Collision Avoidance - an unwritten rule ?

We were on Windermere yesterday and an overtaking boat on our port, leeward, side suddenly decided to tack 90 degrees straight across the front of us, it was obvious to them that they were going to hit us and with no intention of slowing or going behind all we got was a shrug of the shoulders from the crew. We did a quick 360 with a bit of swearing to ourselves and carried on.

Last time out saw someone have a good try doing similar - motoring along and turned directly towards a dinghy just in front of the bows missing him by inches. He then turned towards the can that the racng dinghys were approaching so he could pick another target.

We also saw some very good close quarters practicing by a couple of yachts rounding cans very close together, bearing away and then returning to do it again.

Wind was very variable from next to nowt to very strong gusts, wind direction moving around all over the place - at least the sun was out most of the day until we had packed up and then threw it down as we put the gear back in the motor.
 
It's the rain bit that persuaded me to stay at home. About 4.00pm the squalls and horizontal rain were horrific. It's been even more gusty today.

I keep reading the Windermere Rules of Navigation, but I still can't find the bit about it being obligatory to chop up stand-on boats. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
BONG BONG Wrong .....

No subsequent change of relative position or heading shall make an overtaking boat a stand-on or other vessel - he is obligated till well past and clear ..... the rules are clear about that ....

Also that you as stand-on vessel should maintain course and speed as far as PRACTICABLE ... so that means he should pay due to regard to any restraint you / he may have in the location - such as approaching a bank etc.

All in all Burnham Bob - I consider the other boat in your incident to have been an ignorant selfish pig !! Taking your initial info - he was overtaking and should have kept clear of you .... being in confined location - he should have paid attention to the possibility that you would have to tack etc.

No excuse ......
 
Re: BONG BONG Wrong .....

IMHO itsa tricky giving such advice in a forum as 100% support gives the person asking the question a belief he was in the right.
I think anyone who's spent time on racing protest panels knows there is always a second side to the story and its usually best to hear both before coming up with a ruling.
Cheers
JOHN
 
These facile comments about 'Johnny Foreigner' are sooo irritating. Two boats out sailing; one fails to give way to another. This is a typical Italian trait? It never happens in the Solent? Generalising wildly in like fashion, I might say to my neighbours here in Italy to avoid any Brits driving; if you go too slow, too fast or whatever, they're likely to get out of their car and beat you up! After all, road rage is a purely British (English?) phenomenon. Come on guys!
 
Not sure where the unwritten bit fits in - the bottom line is of course that stand on or no - there is a responsibility on all concerned to take whatever action necessary to avoid a collision - which you appear to have done.
 
OK so the upshot is that although I was technically in the right, in future, I should assume that the other guy does not know the rules and make an early move to avoid the close quarters "who gives way" situation. Problem is as Stand On vessel I thought I was supposed to maintain a steady course and speed and not potentially tack in front of him ... anyway nuf said on the subject and thanks for the views expressed.
(Steve (Affinite)
 
No-one can write singly for every occasion / incident !

Yes you are stand-on vessel - but each situation will demand its own evaluation ...... You have found in this one that the other vessel failed to observe the rules - therefore the part that says Stand-on vessel may make bold action to avoid collision applies ...

You have to decide based on prevailing .... my thought is to turn away boldly as soon as I feel the other is failing in his duty ... for each person - that point can be at a different level. As long as there is no confusion in that you take bold obvious action - all should be ok.
 
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