Not all cruising yachts are single handing it...... not all situations
require someone on a constant 360deg swivel..... the rules where mainly
written for ships/larger vessels, so you have to adapt many to fit single
handed cruising yachts and do the best you can.
Saying that "steering and sailing" does not include at anchor so you
don't need to keep a watch, is a nice word argument that won't do you a
bit of good when the stuff hits the fan.....






"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in news:46c20af5
:


"otnmbrd" wrote in message
.70...
All so typical...... Most anchored vessels are manned (exceptions
noted)....keep a lookout

It's just not possible for a single crewman on a small cruising yacht
to
keep a lookout at all times when anchored. This would mean he can never
leave the boat. This would mean he could never sleep. This would mean
he
could never use the head, cook a meal, change filters on the motor,
etc.
There are many legitimate reasons for anchoring. Among these reasons
are
the fact that you realize you are too tired to stay awake while you're
steering and sailing so you stop steering and sailing and drop the
anchor so you can get some much needed rest. Your too broad application
of rule 5 would force sailors to carry on until they fell asleep at the
wheel and caused a collision. See how, if extended logically, a case
cannot be made for what you are saying?

The only way you can be expected to be in compliance with Rule 5 is if
it's applied like it's written. You must keep a lookout at all times
"when steering and sailing."

When you're anchored you are NOT "steering and sailing." Just like
you're not steering and sailing when you're made fast to the pier.
NOBODY tries to say you must keep a lookout at all times when at the
dock. A few people are saying you must keep a lookout at all times when
anchored. They are WRONG! What's so hard to understand about that?

Wilbur Hubbard