OK, this is getting a little confusing ... did this event take place outside
the COLREG demarcation line I see just to the south of the island? Your
initial post has spun off some other discussions that could benefit from
this clarification.more below


"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
"Gary" wrote

Finally, how did you determine that risk of collision existed with this
yacht? What piece of information was key to causing you to maneouvre?

I had a very good sight of his stem head remaining exactly in line with
the masts for a long period of time in a steady wind during which he
remained in the same place behind my bow pulpit.

After I ran off about 100 yards, making a clear enough course change
demonstrate an intention for us to pass "one whistle", he passed about 50
yards to windward.

If you were outside the COLREGS line, your "one whistle" signal told the
skipper of the other vessel that "I am altering my course to starboard".
This would require no response from the other vessel. Inside the COLREGS
line your "one whistle" signal would indicate your intention to pass on his
port side and that he should either agree with a similar response or
disagree with a 5 whistle.

I am not trying to justify the other vessels actions or criticize your...
just understand what happened.

It was outside the COLREG line.

An aside on the radio aspect of this:

Whatever you think about my not making a radio call, the fact that I
was not calling or possibly responding to a call they might be making,
should have caused them to give me a little more room. The safety
margin for a vessel you are in communication with can be a smaller
because there is more certainty about their intentions.

Just last night in slightly less wind, I watched a Pearson lose rudder
control and shoot wildly up into the wind for a good distance. If he
had been the boat in this encounter and it had happened just before
the passing, he could have been struck. Whoever was driving the mega
yacht had no way of assessing the nature of my vessel's underbody
configuration or my helmsmanship abilities. Just think of the cost of
repairing the hull scratches on something that large and highly
polished to say nothing of the paperwork, bad press, and lawsuits.

Good seamanship dictates passing, when possible, by a sufficient
distance to accommodate the unexpected. Even powerboat to powerboat,
it isn't wise to put the stand on vessel in a position where spotting
something like a floating log might force them to hit either it or
you.

--

Roger Long

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:59:32 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Yeah, I could have called him on the radio but the rules of the road
were written to make it possible to deal with something this simple
without having to yack and negotiate on the air. Having to make a
radio call in a case like this means someone already isn't observing
the rules.

Let me get this straight, you didn't use the radio because you
shouldn't have to if some one is following the rules, but at the same
time you state they weren't following the rules and you still didn't
use the radio.

So at what point would you use your hand held radio? After they had
run you over to call for help?

What part of Roger's explanation did you miss?

The strong winds?

The fact that he was operating single handed?

The fact that he had the right of way but was bullied into giving it
up?

Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.

That is totally ignorant. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Why don't you do a google search and look up some of Roger's previous
postings? He isn't exactly a rookie...


Capt. Bill wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:59:32 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Yeah, I could have called him on the radio but the rules of the road
were written to make it possible to deal with something this simple
without having to yack and negotiate on the air. Having to make a
radio call in a case like this means someone already isn't observing
the rules.

Let me get this straight, you didn't use the radio because you
shouldn't have to if some one is following the rules, but at the same
time you state they weren't following the rules and you still didn't
use the radio.

So at what point would you use your hand held radio? After they had
run you over to call for help?

If there is any doubt concerning the actions of the other yacht, you should
definitely call them on the radio.

wrote in message
oups.com...
What part of Roger's explanation did you miss?

The strong winds?

The fact that he was operating single handed?

The fact that he had the right of way but was bullied into giving it
up?

Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.

That is totally ignorant. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Why don't you do a google search and look up some of Roger's previous
postings? He isn't exactly a rookie...


Capt. Bill wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:59:32 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Yeah, I could have called him on the radio but the rules of the road
were written to make it possible to deal with something this simple
without having to yack and negotiate on the air. Having to make a
radio call in a case like this means someone already isn't observing
the rules.

Let me get this straight, you didn't use the radio because you
shouldn't have to if some one is following the rules, but at the same
time you state they weren't following the rules and you still didn't
use the radio.

So at what point would you use your hand held radio? After they had
run you over to call for help?

BZZZZZTT - Wrong Answer!!!!

The number one concern is to safely operate the boat and not get run
over by an idiot operating a much bigger boat. Singlehanding in a
strong wind near shore doesn't allow the luxury of screwing around with
a handheld radio and trying to chat up the the yacht operator.

Do any of you "Should'a called him on the radio" folks have ANY
experience singlehanding a 32' sailboat? It seems really obvious to me
that the answer is NO. Give it a try sometime and you might start
posting from a position of experience.

If Roger had not had a handheld radio, would he still be "wrong" to
expect a professional yacht captain to know and obey the rules of the
road? Or do you think that since he didn't have a fixed VHF radio, a
Bluetooth headset/microphone for it, a VOX mike, and an autopilot, he
clearly is under equipped? Give me a break. The yacht operator needs
to have a unpleasant chat with the Coast Guard and some remedial
training.

Roger didn't get run over and lived to post about it. We should all be
thankful that the event turned out as well as it did.

What happened to the guy that says he knows the yacht captain? What did
the yacht captain say?

I pulled this passage from rec.aviation.homebuilt. There was a
fatality at Oshkosh this year. A Grumman TBM Avenger ran over an RV6
and killed the person in the right seat.

Begin quoted text

I'm prejudiced. Of course I'm prejudiced. In 5000+ flight hours, I've
never come as close to a midair as I did at Oshkosh 1999. Oshkosh
Tower: "BlueOnBlue Cessna, number three for runway 27. Ercoupe put it
on the numbers. Flight of three T6s, cross over runway 27, right
downwind for runway 27, caution the Cessna at the gravel pit."

(Warbird flight leader) "OK fellers, let's show them what a warbird
arrival is like."

The Cessna is looking, looking, and turns downwind. The copilot
screams, "Oh, my God " and the pilot turns hard left, only to see two
wings perhaps fifty feet below. Tower tells warbirds that they nearly
had a midair with a Cessna. Warbird flight leader, "Then tell tell the
little b@$+@rd to get out of our way."

end quoted text

In my opinion, the attitude of the the warbird flight leader mirrors
the attitude of the yacht operator.

YMMV


Richard wrote:
If there is any doubt concerning the actions of the other yacht, you should
definitely call them on the radio.

wrote in message
oups.com...
What part of Roger's explanation did you miss?

The strong winds?

The fact that he was operating single handed?

The fact that he had the right of way but was bullied into giving it
up?

Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.

That is totally ignorant. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Why don't you do a google search and look up some of Roger's previous
postings? He isn't exactly a rookie...


Capt. Bill wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:59:32 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Yeah, I could have called him on the radio but the rules of the road
were written to make it possible to deal with something this simple
without having to yack and negotiate on the air. Having to make a
radio call in a case like this means someone already isn't observing
the rules.

Let me get this straight, you didn't use the radio because you
shouldn't have to if some one is following the rules, but at the same
time you state they weren't following the rules and you still didn't
use the radio.

So at what point would you use your hand held radio? After they had
run you over to call for help?

wrote:
What part of Roger's explanation did you miss?

The strong winds?
Not an excuse.

The fact that he was operating single handed?
Not an excuse.

The fact that he had the right of way but was bullied into giving it
up?
Not certain.

Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.
No one on a 30 foot keel boat has the sheets in hand. The point of a
handheld radio is you can use it at the helm. If you can't, don't sail
single handed! There is also the "staying ahead of the boat" business.
This didn't happen at closing speeds of 100 mph. Roger was probably
doing all of 5 knots (500 yards every 6 minutes) and the other
boat.....who knows. Pick a max closing speed of 20 knots that is still
only 2 miles every 6 minutes. Lots of time to make a quick call on a
handy radio.

That is totally ignorant. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Why don't you do a google search and look up some of Roger's previous
postings? He isn't exactly a rookie...
Designing boats doesn't necessarily mean a great shiphandler.
People who design airplanes aren't necessarily good pilots.


Capt. Bill wrote:

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:59:32 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:


Yeah, I could have called him on the radio but the rules of the road
were written to make it possible to deal with something this simple
without having to yack and negotiate on the air. Having to make a
radio call in a case like this means someone already isn't observing
the rules.

Let me get this straight, you didn't use the radio because you
shouldn't have to if some one is following the rules, but at the same
time you state they weren't following the rules and you still didn't
use the radio.

So at what point would you use your hand held radio? After they had
run you over to call for help?

Dig a little deeper into Roger's web site. I can't say the site design
is spectacular. If you think that Roger is just a marine architect, you
would be wrong. I recommend the "Roger Long" link.

Gary wrote:
wrote:
What part of Roger's explanation did you miss?

The strong winds?
Not an excuse.

The fact that he was operating single handed?
Not an excuse.

The fact that he had the right of way but was bullied into giving it
up?
Not certain.

Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.
No one on a 30 foot keel boat has the sheets in hand. The point of a
handheld radio is you can use it at the helm. If you can't, don't sail
single handed! There is also the "staying ahead of the boat" business.
This didn't happen at closing speeds of 100 mph. Roger was probably
doing all of 5 knots (500 yards every 6 minutes) and the other
boat.....who knows. Pick a max closing speed of 20 knots that is still
only 2 miles every 6 minutes. Lots of time to make a quick call on a
handy radio.

That is totally ignorant. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Why don't you do a google search and look up some of Roger's previous
postings? He isn't exactly a rookie...
Designing boats doesn't necessarily mean a great shiphandler.
People who design airplanes aren't necessarily good pilots.


Capt. Bill wrote:

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:59:32 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:


Yeah, I could have called him on the radio but the rules of the road
were written to make it possible to deal with something this simple
without having to yack and negotiate on the air. Having to make a
radio call in a case like this means someone already isn't observing
the rules.

Let me get this straight, you didn't use the radio because you
shouldn't have to if some one is following the rules, but at the same
time you state they weren't following the rules and you still didn't
use the radio.

So at what point would you use your hand held radio? After they had
run you over to call for help?

On 31 Jul 2006 13:36:29 -0700, wrote:

Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.

Attitude check.

The guy running the yacht was probably working for a living, and a
long way from rich. Your other description is unworthy of comment.

Sailing single handed in a strong breeze does not excuse anyone from
seamanlike obligations or responsibilities, e.g., the radio
could/should have been readily at hand and turned on, sail
could/should have been shortened to a more managable level, an
autopilot could/should be available when single or short handing.

You have some dangerous preconceptions.

Wayne.B wrote:
On 31 Jul 2006 13:36:29 -0700, wrote:


Just exactly when is a singlehanded sailor in a strong wind expected to
drop the sheet or the steering apparatus to pick up, turn on, tune in
the correct channel, and broadcast a radio call on a handheld radio?
When some rich asshole in a big yacht is about to run him over, I
guess.


Attitude check.

The guy running the yacht was probably working for a living, and a
long way from rich. Your other description is unworthy of comment.

Sailing single handed in a strong breeze does not excuse anyone from
seamanlike obligations or responsibilities, e.g., the radio
could/should have been readily at hand and turned on, sail
could/should have been shortened to a more managable level, an
autopilot could/should be available when single or short handing.

You have some dangerous preconceptions.

The entire single handed thing is lame. I always single hand, no
biggie, 33 foot boat. The hard part is berthing. People regularly
single hand much bigger boats in much more difficult conditions. They
talk on radios, cook etc. Single handing a 32 footer is about the
easiest thing to single hand. Try a 60 footer or any dinghy. Both are
harder.