The Colregs state:

-INTERNATIONAL-
Sound and Light Signals
RULE 35
Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility

In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the
signals prescribed in this Rule shall be used as follows:
(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall
sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast.

This tells me that one minute intervals are legal.

Depending upon the traffic I should think that sounding the signal
at one minute intervals would confer a little extra safety.

S.Simon - a Captain who is serious about sailing


"Steve" wrote in message om...
While motoring last week we encountered thick fog and I requested a
crew member to sound a 5 second blast every minute. My thinking being
that the colregs specify an interval of not more than 2 minutes and
shorter would be better in a busy harbour entrance.

The skipper later said that I should have specified an interval of 2
minutes. A quick Google shows that the interval is sometimes quoted as
2 minutes, although I know that the colregs do say 'not greater than 2
minutes'.

Any thoughts ? Is exactly 2 minutes advisable for any reason ? Is 1
minute potentially confusing ?

Thanks

Steve

Correct you are, Simp. In fact, signaling at exactly 2 minute intervals is not good because some
automatic signalers will be doing the same and your signal could be confused for an echo. Its
better to be at a somewhat random interval.

Also, when you figure the distance traveled even at moderate speed, two minutes is a very long time.
Two vessels at 6 knots each can close 2400 feet in 2 minutes - more frequent signaling is certain
prudent in thick fog.

On the other hand, you don't want it to signal so frequently that you stomp on other signals. A
sailboat signal (or tow, RAM, etc) takes about 10 seconds, so you want to leave time after your
signal for several other vessels to signal.

BTW, the old rules, from 100 years ago, specified "not more than one minute" intervals.

-jeff




"Simple Simon" wrote in message ...
The Colregs state:

-INTERNATIONAL-
Sound and Light Signals
RULE 35
Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility

In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the
signals prescribed in this Rule shall be used as follows:
(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall
sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast.

This tells me that one minute intervals are legal.

Depending upon the traffic I should think that sounding the signal
at one minute intervals would confer a little extra safety.

S.Simon - a Captain who is serious about sailing


"Steve" wrote in message
om...
While motoring last week we encountered thick fog and I requested a
crew member to sound a 5 second blast every minute. My thinking being
that the colregs specify an interval of not more than 2 minutes and
shorter would be better in a busy harbour entrance.

The skipper later said that I should have specified an interval of 2
minutes. A quick Google shows that the interval is sometimes quoted as
2 minutes, although I know that the colregs do say 'not greater than 2
minutes'.

Any thoughts ? Is exactly 2 minutes advisable for any reason ? Is 1
minute potentially confusing ?

Thanks

Steve

Thanks for the confirmation. We'll get these Brits on
the straight and narrow one of these days.

S.Simon - a Captain who's serious about sailing


"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ...
Correct you are, Simp. In fact, signaling at exactly 2 minute intervals is not good because some
automatic signalers will be doing the same and your signal could be confused for an echo. Its
better to be at a somewhat random interval.

Also, when you figure the distance traveled even at moderate speed, two minutes is a very long time.
Two vessels at 6 knots each can close 2400 feet in 2 minutes - more frequent signaling is certain
prudent in thick fog.

On the other hand, you don't want it to signal so frequently that you stomp on other signals. A
sailboat signal (or tow, RAM, etc) takes about 10 seconds, so you want to leave time after your
signal for several other vessels to signal.

BTW, the old rules, from 100 years ago, specified "not more than one minute" intervals.

-jeff




"Simple Simon" wrote in message ...
The Colregs state:

-INTERNATIONAL-
Sound and Light Signals
RULE 35
Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility

In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the
signals prescribed in this Rule shall be used as follows:
(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall
sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast.

This tells me that one minute intervals are legal.

Depending upon the traffic I should think that sounding the signal
at one minute intervals would confer a little extra safety.

S.Simon - a Captain who is serious about sailing


"Steve" wrote in message
om...
While motoring last week we encountered thick fog and I requested a
crew member to sound a 5 second blast every minute. My thinking being
that the colregs specify an interval of not more than 2 minutes and
shorter would be better in a busy harbour entrance.

The skipper later said that I should have specified an interval of 2
minutes. A quick Google shows that the interval is sometimes quoted as
2 minutes, although I know that the colregs do say 'not greater than 2
minutes'.

Any thoughts ? Is exactly 2 minutes advisable for any reason ? Is 1
minute potentially confusing ?

Thanks

Steve

For sailboats it's one prolonged blast followed by one short.
But, if you're motoring as the poster was, then you must sound
the motor boat signal which consists on one prolonged blast.

A sailboat becomes a motorboat when it's using its engine.

S.Simon - a Captain who's serious about sailing


"fraggy" wrote in message ...
hiya
I thought that the blast at 2 min intervals if you are a sailing vessel you
make 1 long blast followed by 1 short ?

fragged



"Steve" wrote in message
om...
While motoring last week we encountered thick fog and I requested a
crew member to sound a 5 second blast every minute. My thinking being
that the colregs specify an interval of not more than 2 minutes and
shorter would be better in a busy harbour entrance.

The skipper later said that I should have specified an interval of 2
minutes. A quick Google shows that the interval is sometimes quoted as
2 minutes, although I know that the colregs do say 'not greater than 2
minutes'.

Any thoughts ? Is exactly 2 minutes advisable for any reason ? Is 1
minute potentially confusing ?

Thanks

Steve

Simple Simon wrote:

"fraggy" wrote in message
...
hiya
I thought that the blast at 2 min intervals if you are a sailing vessel
you
make 1 long blast followed by 1 short ?

For sailboats it's one prolonged blast followed by one short.
But, if you're motoring as the poster was, then you must sound
the motor boat signal which consists on one prolonged blast.

A sailboat becomes a motorboat when it's using its engine.

What planet are you guys on? It's one prolonged plus *two* short.

mmmmmmm, why would they require different fog signals for power vs sail if
there is no pecking order in fog?

Scotty

"Simple Simon" wrote in message
...
For sailboats it's one prolonged blast followed by one short.
But, if you're motoring as the poster was, then you must sound
the motor boat signal which consists on one prolonged blast.

A sailboat becomes a motorboat when it's using its engine.

S.Simon - a Captain who's serious about sailing


"fraggy" wrote in message
...
hiya
I thought that the blast at 2 min intervals if you are a sailing vessel
you
make 1 long blast followed by 1 short ?

fragged



"Steve" wrote in message
om...
While motoring last week we encountered thick fog and I requested a
crew member to sound a 5 second blast every minute. My thinking being
that the colregs specify an interval of not more than 2 minutes and
shorter would be better in a busy harbour entrance.

The skipper later said that I should have specified an interval of 2
minutes. A quick Google shows that the interval is sometimes quoted as
2 minutes, although I know that the colregs do say 'not greater than 2
minutes'.

Any thoughts ? Is exactly 2 minutes advisable for any reason ? Is 1
minute potentially confusing ?

Thanks

Steve

On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 23:46:33 -0400, "Scott Vernon"
wrote:

mmmmmmm, why would they require different fog signals for power vs sail if
there is no pecking order in fog?

The pecking order remains the same in fog.


A simple memory aid:

One prolonged blast (power underway)- moving (one word)

Two prolonged blasts (underway, no way on - adrift) - not moving (two
words)

One prolonged blast, 2 short blasts - Almost all others (three words)

All within two minutes.

There are other requires sounds (ringing bells for anchored vessels),
but the memory aid covers most situations encountered by most
recreational sailors.

Jack

__________________________________________________
Jack Dale
Swiftsure Sailing Academy
Director/ISPA and CYA Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free)
__________________________________________________

"Jack Dale" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 23:46:33 -0400, "Scott Vernon"
wrote:

mmmmmmm, why would they require different fog signals for power vs sail
if
there is no pecking order in fog?

The pecking order remains the same in fog.


A simple memory aid:

One prolonged blast (power underway)- moving (one word)

Two prolonged blasts (underway, no way on - adrift) - not moving (two
words)

One prolonged blast, 2 short blasts - Almost all others (three words)


Well it is even more logical than that. Two long is morse M which has the
meaning 'my vessel is stoppped and making no way through the water'

long short short is morse D which has the meaning 'my vessel is restricted
in its ability to manoeuvre ....'.

The signals have those same meanings by sound or light in good visibility.

The 'normal' rules only apply to vessels within sight of each other, ie NOT
just detected on radar or heard. So it is a completely different game in
restricted vis. in a sense it is therefore true that there is no pecking
order but it is obviously desirable to know if you are dealing with a power
vessel that can manoeuvre easily or one that cannot.

Thanks for the comments above; I take the point about varying the interval
in case you are exactly overlapping an automatic system. However, giving an
inexperienced crewmember a watch and precise instructions is easier than
requesting some wobble !

Steve
(OP - different machine)

For example wrote:

Well it is even more logical than that. Two long is morse M which has the
meaning 'my vessel is stoppped and making no way through the water'

long short short is morse D which has the meaning 'my vessel is restricted
in its ability to manoeuvre ....'.

Not quite, D actually means "I am manoeuvring with difficulty" which
is not exactly the same thing. But similar, I'll grant you.

But the single long blast, T, means "I am engaged in pair trawling".

I think that knocks your theory on its head.

Jack Dale wrote:
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 23:46:33 -0400, "Scott Vernon"
wrote:

mmmmmmm, why would they require different fog signals for power vs
sail if there is no pecking order in fog?

The pecking order remains the same in fog.


Which pecking order is that? The one defined in the section titled "Conduct of Vessels in
Sight of One Another"?