1. 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

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. Click Image to Play Video

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Three Kinds of Conflicts
Meeting
Crossing
Overtaking

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

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

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

15. Overtaking or Crossing?
abeam
22.5o
Crossing Situation
Overtaking Situation

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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?

23. 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!!

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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