On Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:09:00 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:57:47 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:58:25 +0200, "Edgar"
wrote:


wrote in message
om...
On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:32:26 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:44:15 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

If I turn on my engine, even if it's in neutral, I consider
myself a powerboat.

That is the way the rules are being taught and interpreted these days.

Not really. Even Americas Cup racers are permitted to run an engine
for charging purposes while racing.

I have an outboard on my boat. If I am just noodling around and not
trying to set any speed records, I may leave the engine in the water
while sailing, even though it is not running. That may look like I'm
motoring to you, but if you don't see a black sphere hanging from my
spreaders, or a steaming light, I'm a sailboat.

That's the LAW.

No it is not. A black sphere signifies that you are at anchor. You
should
have said 'cone apex downward'


When I typed that, my brain was idling and not in gear. :- )

Lets's just change it to, "That may look like I'm motoring to you, but
if you don't see a day shape or navigation light indicating otherwise,
I'm a sailboat.

If jon were to find himself in an Admiralty court, and proudly stated
that although he was legally sailing, he was acting as if he was a
powerboat, I think that would open him up to some unexpected
surprises. He would have just admitted that he was not following the
colregs.

There would be no need to admit it, because I would be acting like a
powerboat, and thus be obligated to use the engine to avoid the collision.
The requirement to follow the rules ends when doing all one can to avoid a
collision.


Good luck, Buck! The problem here is that by failing to act like the
sailboat you are, you may have contributed to creating the situation
that now requires drastic emergency manuvers. Other vessels in the
situation couldn't predict what you would do, because you weren't
being predictible. The reason for the very existence of the colregs is
so that everyone is predictable in their actions so conflicts can be
avoided. Show proper indicators, and if you are a sailboat, act like
one.

How that? If I'm acting like a powerboat, I have my engine on, I react to
crossing situations, etc., as a powerboat and in fact engage my engine if
there's any doubt, how do I "contribute to a situation that now requires
drastic emergeny maneuvers"? If water is being discharged in the spot where
most boats would assume is where an engine discharges water, then the
logical conclusion would be that my engine is engaged.


Okay, now you have officially crossed the line into dopeyland.


See ya!