On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:33:21 -0500, Jeff wrote:

Jeff, I'm going to make the assmumption that you just can't be as dumb
as your response sounds. So you must want to take over RB's position
at the side of the boat throwing over that rotten chum to bait up what
you can.

Good luck on that one. I'll still go with common sense when it is
appropriate. That is what the thread was about.

Frank



Frank Boettcher wrote:
On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:40:55 -0500, Jeff wrote:

Frank Boettcher wrote:

After Jeff tried to convince me and the group that ColRegs would
indicate that a couple of kids on beach launched sunfish's playing in
a fifty foot wide channel did have the right of way based on tack over
my channel bound, engineless, sail boat, tacking up wind in that
narrow channel to get to port, and that I, in deference to them,
should put my boat on the rocks or up on the beach, or possibly turn
around and go back out until they get tired of playing in said
channel, I think I'll go with Scotty's common sense approach.
Frank, you misinterpreted entirely what I said.

I think not

Your claim is that
the ColRegs should generally be ignored

I neverr said that nor implied it. I said in that situation if
ColRegs indicated I needed to put my vessel in danger to comply I
would revert to common sense.

Actually, if you read the first page of the ColRegs (actually Rule 2)
you would understand that they do not require that. They do tend to
imply that you use a bit of foresight to avoid getting yourself to
that point.

BTW, you admit down below that you have no knowledge of the rules, and
seemingly have no desire to learn them. That sounds a lot like
"ignoring" to me.


and replaced by a vague mix of
common sense and the "rule of least maneuverability." It was clear
from the way you presented the case that the kids did not fully
appreciate the circumstances that you were in.

Why would that be clear?. These were Yacht club kids who had
attended several educational sessions, and knew the waters. All three
of my sons attended the same sessions. The oldest attended with the
kids in question. They (my sons) certainly knew, at that age, that
they did not have the right of way in the situation, or if ColRegs
said they did as you indicated, they would have the common sense to
defer.

So your kids never would have done such a thing, therefore no kid
every would. Thanks, Frank, that's the best laugh I've had in a while!


While one might hope
the kids had common sense, I certainly wouldn't expect it. So perhaps
you should explain how your rule works in practice? Perhaps you could
explain how a kid who probably learned to sail a few weeks before,
would understand that you were not in control of your vessel?

I was always in control, just not willing to come about, run out and
wait the fools out with a storm approaching.

Ahah! This was actually just a matter of your convenience! You had
cut things a bit thin, and these kids were slowing you down. You
could have come about but that would have been too much work. Sorry
Frank, back to school with you!

Why not just say to the kids, "Can you please give me some room?" If
its clear that the other vessel doesn't appreciate your situation, its
your responsibility to inform them, not whine about it on the internet.

BTW, you never did tell us what actually happened. I'm guessing they
didn't force you onto the rocks and you didn't really have to weather
the storm at sea, so this crisis is really in your imagination.


Yes,
I'd agree that common sense was lacking in this situation, but I don't
think it was on the kid's part.

For most of the last 15 years I've had to sail past 5 sailing programs
(2 mainly for kids) to get from my berth to open water. While it
been on occasion a bit annoying when they seemed to go out of their
way to exercise their rights, I've never had a problem following the
rules. The rules even provide guidance in your case (Rule 9, Narrow
Channels; Rule 2, special circumstances, limitations of vessels) but
expecting kids to fully grasp the rules or have common sense seems to
be a losing strategy.

So there are rules for the situation? you were not willing to offer
that in the original thread.

Sorry. I though you had at least a passing understanding of the
rules. Here it is, in very simple terms: The Sunfish had right of
way (Rule 12), but were obligated to give you room to get by (Rule 9).
They can't make you go one the rocks (Rule 2, I guess). If it was
normal for sailboats to go in that channel with the engine running,
only a fool would assume that kids would appreciate that your's was
dead (Rule 2, "neglect of any precaution").

...

I have
to say, I have no idea what they can do while planing, but I do know
they can very easily throttle back and gain a lot of maneuverability.

So if they are channel bound and throttle back then they can leave the
channel ?

No, but its a lot easier for both vessels to avoid a collision if one
of them is not doing 25 knots. You *really* have to read the rules,
at least once. And why would you assume the powerboat draws more than
the sailboat? You are a sailor, aren't you? You're sounding an awful
lot like a landlubber in this.


If you think" least manueverable" is not a valid concept you should
certainly spend some time in the gulf intercoastal in front of a coal
barge train yelling starboard. However, let me know when so I can
watch.

What's your point? If you're trying to make this about the "law of
tonnage" then you really are pretty ignorant. I have no trouble
deferring to large ships, and even smaller ferries that really should
give way to me. But are you saying that a 45 foot Carver has the
right to claim "Law of Tonnage" and blast everyone out of the channel?
Or that any boat smaller than yours should stay out of your way
because you don't want to do an extra tack?

...
Frank, you should learn the rules. And you should learn some common
sense. But mainly, you should think things out before ranting.

No rant here, just trying to understand an individual who thinks that
the book takes precedent over common sense. That was Scotty's post.
You know my position.

I know it now. Your meaning of "common sense" is that everyone should
stay out of your way.

And really, Frank, are your bragging to us that you were outsailed by
a group of kids on sunfish?