ditties

[Guest]

met an ex bristol channel pilot in france last year, and he was reciting the ditties they used to memorise the collision regs when he took his masters ticket. unfortunately, he couldnt remember them all, and i hadnt got any paper on which to write them down.

as an example:

"when to starboard red appear, tis your duty to keep clear"

anyone know any more?

 

[Guest]

if you see a brown ring swallow hard!!

 

[DanTribe]

Green to green or red to red, perfect safety, go ahead.
Alternative, NOT recommended is Red to red or green to green, perfect safety, go between.

 

[LadyInBed]

Red to Green should never be seen. – is the line before Green to Green etc.

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: ditties - found them

THE RULE OF THE ROAD

AIDS TO MEMORY IN FOUR VERSES

After THOMAS GRAY

1. Two Steamship! Meeting.

When both Lights you see ahead,
Starboard wheel and show your Red.

2. Two Steamships Passing.

Green to Green—or Red to Red— Perfect Safety—go ahead.

3. Two Steamships Crossing.

If to your Starboard Red appear,
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgment says is proper,
To Port—or Starboard—Back—or stop her.

But when upon your Port is seen
A Steamer’s Starboard Light of Green,
There’s not so much for you to do,
For Green to Port keeps clear of you.

4. All Ships must keep a look-out and Steamships must Stop and go Astern if necessary.

Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good look-out;
In danger with no room to turn,
Ease her—Stop her—go Astern.

=========================

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR SAILING SHIPS
(By a Naval Officer)

PREFACE

Now those four Rules, we all must note,
Are no use in a Sailing Boat,
As we’re dependent on the Wind,
Another set of Rules we find.

1. A “close-hauled ship you’ll NEVER see
Give way to one that’s running free.”
It’s easier running free to steer
And that’s the reason she keeps clear.

2. With wind the same side, running free, One’s to Windward, one’s to Lee. The Leeward ship goes straight ahead, The other alters course instead.

3. Both “close-hauled” or both quite “free” ON DIFFERENT TACKS, we all agree, The ship that has the wind to PORT Must keep well clear, is what we’re taught.

4. At other times the altering craft Is that which has the wind right aft.

 

[bedouin]

Re: A word of warning

The second ditty is very old and do not reflect current colregs.

In a thread some months ago I seem to recall that it was decided these dated from the start of last century, and the rules were changed to the current port/starboard in the 1920s!

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: start of last century

I feel that's that when I started as well!
I rearly must get a recent copy of a sailing book, I hear that they print them with colour pictures in.
My copy of "The Yachtsman's Week-End Book" was printed in 1939

)

 

[webcraft]

'If in danger or in doubt
Sail in circles, scream and shout'

(Trad, anon)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help, everyone.

One I half remember was about the white cap and red face of the pilot ie white above red. Anyone remember?

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Re: ditties - found them

Forever remember Skipper Tom Gray
Run over defending his right of way.
Without doubt he was right
Dead right all along
But he's just as dead now as if he'd been wrong!

p.s. If like me you sail an affordable boat, treat anything larger with due respect and NEVER argue with tankers, bulk carriers, mine-sweepers, destroyers, cruisers, or anthing else built of steel and painted grey or black.

Wally