On being "Hove to"...

Seagreen

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On being \"Hove to\"...

Just for the sake of argument, if I were to 'Heave to', for a while, would anyone passing recognise this or would they assume I was in trouble?

Should I hoist some sort of signal? If so, what? 2 Balls for Not Under command? A hoist of flags?

I was going to call this a Colregs post, but you'd all avoid it. lol!
Answers please.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

I'd recognise it because that's often how I 'stop' to reef the main. Nobody has ever offered me assistance whilst hove-to so either they knew what was going on or, maybe, couldn't give a monkey's either way.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

I too would recognise you at Hove to - I too use the technique especially when making a cup of coffee under way, or having lunch, its much more civilised /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

I can still remember the time when out on a corporate jolly, and there was a problem. The professional skipper 'hove to' while he went below, and then someone asked the obvious question, of why we were actually going faster than when we were 'sailing' /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

I think its highly unlikely I'd ever heave to near anywhere someone may stop and ask me, though I've had a mobo come up and ask if I was in trouble just because I wasn't moving fast! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Just wondered, as I do heave to to reef, do lunch, etc., but you never know who's around.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

A vessel not under command is defined as a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by the col-regs.

You could argue that while hove to a vessel falls within that definition.

A motor boater will very probably not recognize the hove too state but should recognise the the "not under command" signal but since he would be the giveway vessel it's irrelevant anyway.

You should heave too on a starboard tack when possible so that you are the stand-on vesel as far as other sailing vessels are concerned. (Thats why gallies should be on the port side)

It does not imply any need for assistance.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

Hove to on stb you would be give way vessel if you were moving faster downwind than another yacht you encountered, also hove to on stb.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

I don't think a hove to vessel is NUC. A hove to boat can be sailing again in seconds. You still need to keep an adequate lookout. You may still be windward boat even on starboard. You could even become overtaking boat.
We heave to in dinghies and keelboats between races, it's not uncommon for two hove to boats to have to avoid each other.
Obviously we avoid causing an issue with a hove to boat when sailing, but that's just common sense and good manners. When you're hove to it's also good manners not to ignore the boats around you and be prepared to get sailing again in good time.
If I saw a vessel claiming to be NUC, I would expect it to have a steering problem or some other issue which prevented its navigation, in which case heaving to is often a useful tactic.
Wanting luch is not an exceptional circumstance as per Vics's post, it's a way of life!
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"... (VicS)

Quote:
A motor boater will very probably not recognize the hove too state but should recognise the the "not under command" signal but since he would be the giveway vessel it's irrelevant anyway.

Actually, if you are hove to and not actually sailing then the mobo is not automatically the "give way" vessel.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

getting back to the original question - is this tongue in cheek or a serious enquiry? why should anyone assume that a hove to vessel is in trouble?? I would also like to think that most skippers would think it odd if they saw a boat displaying unusual characteristics such as a hoist of flags, upside down flags, sails, underwear etc. Again IMHO a hove to vessel is probably more under command than one on a wild spinnaker run!!
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"... (VicS)

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
Actually, if you are hove to and not actually sailing then the mobo is not automatically the "give way" vessel.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're not an alter ego for DAKA are you? By "hove to" I understand the vessel (if bermudan rigged) has a backed foresail, mainsail as normal and helm to lee. Whether it is stationary or not doesn't affect its rights.

From the Colregs - "The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used." So unless it's overtaking you - unlikely if it is hove to - then your mobo IS automatically the "give way" vessel.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"... (VicS)

And I thought Hove was near Brighton.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"... (VicS)

'Hove to' and 'NUC' are not exclusive categories. You might for example heave to simply to eat your lunch or take a reef in which case you should still be maintaining a lookout and ready to act, still under command. One might also heave to, for example, to deal with an injured crew member in which case a short handed vessel might well legitimately claim to be NUC. If so the strict letter would require you to show the appropriate lights or shapes although I think if someone were bleeding all over my cockpit that might not be the first thing I'd think of.

In support of m'learned friend AWOL I think the DAKAlike comment arises from a failure to understand 'under way' and 'making way'. You can be the first without necessarily doing the second. Indeed a vessel with control problems can easily be simultaneously under way, making way and NUC .....
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"... (VicS)

[ QUOTE ]
And I thought Hove was near Brighton.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, that's 'Hove Actually' as in:

"So, you live in Brighton?"
"Well, Hove Actually"
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"... on east Coast

Probably would assume you were aground and faffing around. And being aground is not in trouble, just a slightly longer tea break... or is that just me!
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

Reefing while hove to.
I sail single handed. All the contol lines are at the mast. When I reef I get the boat sailing close hauled on the stabd tack using the tiller pilot then gradually ease the main sheet till the boat is sailing on the genoa alone and the main is feathering. I can then nip up to the mast and put the reef in easily.
When I have tried reefing hove to there remains weight on the main and the sliders won't come down without heaving them down.
What is your procedure hove to ?
Incidentally I have a sliding goose neck which adds another couple of evolutions to the operation.
 
Re: On being \"Hove to\"...

Heaving too to reef doesnt work well for me either.as I let the main out enough to take the weight off everything the jib takes control and pulls the bows downwind. I tend to roll the jib away while I reef and lie about 60° off the wind.

Hove too for lunch today,Morrisons Chunky Beef and Chili soup ,puts hairs on your chest/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I wouldnt feel copmfortable hove too in a busy area.I have the luxury of being the only boat in site quite often.
 
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