ASA question #119
 

3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your vessel
is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward over
windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is not
giving way. You signal several times using various methods available, but
they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You can't
turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat under
power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the approaching
sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a collision,
which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

ASA question #119
 

Capt. JG wrote:
3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your vessel
is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward over
windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is not
giving way. You signal several times using various methods available, but
they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You can't
turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat under
power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the approaching
sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a collision,
which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

Douse your sails, turn in the engine and put your boat in reverese, then
get on 17 and hail the engine powered boat, switch to an appropriate
channel, and then serrtly tell them what's what...

ASA question #119
 

You can't turn in either direction. However you are required to
take whatever steps you deem necessary to avoid a collision.

I start by sounding 8 short blasts of the horn. I do this continuously with
pauses so it was clear I was sounding 8 blasts--the danger signal.

I'd try to contact either boat by radio on channel 16. I'd give my
vessel name, location and number of passengers aboard so that
if there was a collision, the USCG would have that information
in the event the radio was disabled in the collision. I'd give orders
to the sailboat under power to turn right and the starboard tack
beam reach boat to bear off or head up whatever seemed best.

I'd order everyone on board into lifejackets and warn everyone of the
possibility of collision. I'd task people to wave frantically on either
side
of the boat.

I'd consider popping smoke or launching a flare to get the
other boats attention.

I'd reduce speed by furling my jib and if possible by striking my
main. If I had an engine I'd start it, put it in reverse, hit the
throttle, and then give three short blasts. If I didn't have an
engine, and I'd taken all way off, and there was time (unlikely)
I'd hoist two round balls to cover my ass in court.

Alternatively, if I could motor forward to pass the two boats
by motor-sailing, all the while sounding the danger signal, I'd
consider that option.

In the event collision was unavoidable, I'd move myself and
passengers to the area of the boat that seemed safest.

It's a pretty awkward situation. And one that I would avoid
at all costs by heading up and ducking the stern of the vessel
propelled by machinery long before the situation got critical.

"Capt. JG" wrote

3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your
vessel is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leeward
over windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is
not giving way. You signal several times using various methods available,
but they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You
can't turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat
under power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the
approaching sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a
collision, which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

ASA question #119
 

"katy" wrote in message
...
Capt. JG wrote:
3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your
vessel is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward
over windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power
is not giving way. You signal several times using various methods
available, but they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what
to do. You can't turn to starboard, because that would be directly into
the sailboat under power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly
into the approaching sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to
avoid a collision, which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

Douse your sails, turn in the engine and put your boat in reverese, then
get on 17 and hail the engine powered boat, switch to an appropriate
channel, and then serrtly tell them what's what...

I'm assuming you mean 16. These are all good points, but not the fastest
thing you can do, although dousing sails and reverse engine are legitimate
things to try. It might be difficult to drop the main on a broad reach,
although furling or dropping the jib would probably be possible, assuming
you have enough time. 1 pt awarded for quick answer.

ASA question #119
 

"Bart" .@. wrote in message ...
You can't turn in either direction. However you are required to
take whatever steps you deem necessary to avoid a collision.

Correct.

I start by sounding 8 short blasts of the horn. I do this continuously
with
pauses so it was clear I was sounding 8 blasts--the danger signal.

8 or 5? I believe 5 is what signals a danger alarm.

I'd try to contact either boat by radio on channel 16. I'd give my
vessel name, location and number of passengers aboard so that
if there was a collision, the USCG would have that information
in the event the radio was disabled in the collision. I'd give orders
to the sailboat under power to turn right and the starboard tack
beam reach boat to bear off or head up whatever seemed best.

I like the completeness of the answer, especially hailing the beam reaching
boat. This would be high on my list of things to do, because it's also their
obligation to avoid a collision, thus they should turn or slow also.

I'd order everyone on board into lifejackets and warn everyone of the
possibility of collision. I'd task people to wave frantically on either
side of the boat.

Excellent. Very complete. Of course, since time is running out, you might
not have the ability to do most of this.

I'd consider popping smoke or launching a flare to get the
other boats attention.

I'd reduce speed by furling my jib and if possible by striking my
main. If I had an engine I'd start it, put it in reverse, hit the
throttle, and then give three short blasts. If I didn't have an
engine, and I'd taken all way off, and there was time (unlikely)
I'd hoist two round balls to cover my ass in court.

Alternatively, if I could motor forward to pass the two boats
by motor-sailing, all the while sounding the danger signal, I'd
consider that option.

In the event collision was unavoidable, I'd move myself and
passengers to the area of the boat that seemed safest.

It's a pretty awkward situation. And one that I would avoid
at all costs by heading up and ducking the stern of the vessel
propelled by machinery long before the situation got critical.

Definitely!

I award 3 pts plus 1 additional for completeness.

"Capt. JG" wrote

3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your
vessel is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leeward
over windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power
is not giving way. You signal several times using various methods
available, but they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what
to do. You can't turn to starboard, because that would be directly into
the sailboat under power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly
into the approaching sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to
avoid a collision, which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

ASA question #119
 

OzOne wrote in message ...
On Mon, 9 Oct 2006 20:01:32 -0700, "Capt. JG"
scribbled thusly:

3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your
vessel
is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward over
windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is not
giving way. You signal several times using various methods available, but
they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You
can't
turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat under
power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the approaching
sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a collision,
which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

Welll, I'd sneak up right alongside that idiot and give him a huge
piece of my mind ......

1/2 pt awarded for action after the fact. :-)

ASA question #119
 

Capt. JG wrote:
3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your vessel
is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward over
windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is not
giving way. You signal several times using various methods available, but
they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You can't
turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat under
power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the approaching
sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a collision,
which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?



I wouldn't have gotten so close that I couldn't turn in
either direction. When the boats are about 3x min turning
distance, that is the point at which you should have already
turned *hard* to avoid a collision.

At the point you're describing (no room to turn, ie other
boats 50' away or less) there is nothing you can do because
you will be having a collision within a few seconds. OTOH if
you back it up a little, there are several things to do.

Fire a white flare over the boat under power. Hail the
sailboat to port that you cannot give way and they must
avoid your vessel and also give you room to avoid the stupid
sailboat under power. Throw out a stern anchor. Start your
engine and put it astern at full throttle. Deploy your
insta-inflate dirigible and go straight up.

The best option would be to turn as sharply as possible & go
astern of the sailboat under power, while you still have
room to do so. That would not require gybing. However it
would require making a decision *before* you run out of
room, which apparently is not part of your scenario.

By the time the vessels are this close together, there is
risk that a wave could throw them into a collision anyway,
especially the one with no helmsman.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

ASA question #119
 

Capt. JG wrote:
3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your vessel
is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward over
windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is not
giving way. You signal several times using various methods available, but
they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You can't
turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat under
power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the approaching
sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a collision,
which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?


First of all, a "modern sailboat" should be able to go head to wind
with a turning radius of a few boatlengths. If the power boat is too
close to do that, a collision is imminent. Six knots is over ten feet
per second, so if you're too close for maneuvering you have less than
10-20 seconds. Also, if you've tooted your horn at under 100 yards
and they don't hear it, hailing on the radio is unlikely to wake them up.

Possibilities, depending on the boat:
Start engine. My Yanmars *might* be ready to produce power in 10
seconds if they were already warmed up.

Drop anchor. If the breaker is on (it normally isn't) I can deploy
pretty quickly, but I would only consider this in shallow water. On
the first power of the season (often across from the storage marina to
a slip) I usually have both anchors ready to deploy.

Release jib and Pull the main in amidships. Again, it depends on the
exact situation and boat, but this could release enough power to slow
enough to avoid the problem.

Squat down, put your head between your knees ...

ASA question #119
 

DSK wrote:


The best option would be to turn as sharply as possible & go astern of
the sailboat under power, while you still have room to do so. That would
not require gybing. However it would require making a decision *before*
you run out of room, which apparently is not part of your scenario.


Yep. Don't let yourself get into situations like this where you have no
options. The fact that it has gotten as far as it has in JG's scenario
shows somebody isn't paying attention.


//Walt

ASA question #119
 

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
3 pts for the best answer. Fewer points for second, third best.

You're sailing a 36' relatively modern sailboat sailing on a broad reach,
starboard tack. To port is another sailboat also sailing on a starboard
tack, approaching on a beam reach. Additionally, to starboard of your
vessel is a sailboat under power. The pecking order is obviously, leward
over windward, sail over power. Unfortunately, the sailboat under power is
not giving way. You signal several times using various methods available,
but they're distracted, don't respond, perhaps don't know what to do. You
can't turn to starboard, because that would be directly into the sailboat
under power. You can't jibe, because that would be directly into the
approaching sailboat on the port. Time is rapidly running out to avoid a
collision, which you're required to do.

What are your options? What would you do?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com



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