"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Aug 9, 2:37 pm, Skip Gundlach wrote:

Our radar is set for 24 nautical miles. The typical shipping traffic
is moving at 15-30 knots, so I check every 15 minutes while I'm at
the
keyboard. In 15 minutes, the fastest shipping would move 8 miles or
less, so
that would give us ample warning to pay very close attention.

Meanwhile, Otto (the autopilot) continues his faithful duty, steering
us to
the waypoint off Cape Fear.


Skip, whoes on watch when youre typing away inside and the boat is on
autopilot?

Seems to me if I was a new boat owner and longing for life at sea i
would be in the cockpit ON WATCH enjoying the view. PLEASE tell me you
are not considering a look at a RADAR screen every 15 min standing
watch! ?!? ! ?!? ?

I hate to tell you this but some things wont show on that screen. And
even if it did Im not sure your practiced enough to recognize a weak
target.

Bob


I was sailing north one morning in the Gulf Stream several years ago
transiting the approaches to the submarine base at Mayport. Of course
I stay in the cockpit to keep a visual watch almost constantly and only
duck my head below long enough to grab a snack or put a kettle on the
stove for a cup of coffee. The autopilot was steering and I was watching
all around the horizon as is my usual habit. All of a sudden I noticed a
square object coming out of the sea not a quarter mile off my starboard
bow on a collision course. It had not been there a minute ago. Turned
out it was the sail of a surfacing nuclear sub and it was going probably
20-25 knots. I quickly altered course to cross behind it.

Skippy down below typing away probably would have been run over. Get run
over by a nuclear sub and they won't even report it (provided they even
notice the small thump!) Those things are larger than they look.

Wilbur Hubbard