On 2008-04-27 05:54:22 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

Rule 9 (a) is surprisingly limited in regard to the common sense idea that
traffic moving with the current has right of way in a narrow channel. It's
always true on the Great Lake and Western Rivers but otherwise only on
waters specified by the Secretary. Whether that bit of water is "specified
by the secretary" I don't know. Why 9 (a) doesn't apply to all waters, and
what is different about Eastern Rivers is a mystery.

Around the Chesapeake, it's fairly usual for someone waiting to inquire
the state of the current and usually people are courteous about it.

....then there was the time I was station-keeping a few lengths away
from the bridge, right on the centerline, chatting with the tender....
Got a compliment on our boat-handling from my backing against the
couple-knot current. (no emergency as we were already in reverse and
only needed to slide sidewards a few feet.)

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/