of collision? Specifically risk of collision, not close quarter situation of course.
Example: two motor vessels and a crossing situation develops, given their respective speed/courses one will pass well in front of the other so no risk of collision, no action taken by either one.
What if one of the vessels suddenly stops exactly in front of the other one, thus creating a risk of collision? Say it anchors and puts the anchor ball at a dangerous distance from the approaching other vessel.
Is there any provision that could prevent him to do so?

I think Rule 2: Responsibility covers it.

 

[Binnacle]

I think I am looking for people who make a living out of training to find clearer examples and better explanations.

Rule 5 does not always act as the the safeguarding rule and final arbiter. Sometimes other rules take precedence.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Is this ‘full astern suddenly and chuck the anchor out’ a thing with motor boats? It takes us a good 5 mins to find a nice spot and get ready, even if we’ve got the sails down.

 

[B27]

Is this ‘full astern suddenly and chuck the anchor out’ a thing with motor boats? It takes us a good 5 mins to find a nice spot and get ready, even if we’ve got the sails down.

Sort of.
My friends with motorboats tend to know exactly where they are going, go there and stop.
They tend to go back to the same fairly local places quite often, rather than burn loads of fuel.

So they've no need or desire to hang around while we womble around the anchorage picking a spot.

Probably some time dilation going on here too, the average sailing boat tends to take a lot more than 5 minutes!
It just seems quick because it's the most active part of the trip.

 

[benjenbav]

Going back to the original question, the title of the ‘International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea’ is fairly plain as to the overarching purpose.

The text then sets out a number of regulations relating to different circumstances, not - IMHO - universally without some ambiguity.

And then there is the sweeper at Reg 2, broadly warning mariners that liability may also arise from any action or omission not specifically contemplated by the text that results in a collision.

“Rule 2 - Responsibility​

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.“

 

[benjenbav]

Going back to the original question, the title of the ‘International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea’ is fairly plain as to the overarching purpose.

The text then sets out a number of regulations relating to different circumstances, not - IMHO - universally without some ambiguity.

And then there is the sweeper at Reg 2, broadly warning mariners that liability may also arise from any action or omission not specifically contemplated by the text that results in a collision.

“Rule 2 - Responsibility​

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.“

Apologies to those posters already having posted much the same and to those who might feel their time has been wasted by reading this. Regrettably, I failed to read the whole thread before posting.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Sort of.
My friends with motorboats tend to know exactly where they are going, go there and stop.
They tend to go back to the same fairly local places quite often, rather than burn loads of fuel.

So they've no need or desire to hang around while we womble around the anchorage picking a spot.

Probably some time dilation going on here too, the average sailing boat tends to take a lot more than 5 minutes!
It just seems quick because it's the most active part of the trip.

We have friends who do that too. However, it’s a well known anchorage, anyone doing more than about 4 knots would be mad, which tends to alleviate the risk of collision.

 

[Pye_End]

For me, this thread demonstrates why even basic training to say, day skipper Theory level of the colregs is such an asset....

Not convinced there is any point learning the regs only to deliberately ignore them.

 

[capnsensible]

Not convinced there is any point learning the regs only to deliberately ignore them.

Well fairly obviously not.......

How about people learn, by what ever method, how to apply IRPCS and then not ignore them? Sounds a good plan to me.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Well fairly obviously not.......

How about people learn, by what ever method, how to apply IRPCS and then not ignore them? Sounds a good plan to me.

I’ve only ever once or twice seen them ignored. The motor boat in my tale back there wasn’t ignoring them at all, just not applying them very sensibly or considerately. The last time I saw them ignored, it was a minorly famous racing sailor meeting a club also ran. She refused to give was to a starboard boat, he was doing well, she wasn’t, and was in a bad mood. That caused a few ructions….

 

[johnalison]

I have been clouted by other boats trying to manoeuvre in marinas too often to count, but I’m not sure which specific rules they were breaking. I had an alarming head to head engagement with a powerboat in a narrow channel who seemed to think that we drive on the left, and rule 13 appears not to apply in the Netherlands.

 

[Stemar]

I have been clouted by other boats trying to manoeuvre in marinas too often to count, but I’m not sure which specific rules they were breaking

Rule 2 - Responsibility​

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

I reckon that about covers it. Unfortunately, screwups happen; In my book anyone who says he's never screwed up and doesn't expect to do it again is a) a liar and b) a serious public danger

 

[johnalison]

Rule 2 - Responsibility​

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

I reckon that about covers it. Unfortunately, screwups happen; In my book anyone who says he's never screwed up and doesn't expect to do it again is a) a liar and b) a serious public danger

I have done some pretty odd things, but I have yet to damage a third party’s boat in spite of fifty years trying my best. Yet.