What's the cone for?

[iangrant]

What\'s the cone for?

I went out the other day and saw a boat with the mainsail up and a cone pointing downwards in the rigging at the front, it was a private yacht by the look of it. I admire Sunsail and take a lead from them, demanding right of way, racing, etc.. but have never seen one of their boats with one hanging up. What is it for and should I have one?

 

[colinroybarrett]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

Ian,

How close were you? It wasn’t black and lacy with frills by any chance? I can think of several items……..

 

[hugh_nightingale]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

Well, if you I admire Sunsail so much and take a lead from them AND they don't have any, what is your problem? Just follow your leader blindly.

Or are you just looking for an excuse to spend more money?

I can't believe you do not know what a cone is for, its for holding strawberry ice cream.

 

[bedouin]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

I think had you looked closer you might have discovered that it was not in fact a cone but a glove - I have heard of these being flown from the spreaders but I am unsure of the significance.

 

[iangrant]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

I know that one it's the single handed sailing club!

 

[Guest]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

Now hold on 'pardners ......

This is unfair !

A cones a cone, not a con !

 

[Guest]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

As this post came from the same source as the 'sewage' post, I suspect a wind up.
This cone is clearly a holding tank.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Just in case...

... it's a serious question, it's the correct way of indicating that your are motoring whilst having sails up. Of course you should have and use one when doing this. Paint a traffic cone black and you're fully equipped.

As to why Sunsail do or don't do it, it depends on the skippers inside leg measurement and whether there's a k in the month.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kimhollamby on Wed Jan 30 21:55:32 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

Whoever it was was one or more of the following
1. obeying the Colregs rule 25 (e) (A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall wexhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downward.)
2. hanging out the washing
3. not being careful where he left his icecream

if all 3 were related then the mind boggles

 

[PeteMcK]

Think it means it\'s a sailing school

and you should keep well clear (!!)

 

[Jeremy_W]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

It means that they have started the engine to generate power for the ice cream maker! Knowing Sunsail they will probably make a complete balls up of this and you occasionally see a yacht at anchor displaying this symbol.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kimhollamby on Wed Jan 30 21:54:38 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[walter]

Re: Think it means it\'s a sailing school

And I always thought it meant "look ouut I have an examiner aboard"

 

[Grehan]

Coney Baloney

There is a serious point underlying all this jollity. Well possibly, anyway.

1) Showing a 'motoring' cone is actually very helpful/good seamanship/etc towards other yachts who may or may not have to give way to you, etc. depending on the situation and their own motoring-or-sailing situation.

2) It seems to me that very few people do it. True?
Because its just too much of a fag to unearth the bloody thing from the bottom of the cockpit locker and rig it, then take it down again, then put it up again, etc?
Because it's one of those RYA Skipper Tuition things - like changing driving habits as soon as one has passed The Test?
Machismo?
What's a cone?
Why?

3) Propositions.
It should be easier to display this pretty important signal, then it would be more regularly displayed? - or -
However desirable, or irritating when it's not displayed, no one ever came to grief because of not 'sporting a motoring cone'. True?

Can one only fly the cone from a 'forestay/babystay' type position? - not (say) as a strange kind of burgee from a spreader?
Where d'ye rig it so it can be seen when the jib's out? Come on now, it might be . . .
Does one remove it at twilight - when the steaming lights go on?

 

[PhilipStapleton]

Re: What\'s the cone for?

It's the international signal for "I have an instructor aboard" - it's never seen otherwise.