COLREG Survey - Familiarity with sailboat day signals

[kalel20]

Neglection of sailboat day signal

Greetings. I would kindly ask you to please take a minute to complete a questionnaire that aims to test your knowledge of Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea regarding the use of day signals on sailing vessels.

The Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea These Rules are adopted in order to maintain adequate level of safety of navigation at sea and they show that the day shapes required by these Rules are the integral part of sailing rules, and seafarers should always obey them during their stay at sea.

The research is conducted anonymously, and we would ask you to answer the questions honestly. It will only take you a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire. We sincerely thank you for your participation and time.

To complete a questionnaire please click on the link: https://forms.gle/toeYAAQL1u63bjAf9

Thank you for your co-operation.

I work at a Maritime Faculty in Europe and we are conducting a research to find out how often do skippers use day signal while sailing. We are observing traffic in a channel and with a questionnaire we are checking if the sailors don't follow the rules because they don't know them or they are just disregarding them. By observing the traffic it can be seen that some of the Rules are not obeyed, mostly regarding the exhibition of day signals.

 

[awol]

I do so hope your research is funded with a suitably large grant. Most on these fora know the results you will reach without research.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Just filled in the survey and confessed to never using a motoring cone.

I suppose I fall into the category of not just 'following rules' but considering whether in the current circumstances, the rule has any utility (and this doesn't just apply to sailing ...). So if I'm motoring back up the river with no other vessels in sight: or it's obvious to any observer that I'm motoring (into wind, headsail rolled away, main flapping) and staying out of the way of other vessels: then No, I don't hoist a motoring cone.

I suspect I'm not alone. Maybe, just maybe, it says more about the rule than about the skipper?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I have pointed out that I am technically in breach of this every single time we sail. As are we all, as far as I can see. Hands up everyone who puts the cone up before they hoist their sails, or before you drop them? Or do you hoist sails whilst drifting aimlessly?

 

[Graham376]

I have pointed out that I am technically in breach of this every single time we sail. As are we all, as far as I can see. Hands up everyone who puts the cone up before they hoist their sails, or before you drop them? Or do you hoist sails whilst drifting aimlessly?

Why put a motoring cone up with no sails hoisted? Making way without any sails surely = powerboat.

 

[BobnLesley]

When we first entered the ICW on the US east coast we dug out and hoisted our motoring cone as we knew that we'd be under engine for at least three days without any opportunity to crack out the head sail and shut off the motor. It stayed up for perhaps 4 or 5 hours as by then we'd already got into double figures with the number of VHF conversations that we'd had, explaining what it signified; to be fair, i suspect it would've caused a similar degree of confusion on the Hamble, but being British, people wouldn't have liked to call up and enquire.?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Why put a motoring cone up with no sails hoisted? Making way without any sails surely = powerboat.

are you still under power when you put your sails up? I always am. Not for long, of course, but for that period, I am in breach of regs.

 

[srm]

@kalel20, you really need to learn how to make an effective questionnaire. Options of "Never"; "Once"; "Multiple times". are not going to get statistically reliable answers as multiple times implies two or more. Perhaps relative terms such as "occasionally": "frequently"; "always", would be more useful than "multiple times".

I have seen a few vessels displaying the cone while motorsailing, so had to select "Multiple times", but have also seen hundreds of vessels over the years that were obviously motorsailing but not displaying the cone.

It would also be interesting to know what area you are studying, as motor sailing in a busy European inland waterway is very different to making a passage between Orkney and Shetland in a flat calm using a reefed mainsail sheeted in tight to dampen rolling with no other vessels in sight (it has happened a few times).

If you are seriously interested in the misuse of day signals how about looking at the fishing boats that show their day shapes permanently, even when hauld out of the water for a refit, or boats that permanentlt fly the "A" flag?

 

[john_morris_uk]

As the one who approved this enquiry I’ll also confess to being slightly irritated by the answer options.

I’ll also admit to being selective as to when the effort of putting up the cone deserves it. For example motoring out of a small harbour or inshore with no shipping in sight, I’ll quite happily not put a cone up even though the sails might be set. However crossing shipping lines or in an area where there is major shipping, I will invariably put the cone up. I’m surprised the other people don’t show a cone more often. It’s hardly an arduous duty to get it out and put it up in the fore-triangle. It also means you’re one step ahead of any insurance claim that may ensue from an incident.

Its also the rules!

However, I try to chill over these things. I’m currently in Las Palmas Marina where there are half a dozen boats that show their nav lights every night even though they’re tied up alongside. I’m not just talking about the red light that the big go away super yachts show on their masthead (look at his tall my mast is..,) but standard steaming or tricolours on smaller yachts.
Out in the anchorage over half the boat aren’t showing an anchor ball and many of them don’t show an anchor light either.
Shrug, pour the sundowners and move on. Life’s to short to get worked up about some things.

PS. A boat arrived in another marina where we were and I mentioned as we walked past (trying to be helpful) did they realise that they’d left their nav lights on. (It was bright sunshine in the early afternoon). The reply was ‘Oh we leave them on all the time.’

We were lying alongside a pontoon in another marina with a moderately large modern yacht on the other side which had a very powerful deck light. They left it on all the time and on the third day I asked them please could you turn it off as it’s shining into our cabin and keeping us awake. It transpired that firstly they didn’t know it was turned on. Secondly they didn’t know where the switch was to turn it off! It took them ages to find it but they did apologise. Charter yacht…

 

[Graham376]

are you still under power when you put your sails up? I always am. Not for long, of course, but for that period, I am in breach of regs.

I am in breach but for only a couple of minutes, we don't hoist main until ready to sail, engine goes off as soon as it's hoisted. If we're not going to be able to sail, generally leave the main down rather than having it flapping with motor on. Being realistic though, about the only place we're likely to hoist the cone with sails already up, is when crossing Gib Straits on busy shipping days.

 

[Sandy]

@kalel20 sorry I gave up after reading the first few questions.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

you could achieve the same with one question. Do you display a motoring cone when required? Never, sometimes, always.

Save us all some time and give yourself a simple result.

Which is 99% of sailboats don't display a cone when required.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Yea well , its been authourised so must be someones 'cup of tea' then ?

Guess its far to complicated a question for this forum , crikey , them COLREGs plus Harbour regs are prooved to be difficult to understand on their own {)#

 

[Poignard]

Neglection of sailboat day signal

Greetings. I would kindly ask you to please take a minute to complete a questionnaire that aims to test your knowledge of Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea regarding the use of day signals on sailing vessels.

The Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea These Rules are adopted in order to maintain adequate level of safety of navigation at sea and they show that the day shapes required by these Rules are the integral part of sailing rules, and seafarers should always obey them during their stay at sea.

The research is conducted anonymously, and we would ask you to answer the questions honestly. It will only take you a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire. We sincerely thank you for your participation and time.

To complete a questionnaire please click on the link: https://forms.gle/toeYAAQL1u63bjAf9

Thank you for your co-operation.

I work at a Maritime Faculty in Europe and we are conducting a research to find out how often do skippers use day signal while sailing. We are observing traffic in a channel and with a questionnaire we are checking if the sailors don't follow the rules because they don't know them or they are just disregarding them. By observing the traffic it can be seen that some of the Rules are not obeyed, mostly regarding the exhibition of day signals.

I have completed your questionnaire.

I hope when the survey is completed and the results analysed, you will come back and let is know what conclusions your organisation has reached.

 

[awol]

I have completed your questionnaire.

I hope when the survey is completed and the results analysed, you will come back and let is know what conclusions your organisation have reached.

My honours degree from the UotBO* qualifies me to opine that very few leisure vessels comply with IRPCS 25(e) except when the crew are undergoing examination or the skipper feels he has to prove he knows the rules.
*UtoBO =University of the Bloody Obvious

 

[Poignard]

My honours degree from the UotBO* qualifies me to opine that very few leisure vessels comply with IRPCS 25(e) except when the crew are undergoing examination or the skipper feels he has to prove he knows the rules.
*UtoBO =University of the Bloody Obvious

Obviously but the "conclusion" I want to see reached is that because the motor sailing cone is hardly ever displayed on fore and aft rigged yachts and hardly anybody cares that it isn't, it might as well be dispensed with in the ColRegs.

 

[Daydream believer]

Was there not a case in Italy where a MOBO hit a yacht that was motorsailing & someone was either killed or seriously injured. At the subsequent court hearing when the skipper was charged with negligence he was aquitted because the yacht had failed to hoist a motor cone. The skipper claimed that this had confused him in some way.
I think that many sailors will motor about with just the mainsail up & no cone, on the basis that it is obvious that they are motoring. However, one has to ask- Is it obvious to a non sailor? ie a MOBO skipper, or a small coaster.
Personally, I hate motoring with the main up & having decent lazy jack system, I will always drop the main working from the cockpit. It may leave a 3-4 feet up the mast, but that is usually of no consequence, if waiting for the wind . I avoid flogging my laminate sails as much as possible. It is easier & safer than going on to the fore deck to hoist/lower a cone

 

[awol]

Obviously but the "conclusion" I want to see reached is that because the motor sailing cone is hardly ever displayed on fore and aft rigged yachts and hardly anybody cares that it isn't, it might as well be dispensed with in the ColRegs.

A dangerous precedent, perhaps? All those raggies who turn tail and run if a ship is vaguely heading their way, affectionately(!) kown as WAFIs, could be a reason for removing 18(a)(iv).

 

[[194224]]

Why put a motoring cone up with no sails hoisted? Making way without any sails surely = powerboat.

The "making way" is not relevant. It isn't a term defined in colregs although the phrase is used in the rules and we know what it means. A yacht with its sails stowed is a power driven vessel within the definition of the rules even if its engine is stopped.

 

[Poignard]

A dangerous precedent, perhaps? All those raggies who turn tail and run if a ship is vaguely heading their way, affectionately(!) kown as WAFIs, could be a reason for removing 18(a)(iv).

Do they do that? Can't say I've noticed anyone doing it. What would be the point?