Sound signals

[fisherman]

Local angler out in his boat in fog, just outside the Vrogue rock off Bass Point. He became aware of music in the murk, getting louder, which caused him to wonder, a bit, until out of the fog loomed a yacht, with a chap stood in the cockpit playing the bagpipes. Very well, apparently.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The only dubious thing about it was "he became aware of music" now if he had said someone strangling an animal that would have made sense.

 

[Seashoreman]

Local angler out in his boat in fog, just outside the Vrogue rock off Bass Point. He became aware of music in the murk, getting louder, which caused him to wonder, a bit, until out of the fog loomed a yacht, with a chap stood in the cockpit playing the bagpipes. Very well, apparently.

Far from me to see and share the humour in most aspects of life but I would have a few choice words ( and he would hear them ) for
such pratish behaviour in fog. Hate it and its a risk to life. Happy days

 

[ylop]

Far from me to see and share the humour in most aspects of life but I would have a few choice words ( and he would hear them ) for
such pratish behaviour in fog. Hate it and its a risk to life. Happy days

Which is the prat? The yacht not using the official sound signal but quite audible, or the angler (at anchor?) to whom not sound signals were attributed?

 

[fisherman]

Which is the prat? The yacht not using the official sound signal but quite audible, or the angler (at anchor?) to whom not sound signals were attributed?

Drifting. This is a fifteen foot rowing/outboard boat: they carry little equipment, although he has a plotter and maybe a sounder. Hand held VHF.

 

[rib]

May be just may be just that he had exhausted his air for signaling. And that was the next best thing !! . And if its sounds like a strangled cat. Prehaps our multi Hull friends can adopt it

 

[LittleSister]

. . . The yacht not using the official sound signal . . .

Bagpipes themselves actually seem fully compliant with the ColRegs! (See below.)

(I'm not so sure "Scotland the Brave' is quite consistent with 'the prescribed blasts', though! )

PART D - SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS
Rule 32
Definitions​

1. (a) The word “whistle” means any sound signalling appliance capable of producing the prescribed blasts and which complies with the specifications in Annex III to these Regulations.​

Rule 33
Equipment for sound signals​

1. (a) A vessel of 12 metres or more in length shall be provided with a whistle . . .​
2. (b) A vessel of less than 12 metres in length shall not be obliged to carry the sound signalling appliances prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule but if she does not, she shall be provided with some other means of making an efficient sound signal.​

ANNEX III
Technical details of sound signal appliances
(a) Frequencies and range of audibility
The fundamental frequency of the signal shall lie within the range 70 - 700 Hz. The range of audibility of the signal from a whistle shall be determined by those frequencies, which may include the fundamental and/or one or more higher frequencies, which lie within the range 180 - 700 Hz (+/-1%) for a vessel of 20 metres or more in length, or 180-2100Hz (+/-1%) for a vessel of less than 20 metres in length and which provide the sound pressure levels specified in paragraph l(c) below. . .​

 

[scottie]

Perhaps having piper on moving boat is safer than silently sitting fishing in fog waiting to be run down

 

[ylop]

Drifting. This is a fifteen foot rowing/outboard boat: they carry little equipment, although he has a plotter and maybe a sounder. Hand held VHF.

Probably has a whistle on his lifejacket if he was caught out in the fog. If he's gone out in the fog to drift around without any means to make noise he's a blooming idiot - options exist for very little cost, that require little space, no power etc. I appreciate the risk compared to being hit by a tanker is not quite the same but there is a culture amongst little boats that the rules don't apply to them.

 

[capnsensible]

I just think it's a great story!

 

[LittleSister]

Years ago I sailed with groups of chums, most of us musicians, and we would often deploy our instruments, which sometimes included not one but two Northumbrian bagpipes, alongside the usual guitars, accordion, penny whistles, mandolin, etc. I don't think we ever used them in fog, though!.

My favourite related memory was a friendly yacht race in Oosterschelde, Netherlands, with an impressive diversity of ferrocement craft (part of a then annual Ferro rally alternating between the Netherlands and UK). Winds were light, which didn't favour our overweight and under-canvased boat, so we were already well to the rear of the fleet when we reached the furthest mark, and then faced an increasing tide against us likely meaning we might miss the bridge lift to get to the evening rendezvous and celebrations. So we abandoned our race, put the motor on and surged past all the competitors still racing, stationed ourselves on the finishing line, assembled ourselves on deck with our instruments and 'piped' each boat over the line, to much merriment. Happy days!

I still haven't abandoned my long-held ambition to one day play my double-bass in a small band on the foredeck of a boat . Boat size (it won't fit through the companionway of most boats and would take up most of the cockpit) and other challenges have conspired against it to date. It's too quiet and low pitched too, though, to make an effective fog sound signal!

 

[fisherman]

I made, and played, a teachest bass on the Lord Nelson in Brugge, and on the quay in Aalesund. Someone in the fleet (Tall Ships) was playing the Muppets theme on a trumpet.
Your bull fiddle could make a tender. Have you tried playing it to a herd of cows? They really like it.

If you look where he was it's not far off Bass Point, in shoals, so not a throughfare, and it wasn't zero vis.
Convergence of the transits here:
i-Boating : Free Marine Navigation Charts & Fishing Maps

 

[[194224]]

Bagpipes themselves actually seem fully compliant with the ColRegs! (See below.)

PART D - SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS
Rule 32
Definitions​

1. (a) The word “whistle” means any sound signalling appliance capable of producing the prescribed blasts and which complies with the specifications in Annex III to these Regulations.​

​

I doubt very much the bagpipes were being used to make the "prescribed blasts".

However it's probably a permitted means of making sound under rule 35(j).

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Sounds wonderful to me!

We made a mate practice his scottish bagpipes in the orchard but made a fine sound once he got the hang of them so we let him indoors

Breton or northumbrian pipes would be as good though I might favour a bombard

 

[fisherman]

If you see the Tall Ships and get near the Shabab Oman, now they really know how to play the pipes. They processed through the docks in Antwerp like the pied piper, stream of folk like me dancing along behind.
There may have been drink taken....

edit: here they are

 

[[194224]]

Anyway there is no excuse for not making the correct sound signals. Even the smallest craft should be able to find room one of these compact jobbies.