[Rhodes22-list] Right-of-Way

[TN Rhodey]

Herb,

Thanks, I don't have the license but I knew that what Bill was posting did 
not folkow the regs. As he said a lot of people get the rules 
wrong....including Bill!

Wally


>From: "Herb Parsons" <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Right-of-Way
>Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:05:10 -0500
>
>Bill,
>
>Just to be sure we're clear.
>
>There are specific meanings to all of those terms. A person cannot use 
>"common sense" to define things like "vessel restricted in its abilityt o 
>maneuver" and "vessel not under command".
>
>Those definitions are also in the colregs.
>
>For instance, your example : A Cigarette boat, traveling at 90 miles an 
>hour, is restricted in its ability to maneuver.  Sailboats must give way -- 
>early!" is simply incorrect. A cigarette boat, traveling at 90 miles an 
>hour, in open water in CG regulated area, that hit a sailboat would almost 
>definitely be found to be at fault.
>
>
>
>And, again, talking about rules rather than common sense, some of your 
>assertions are simply incorrect, your list of boats that have "right of 
>way", you included "emergency vessels".
>
>Simply incorrect Bill. I know 100% sure, because that very question was on 
>my USCG Master's exam. Not the exact wording, but the concept of the 
>message was:
>You are on your 60 foot vessel, and a motor vessel with blue lights 
>flashing appears to be on a collision course approaching to starboard. You 
>should:
>
>And here it gave four choices. One of those choices was to alter course to 
>avoid the vessel, and the other was to maintain course and speed as the 
>stand-on vessel. That was the answer I gave, and got the question right (I 
>got all of the questions right on that portion, but they were a little lax, 
>they only required 90%).
>
>Please, nothing wrong AT ALL with using common sense, and if I saw the real 
>life situation listed above, I'd slow down and the let the Game 
>Warden/Sheriff/CG Vessel/Whatever pass in front of me. However, the test 
>was NOT testing my use of common sense, it was testing my knowledge of the 
>colregs.
>
>Herb Parsons
>
>S/V O'Jure
>1976 O'Day 25
>Lake Grapevine, N TX
>
>S/V Reve de Papa
>1971 Coronado 35
>Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast
>
> >>> bill at effros.com 7/27/2006 8:44:56 am >>>
>Tom, Herb,
>
>Most people get this wrong.
>
>Here's the pecking order:
>
>(Summary of Coast Guard rules courtesy of the state of Tennessee)
>
>Responsibilities Between Vessels:
>
>If operating a power driven vessel you must give way to:
>
>o Any vessel not under command, such as an anchored or disabled vessel.
>o Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, such as a vessel
>towing, laying cable, or picking up navigation markers, or a vessel
>constrained by its draft such as a large ship in a channel.
>o A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
>o A sailing vessel (sail only) unless it is overtaking
>
>If operating a sailing vessel (sail only), you must give way to:
>o Any vessel not under command
>o Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
>o A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
>
>Michael and I sail in waters where we see all kinds of vessels
>(including submarines) all the time.  Every summer we read about a
>novice sailor getting killed while yelling "I've got the right of way!"
>-- when in fact he doesn't.
>
>All military vessels have right-of-way over all other vessels.  Next
>comes the Coast Guard.  Next comes emergency vessels.  Next comes tugboats.
>
>Then comes vessels engaged in commercial fishing.
>
>But way up at the top are vessels not under command, and just below is
>any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver.
>
>As a practical matter try to think of a commercial vessel that is not
>restricted in its ability to maneuver.  We already know that if you try
>to turn a cruise ship too fast it can tip over.  A Cigarette boat,
>traveling at 90 miles an hour, is restricted in its ability to
>maneuver.  Sailboats must give way -- early!
>
>Some of these big commercial boats have 40 foot drafts.
>
>I can't think of a commercial boat that wouldn't have right of way over
>a sail boat under sail--can you?
>
>Experienced sailors always follow "The Law of Tonnage": if something
>bigger than you is bearing down on you -- get out of its way!
>
>Bill Effros
>
>PS -- Anchored vessels must be in designated anchorages -- you can't
>anchor in the middle of a busy waterway and think for one second that
>you've got the right of way.  And if you're disabled, but the other boat
>can't maneuver, and can't give way...don't get disabled in front of big
>boats--it won't turn out well.
>
>
>
>
>Herb Parsons wrote:
> > I'm curious too. Commercial fishing vessels are stand on over sail 
>boats, when they're engaged in fishing. ANY boat (commercial or other) 
>limited in their ability to manuever and in a channel is stand on over a 
>sailing boat as well. But I believe that the blanket statement that all 
>commercial vessels have the right-of-way over any sailing vessel is 
>incorrect.
> >
> > Herb Parsons
> >
> > S/V O'Jure
> > 1976 O'Day 25
> > Lake Grapevine, N TX
> >
> > S/V Reve de Papa
> > 1971 Coronado 35
> > Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast
> >
> >
> >>>> Tatflies at cs.com 7/26/2006 10:29:26 pm >>>
> >>>>
> > Bill,
> >
> > Why do commercial vessels have the right-of-way over any sailing vessel
> > (unless limited in their ability to manuever)?
> >
> > Tom T.
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> >
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list