Right of way question

[john_morris_uk]

Call me a wimp, but I tend not to push my luck re potential collisions !

If someone looks like they may not know what they're doing I make course alterations obvious and early.

Despite what people who haven't sailed there say about the Solent, I have never found a significant risk of collision there, with the exception of a certain sailing school / charter outfit !

In the case of ships I give way every time, they have enough on their plate; I once met a chap who'd singlehanded to Weymouth from Grimsby, as he described it taking cat-naps while tacking in the English Channel - " I 'ad this 250,000 tonner approaching, and he wouldn't give way ! "

The first part about yachts I have no problem with.

The second part about ships and 'giving way all the time' has been discussed at length on these forums before. The conclusion is that the big ships think you don't know what you are doing and your actions just adds fuel to the flames of their views on incompetent yachtsmen. The reality is that nearly every time they will have seen you and are already taking action to avoid collision.

I can illustrate this by pointing out that its remarkable how many people who have bought AIS suddenly discover that ships weren't ignoring them all the time at all, but actually altering course when they were miles away to open up the CPA.

There will always be the occasional rogues ship, but in nearly forty years of offshore sailing (that makes me feel old) I can only remember a very slack handful (less than three or four) times when ship's didn't obey IRPCS and I have had to take avoiding action when I was the stand on vessel.

edit: I am referring to open waters situations of course. In the Solent nearly every ship has rights and small craft are expected to keep out of the main channels for good reasons.

 

[Woodlouse]

On that theory, I think the same about life jackets. (Excluding strong winds) night night )

I don't generally wear a lifejacket either. Even in strong winds.

 

[onesea]

The first part about yachts I have no problem with.

The second part about ships and 'giving way all the time' has been discussed at length on these forums before. The conclusion is that the big ships think you don't know what you are doing and your actions just adds fuel to the flames of their views on incompetent yachtsmen. The reality is that nearly every time they will have seen you and are already taking action to avoid collision.

I can agree there that no ship will willing run down another boat, IF they have seen you...

Which is where the doubt always lies... Certainly altering for a ship that is on the horizon is pointless, but at what point do you decide they have not seen you...

Again different people have different comfort zones on this, there is no easy figure for when to alter it various from one situation from another. The whole argument can be come circular..