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

Rhys,
Why on earth do you bother with all that?

It's good practice for me as I plan on sailing a lot more in the
future than I do now.

I too, sail Lake Ontario, out of Port
Credit. I merely follow two basic rules of my own, one is, "Might is right" and
the other is, "Don't play with the big boys." This applies both by day and
night.

True, but I also race sailboats, and we are sticklers for rules G.


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. I don't really care whether or
not they see me, if I can see them, I'll stay out of their way.

They should stay used to looking for you. That's *their* job, as well.
What if you are becalmed, engine dead, and adrift? Maybe your
electrics are shorted out, maybe you've been hit by lightning or are
taking on water. If they aren't habitually keeping a watch for "small
stuff", you are in even greater danger. The responsibility cuts two
ways.

The crews of
the lake freighters are, after all, making their living by sailing that ship, I
on the other hand, am merely playing around. Also, my vessel is far more
maneuverable than theirs, so it's easier for me to take avoiding action.

True also. Lake frieghter don't tend toward "sudden moves". 150-foot
"disco boats" can and do, and they are making a living, too, and are
obliged to observe the same rules as me.

R.