"Calif Bill" wrote in
m:


"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...
Autopilot does not mean you should not look out.
http://www.break.com/index/massive-yacht-collision-and-
destruction.ht
ml


See the guy run out on the foredeck and give the other guy the
finger?

Problem is, *his* boat was at fault.

Eisboch


Actually, both were at fault. There is no right of way and both have
to try to avoid a crash.




Hmm. I'm sort of an armchair sailor, but it seems to me either Rule 14
or Rule 15 of COLREGS is appropriate:

Rule 14

Head-on Situation

(a) When two power driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or
nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall
alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side
of the other.

(b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the
other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead
lights in line or nearly in line and/or both sidelights and by day she
observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation
exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

Rule 15

Crossing Situation

When two power driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of
collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side
shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case
admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.




Seems to me the craft with the camera has the other boat to starboard,
hence Rule 15 applies. Of course, the other boat is also in violation
of Rule 17b:

(b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and
speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the
action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will
best aid to avoid collision.



Of course, the instinctive action on the part of the smaller boat would
be to turn to port, passing starboard to starboard, which would put her
in peril of the larger craft turning to starboard under Rule 14. It
would be interesting to see the outcome of any legal action...