RULES OF THE ROAD Marc Hughston Presentation by US Coast Guard Licensed Master US SAILING Certified Bareboat Instructor Marc Hughston WORSA Presentation 5/18/06

RULES OF THE ROAD Foundational review Three situations involving Sail and Power Narrow channels Shipping Lanes Quiz!!! “You can you do it all night long in your dinghy at Isthmus Cove, but it’ll get you a ticket in Newport Harbor.” What is it?

Foundational Review Rule 2: Responsibility “Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seaman.” General Prudential Rule: the mariner is responsible not only for complying with the Rules but also for avoiding a collision. The rules must be obeyed, but they must not be blindly obeyed at the expense of good seamanship. The rules give you no excuse for hitting someone. Rule of Good Seamanship General Prudential Rule Special Situations Rules don’t cover every possible scenario: Ships operating in reverse (TR and LTG collision) Ships that are adrift There is no comprehensive list of IF…THEN’s In Extremis Literally: “at the point of death” or collision imminent Collision can be avoided only by action of both vessels It means one or both of the vessels failed to take the 1st line of preventive measures. Marc Hughston WORSA Presentation 5/18/06

Our Navy Requires Canned Fish Served Promptly at Seven Pecking Order Our Navy Requires Canned Fish Served Promptly at Seven Our O - Overtaken vessel Navy N - Not under command Requires R - Restricted in ability to maneuver Canned C - Constrained by draft- Int’l only Fish F - Engaged in fishing Served S - Sailing vessels Promptly P - Power driven vessels Seven S - Seaplanes

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Rule 3: Definitions Vessel engaged in fishing Vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrict maneuverability. Does NOT include vessel with trolling lines. Marc Hughston WORSA Presentation 5/18/06

Rule 3: Definitions Vessel restricted in ability to maneuver Vessel restricted in ability to maneuver means a vessel which from the nature of her work is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. Examples: Laying Nav aids, Dredging/Surveying, Flight Ops, Mine clearance.

Rule 7: Risk of Collision Every vessel shall use all available means to determine if risk of collision exists. Early use of RADAR to obtain early warning risk of collision Systematic observation Such risk is deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.

Rule 8: Action to Avoid Collision Any action taken to avoid collision must be: Positive Made in ample time Course and speed alterations must: Be large enough to be readily apparent visually or on radar. Avoid a succession of small alterations.

Rule 16: Action by Give-Way Vessel Take early and substantial action to keep well clear. Rule 17: Action by Stand-on Vessel Maintain course and speed. Take action to avoid collision when it is apparent the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action.

Three Kinds of Conflicts Meeting Crossing Overtaking

Turn to starboard, pass port to port Power v. Power Meeting Turn to starboard, pass port to port

Give-way to power on the right Power v. Power Crossing See green, Go! See red, Stop! Give-way to power on the right

Keep well clear of the overtaken vessel Power v. Power Overtaking Keep well clear of the overtaken vessel

Overtaking or Crossing? abeam 22.5o Crossing Situation Overtaking Situation

Sail v. Sail Meeting, opposite tacks Wind Starboard Tack Port Tack Port tack gives-way, Starboard tack stands-on

Sail v. Sail Crossing, opposite tacks Wind On opposite tacks, Port Tack Starboard Tack On opposite tacks, Port tack gives-way, Starboard tack stands-on

Windward gives-way, Leeward stands-on Sail v. Sail Wind Crossing, same tack Port Tack Windward Port Tack Leeward On the same tack, Windward gives-way, Leeward stands-on

Rule 9: Narrow Channels Stay on the “right” side of the channel. Sailing vessels and vessels < 20 meters shall not impede vessels restricted to the channel. Fishing vessels shall not impede those vessels. Crossing vessels shall not impede those vessels. Do not anchor in a channel.

Rule 10: Traffic Separation Schemes Use small angle of approach to enter/depart. Cross the scheme at right angles. You can fish in the lanes as long as you do not impede passage of the other vessels. Small vessels and sailing vessels shall not impede the passage of a power driven vessel in a lane.

Quiz!!! When the starboard tacked 82 foot schooner Kelpie’s bowsprit skewered the port tacked 30 foot race boat Dr. J, Kelpie’s insurance company still paid 40% of Dr. J’s damages - this is because: a. Dr. J’s owner was teaching crew how to tie a bowline and was engaged in “sail training.” b. Dr. J’s owner had a better lawyer than Kelpie’s owner. c. Dr. J was racing and therefore was required to stand-on. d. Kelpie didn’t comply with the rules by definition because she never even noticed Dr. J was there until the collision caused her to slow down. d. Kelpie didn’t comply with the rules by definition because she never even noticed Dr. J was there until the collision caused her to slow down.

Quiz!!! 2. 5 Short blasts on the horn mean: a. So that’s what this button does! b. I’m in doubt as to your intentions. b. I’m in doubt as to your intentions. Also, Danger!! c. Get out of the way you moron!!! d. It’s Happy Hour! Another margarita?

Quiz!!! 3. In Long Beach Harbor you are under sail crossing a huge tanker being pushed ahead by a tug. All of a sudden she rattles you with a blast of her horn. She is saying to you: a. Don’t go there, you’ll be sorry! b. I intend to leave you on my port side. b. I intend to leave you on my port side. c. Get out of the way you moron!!! d. Big boats Rule!!

Quiz!!! True or False True or False 4. You are under sail and crossing a tug towing a couple of barges full of rocks back from Catalina. The captain of the tug expects to give-way to you. However, if you get closer than a mile away and the tug has not taken action to avoid you, the burden then shifts to you and you should give way. True or False True or False

Quiz!!! True or False True or False 5. The Balboa Island Ferry in Newport Harbor has right of way over other vessels because it is commercial, and can’t maneuver well with all those cars, bicycles, and people on deck. True or False True or False

Quiz!!! True or False True or False 6. You can do this all night long in your dinghy at Catalina, but it will get you a ticket in Newport Harbor. True or False True or False