"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Scotty wrote:
But which side is the port side when you're going
backwards?

#12, a , lll;
if a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel
to
windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the
other vessel has the wind on the port or on the
starboard
side, she shall keep out of the way of the other.


Jeeze, people keep repeating the rules. I have a zillion
copies of
the rules. The question is, when you're going backwards,
does port
and starboard switch sides. Does the definition depend on
the
direction of the motion, or the location of the bow?

My thought was that it has to be the direction of motion,
otherwise it gets too confusing for the normal sailor. The
reason I copied rule lll, if you're approaching some goof
ball sailing backwards and can't figure out which tack he's
on, then ''she shall keep out of the way of the other.
''.



BTW, aside from this issue, I don't think there's
anything
that
prevents a sailboat from responding, especially under
34(a)(ii). If
I'm being passed by a ferry that gives me a toot, I'll
usually respond
that I agree.


How do you respond?

depends on what I've had to eat.

Lets say Tuna.

Scotty