gonefishiing wrote:
out for a late night sail last week, which i do a lot of.
western edge of long island sound, ny
on a port tack heading southwest towards the throgs neck bridge.
slack tide.
particulary dark night.
full main and jib set
15 knots wind

keeping a vigilant eye out for ships, i spot a black form against the lights
of the city in front of me and realize it is a tug and barge and i also
realize (in the absence of visible nav lights) his small profile means he is
headed right at me and steaming.

Picking out tug/barge and ship lights against city lights can be a
problem. It is also a problem that many small boaters are not looking
high enough, to see them (they are looking at the horizon or perceived
horizon, whereas the lights of a closer large vessel are above that.)

i decide to tack the boat around 180 degrees and give him some
room........assuming (correctly) his course has 2 possiblities--he is going
to continue eastbound in the sound or he is going to turn north towards
eastchester bay to anchor his barge (partial mistake no.1?). he turns
northeast towards the barge anchorage, paralleling my course and i am east
of him and the barge anchorage- out of his way.

towards the east i spot another ship (freighter) steaming westbound for the
gate. he is north of the lane that most of the commerical ships take for the
bridge. and a quick visual calculation tells me i can cross his bow without
problem and also because he needs to turn behind my stern to set his course
for the bridge (and soon!) (partial mistake no.2?)

they are both aware that i am here-- million candle power lights
illuminating sails had a way of doing that. (my light)

1: the freighter, westbound, is not turning although i have crossed his
bow--only slightly and he'll end up passing beyond me, far too close and
moving fast.
2: the tug/barge decides to steer a circle around the barge anchorage and
end up eastbound again --off my port beam and close enough that i can see
the pilot. he has slowed down significantly at this point as i am now
between both vessels. (on a starboard tack)

3: they both passed "safely" at my stern, to the south of me the freigher
first, the tug next.

this was really too close for comfort, and i had my hands full sailing.
not to negate my responsiblity, i think constrained by draft here is a
relative term, if it even applies. they each had a mile of room to the south
(behind me) to manuveur and cannot understand why they would choose to
approach so closely, as my actions were clear, my course was appropriate and
consistent and meant to give each a wide berth

A "mile of room" is not really all that much room when talking about a
ship or tug/barge combo. Not having a chart of the area and knowing
exactly what and where the ship and tug were going and thinking, it's
hard to second guess what was happening.
I can really fault you on only one item ..... not contacting and
monitoring via VHF.
You will probably work this over in your mind a number of times and come
up with numerous possible solutions. However, what is most important is
that your actions, plus those of the others ended in a safe (if somewhat
close) passing situation.

and for whatever it may be worth, i think everyone took the correct actions
i believe i was the stand on vessel
the freighter was 2nd in pecking order
the tug/barge gave way

G Again, not knowing the area (well, I know it, but it's been awhile
and I'd need to see some charts), you may have been stand on, but the
others may have considered you to be "shall not impede", i.e. one mans
narrow channel, is another mans open sound.

what would you have done differently?

gf.

Other than the radio, hard to say. I especially like the fact you lit
your sails.

otn