Tacking Signal

[townquay]

I always pride myself in keeping reasonably up to scratch regarding Col.Regs. BUT I have noted several times on this site,complaints from Power-Boaters and, (a few posts back about dinghy sailers) and the lack of signalling intentions when a sailing vessel is about to tack.
Is there any recognised signal ?
I was entering Soton Water from the Itchen on Saturday and there was a lot of shallow water on my port side. Eventually I had to tack and I simply couldn't do a complete turn to port and I couldn't continue straight on.
There was a yacht under engine on my st'bd quarter so I tried my best with frantic hand signals and so on to indicate that I was going to tack to st'bd.
He saw me but didn't seem to understand.
Evntually I ran out of space and put in a tack accross his bows (he was 50m. away) and he, quite understandably remonstrated a little. (In fact I saw him call somebody up to the cockpit so he may have been inexperienced) It wasn't really his fault even 'though he was technically the overtaking vessel. (I was then obliged to maintain a steady course, erm..of course)
It just made me think that there seems to be no uiniversal signal for "I've got to tack now mate - sorry "

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[Jacket]

A yell of "Water!" will be recognised by most racers, but not sure how many cruisers and MoBos will understand.

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[Neraida]

Water deffo be recognised but as you said could maybe not be understood or misconstrued as 'get out of my way I'm tacking' instead of 'sorry but I have to tack'. Bit difficult for people to hear you if they motoring too.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Neraida on 21/07/2003 18:27 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[peterb]

Colregs have a manoeuvring signal for "I am altering my course to starboard"; one short blast on the 'whistle' (Rule 34(a)). Whether the mobo would have recognised it is a moot point, but at least you would have done your best.

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[Col]

And 2 for Port / 3 for astern I'm a mobo

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[Happy1]

I am not being stupid but why on earth do they not have indicators on boats, especially motor boats, or is that too simple?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[johna]

Don't get offended but have you considered that sailing in such a constrained channel was not good seamanship. What would you have done if it had been a much larger vessel coming down the Itchen?

You could have gone into irons and waited for the overtaker to pass. Or turned and run downwind.

John

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[Cornishman]

How I miss the 'good old days' when we all had to learn the flag signals:

Flag 'E' I am altering course to starboard
Flag 'I' I am altering course to port
Flag 'D' I am manouevring with difficulty (you will see this being flown by the tugs on the Lower Ferry at Dartmouth)
For the Mobos Flag 'S' I am operating astern propulsion

You can see the flags on p14 of the RYA Desk Diary

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[Neraida]

LOL!! I wish!! A brake pedal (and a hand brake!!) for yachts would be lovely too!

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[Happy1]

Did someone have to walk in front of your car waving a flag in those days /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif Isn't it amazing that with all the new technology we still have ugly looking fenders and no indicators /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Jimmy20V]

In close waters, and if conditions allow, a little wave to the approacing vessel and calling "Ready about" LOUDLY to your crew gets the message across, without having to dig the horn out or rummage about in your flag set and run up to the halyards... By which time, if you are me, you've gone aground!!

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[Twister_Ken]

Flashers

Flashing orange lights are already spoken for (air cushion vehicles not operating in displacement mode)

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[Cornishman]

You really shouldn't talk about SWMBO like that!

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[claymore]

Re: Flashers

Hmm
perhaps a series of flashing pink lights in an arrow pattern - similar to those on the back of motorway maintenance trucks?
Would go nicely with the shell suits?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Dominic]

Use the Proper Sound Signals ?

Why not use the two blasts - I am turning to port ?

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[townquay]

To Johna -
I was 'constrained' because I'd wanted to tack for some time, the other boat was doing about the same speed and more or less sitting on my quarter. I only mentioned the circs. to illustrate a point.
(Also, I'd hardly class the confluence of the Itchen & Soton water as 'Constrained' or even truly restricted. If it's big enough for QEll, I reckon it's ok for my 37 footer.)
I'm not offended (and thanks for asking) - but my point WAS with regard to signalling my intentions to tack nothing to do with why I had to tack really.
The same situation often arises, even in very wide channels when there are a lot of boats using the same bit of water.
As for sound signals, well, we all carry our, (fairly useless towards a boat with engine running) foghorn in our cockpits at all times don't we ? (Well no actually, I can't recall ever seeing one 'up top' except in reduced vis') Anyway, could you imagine the cacophony in the Solent on a Sunday morning if every yacht used sound signals, (Are they valid for vessels under sail ?)

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[Col]

Re: Flashers

Saw a dutch sailing boat in Cherbourg last week with an orange flashing light fitted. It definately wasn't a hovercraft. Praps he was the AA!

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[Happy1]

/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[Happy1]

Re: Use the Proper Sound Signals ?

And if it is busy, how the hell do you know who is blasting their horn? I do think that all this sailing lark should be modernised, it is all so old fashioned and full of archaic outdated rules, it needs a good shake up and a whole set of modern signaling equipment, all IMHO of course. I do think they don't change them as all the old boys swinging the lamps in the yacht club lounges couldn't take it all in. It just seems to be a load of hit and miss, with more than half not knowing what on earth they are doing, and the other 49% thinking they know what they are doing, with just the remaining 1% made up of forum members doing it properly (grovel, grovel) /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>