On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 11:15:16 -0500, Jan
wrote:

Procedure is simple, identify lake freighter, not too difficult, determine
course of lake freighter, again, not too difficult, and, if necessary, adjust my
own course to take me astern of lake freighter.

The freighters are pretty predictable in their actions most of the
time. OTOH we encountered a bunch of Kingston Class Frigates out on
Lake Ontario in 2003 doing distinctly peculiar things in terms of
changes in speed and direction. No doubt they knew what they were
about to do and why, but I was keeping a pretty close watch because I
couldn't predict their actions. (They were never much closer than a
mile away.)

Ryk