On Sun, 2 May 2004 10:32:09 -0400, "Charles T. Low"
wrote:
How far a large ship has to be in order for a recreational
boat to put itself in its path and still be "safe" must often be a matter of
judgement. Along the Brockville Narrows, boats calmly scatter before a
freighter, but I don't think a two-mile limit is practical.

===========================================

I agree. In congested water with lots of commercial traffic, and lots
of pleasure boats, 2 miles is asking way too much. I used to race
sailboats on the narrow western portion of Long Island Sound south of
City Island where the entire distance across is no more than 2 miles.

On a nice summer weekend it is not uncommon to have several hundred
boats, some without auxiliary power, lying becalmed in that area as
large commercial boats are transiting both east and west at the same
time. Not ideal obviously but somehow it all seems to work itself
out since I've never heard of an incident in that area.