Obviously I would have passed safely ahead had I pressed on . .

Danny Jo

Danny Jo

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From readers' letters in this month's YM, from the skipper of a Rustler 42 crossing the Channel equipped with an AIS receiver [ QUOTE ]
After two unchanged readings, during which we had maintained course and speed, the ship gave a long blast on his hooter. I called him up and he was not happy that we were passing clear enough ahead, which I estimated to be at least one mile. Instead of requesting him to alter course to ensure he passed astern of us, as the Dutchman had done, I decided not to prevaricate and undertook to keep clear of him. About half a mile off his track, I hove-to. It was at least five minutes before he passed by. Obviously I would have passed safely ahead had I pressed on, but it was not not worth the risk.

[/ QUOTE ]

Say again? "Safely ahead". My arithmetic may be a bit odd, but if he had stood on at a decent yacht speed of 6 knots, he would have been exactly half a mile further on. Which, by his own account, is right on the ship's track.

Tell me, please, where I've gone wrong.
 
Which might be why " the reading" remained the same! Sounds like he made the right decision to me. Also one blast of the hooter surely meant ship altering course to starboard. I wonder what the conversation on the bridge was?!?
 
He made the safe decision.

Perhaps he would have passed ahead perhaps he would have lost his boat, crew and life.

For 5 minutes in a channel crossing

Not too difficult a choice I think.
 
I'm not sure I would have stopped tho'. Clearly turning towards the approaching ship will normally ensure you pass well astern of it, the relative bearing will then change very quickly and one keeps making progress. Altho' if beating, wind direction may have prevented that course.

Don't have such busy lanes in the Irish Sea, but do have traffic separation zones. It's amazing how quickly the big boys come up over the horizon & dissappear again. The High Speed ferry Dublin/ Holyhead is an absolute horror in that respect and it leaves a fearful 6' wash with only about a 15' wave length.
 
I agree. Assuming yacht was the stand on vessel by his own calculation he was one mile i.e. three minutes clear of the ship assuming it was doing 20 kts. The ship possibly indicated it was altering to starboard to go behind the yacht. The yacht then radioed? The yacht stopped. Ship reverted to original course and passed half mile in front. To be fair to the writer of the letter there are many unanswered questiones. On the face of it though the yacht seems to have acted way outside the rules.
 
Hmm, I would think it unlikely that the yacht was the stand-on vessel as he was CROSSING the separation lanes. Don't big ships usually have right of way when in correct traffic lanes? It's up to us little'uns to keep out of the way.

Glassfibre gives way to steel in the final analysis anyway!
 
With you on turning towards (stern of) the ship for avoidance, it's a fail safe method, though watch out for wake effects in a coastal seaway

Don't know where the channel crossing was, but Solent to Cherbourg/CIs doesn't cross any TSS's
 
My seamanship apprenticeship was served aboard ships, sailing all over the world, on many different oceans. Watch keeping for 10's of 1000's of miles. I have now graduated to the ambiance and tranquility of the canvas. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Now, being on the bridge of a Warship, with my radar ops, closed up in the Op's rm, and a minimum of five personnel on watch on the bridge at any one time, (OOW, 2nd OOW, QM, BM, and RO), I have been party, many a time, to the questioning of another vessel's intention's, and whether or not he is actually aware of our presence, this has been during night or day watches!

If we were the priority vessel, it was always nice to see the other vessel making an early decision, by making a bold alteration in course so that every one was aware of what he was doing. And, if it was I that was in the 'give way position', (and I use that term lightly), I would maneuver early, and clearly. No probs in giving them a little toot or a shout on the squawky box either!!!

Now I sail, and along with the At Sailing club, I must have crossed the channel at least twelve times this last year, I can't help but assist my fellow larger sea goers by making their journey as easy as possible for them. I think nothing of changing my heading to pass astern, and I do it early and clearly.

I'm not wrong, am I?

I'm hardly ever in a hurry, those poor buggers are.

Lay back and chill out, less stress for me!

Am I going to make it? Am I passing to close ahead of him? If I was him would I be questioning my parentage?

I would much rather go around than push a bad position.

And before I get berated, Yes I do know the ColRegs.

In low viz, and with the <u>assistance</u> of radar, I am happy to pass ahead, as long as it is ahead!!! Well ahead!!!!!!!

I enjoy sailing, and being out on the seas, why make it a stressful time, it has a habit of becoming stressful on it's own, with little or no encouragement.

So now then, who have I upset with that little lot? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Well said that man!

My sentiments exactly.

In my sailing/boating lifetime I've learnt may things and one of those is "never push a bad position".

Peter.
 
Agree with you on that Neil,

Common sense on the water, in line with the colregs.

It's kept me safe on the sea for the last 25/30 odd years, and more importantly those around me also. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Al
 
A very sensible answer and the safest way to do it every time.
Arguing your right of way in a small boat is not always the best way to get from point A to point B.
 
I like to help too but...

in the separation zones you don't have the choice to change course so that you pass astern. You're meant to cross the zone usually at right angles. Usually to stay within these rules you spill the wind miles before you (I mean us, of course) get in the closing situation. If it's so close that wouldn't make my intention clear I would turn 180 degrees. At least if he's looking at the sharp bit or the blunt bit the man on the bridge knows which way you're pointing. 'Left hand down a bit, right hand down a bit, left hand down a bit, right hand down a bit, full astern both... oh dear, leading seaman Pertwee. We seem to have hit him.'
No thanks!
 
[ QUOTE ]

The High Speed ferry Dublin/ Holyhead is an absolute horror in that respect and it leaves a fearful 6' wash with only about a 15' wave length.

[/ QUOTE ]


I must say that when we have encountered the HSS at sea they have detoured from their course to give us plenty of clearance from their wake, credit where it's due.
 
Freestyle, you're dead right, but I'd like to have seen a bit more of the quote.

It is not clear which was the stand on vessel. We don't know whether the letter writer was under engine or sail, whether or not he was crossing a TSS, nor whether the oncoming vessel was to his starboard or port. Nor do we know whether the oncoming vessel could see him.

One certainty is that he had been on a collision course. Another is that (according to the quote) he was only a mile from a vessel which had just announced its intention of turning to starboard when he hove to.

We're missing key facts needed to judge what was going on here, who was obeying colregs, and who wasn't, or whether there was any ambiguity or any foolishness.

It's very clear that the situation (from the yacht's point of view) was getting very close, and his distance judgements are inconsistent with his timings. Much better to have acted earlier.
 
[ QUOTE ]
With you on turning towards (stern of) the ship for avoidance, it's a fail safe method, though watch out for wake effects in a coastal seaway
Don't know where the channel crossing was, but Solent to Cherbourg/CIs doesn't cross any TSS's

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are crossing from Solent to Cherbourg you are approaching west going ships from their starboard side. If the ship turns, as he should to starboard to avoid you and you then have turned to port to go behind him its creating a classic potential collision situation and its why collision regulations say avoidance should always involve a turn to starbord never to port.
 
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