You will be partially at fault merely by admitting you didn't see the other
vessel in time to react. This is from a case of a close friend who was on
starboard tack and broadsided by a port tacker. Although they were on deck, the
jib blocked the view to leeward; admitting they didn't see the other boat
implied they did not keep a proper lookout. The result was a 24% liability.

The courts are pretty harsh on this point - much can be argued away by lawyers.
But if there is no one on deck, how can you claim the that you're compliant with
any of the basic rules? For instance, the "pecking order" applies "when
vessels are in sight of one another." You lose this protection when you admit
you had no lookout.

-jeff


"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
I will admit that I interpret Rule 5 liberally.. The term 'proper' is
ambiguous as is 'full appraisal of
the situation and of the risk of collision'.

A good way to see what kind of teeth the law has is to look at some
of the maritime case law. I have no firsthand experience in this regard
but several of the singlehanders I have met in my travels have mentioned
that if you are single handing and have an incident resulting from an
improper watch, you will likely by found at least partially at fault. I
guess that is just one more of the risks of singlehanding.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...


RULE 5
Look-out
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight
and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the
prevailing
circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of
the situation and of the risk of collision.


I'm not a single-handed by choice but frequently sail single-handed due to
the lack of crew availability.. Or, in other words, I won't forego an
opportunity to go sailing or take advantage of a weather window just
because
the crew failed to materialize..

I will admit that I interpret Rule 5 liberally.. The term 'proper' is
ambiguous as is 'full appraisal of
the situation and of the risk of collision'.

I don't fully rely on my radar Zone Guard because I have had vessels
overtake me from aft of the quarter and the zone alarm would fail to alert
me. I have never owned a C.A.R.D. but a friend had one that gave false
alert
from his SSB and his own radar.

So that leaves me with my MK I eyeball and my 10 min. timer.. I generally
make short coastal passages and spend most of my time in the cockpit or at
the nav station/radar. The galley is with in arms reach of both the
companion way or the nav station. I can manage about 20-24 hours without
sleep. From there on I 'cat nap' under the dodger or in the companion way.
I
don't sleep if there is traffic within 10 miles and if I'm able to see a
ship beyond that is closing.

If I need more sleep, I look for an opportunity to enter port and anchor
or
head well offshore. On the Pac US coast the shipping lanes extend so far
offshore, that isn't practical unless you head beyond the shipping lanes
in
the first couple days and stay well clear.

I think the only reason I'm interested in a Single-Handed flag is to show
others that I manage my 13 ton cutter from place to place by myself. Call
it
"Showing Off". Some might applaud this while other will condemn it..

However, I'm not going to advertise this if I'm in an area of risk of
pirates or boardings.

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions