Roger Long wrote:
"Gary" wrote


What you are saying here is you only adhere to the rules when you
want to and the rest of the boats on the water know you do that?
What about the rule that requires you to stand on? Maybe you have
inadvertently created the confusion by allowing some vessels to pass
while demanding your rights with this one?


Not at all. I'm quite cognizant of the need for the stand on vessel
to behave in a predictable fashion. Once a situation has developed to
the point that the burdened vessel needs to make a correction in
course I religiously go straight and steady.

When I give way to the ferries, I do it well in advance of it's
becoming a crossing situation and do it with a clear and often
exaggerated course change to make my intentions clear. This is done
well in advance of it becoming an encounter. Thinking about it
further, I probably do this far enough outside their zone of concern
that I kind of doubt that the notice. After all, I know exactly what
their route is likely to be.

Still, the point about creating confusion is an interesting one. I
see it more in terms of everyone's aggregate behavior though. Maybe
it would be better if everyone insisted on their right of way. In a
small busy harbor, though, you are often burdened and stand on at the
same time to different vessels.

I don't think of it as "insisting" on the right of way. In Naval
thinking, it is always better to be the "give way vessel" because you
are free to take early action. The "burdened" vessel is really the guy
who, by the rules, is required to maintain his course and speed until he
sounds the 5 short or feels that collision can only be avoided by his
taking action.

I think of the guy who has the requirement to keep clear as the guy with
all the options.

In your circumstance, where the vessel required to keep out of the way
doesn't, once you sound the 5 shorts you are free by the rules to keep
out of his way. Finally, sounding the 5 short "wake up" signal might
just make it obvious to the other vessel that you are concerned (in case
they aren't sailors and didn't recognize your situation).

Gary