Quote:
Originally Posted by Calabego
You would be required to avoid me and if you were asleep, would you hear my frantic horn sounding ?
Also, if I'm coming up on you under starboard tack downwind of you (leeward), you're still required to yield, so my frantic horn blowing just before I luff or gybe in defense may or may not wake you?
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I believe regs ultimately put the responsibility for avoiding a collision on both parties. Enforcing a right of way or letting it get to the point where evasive action is required when the other party is not responding is not smart sailing.
It is a very rare thing for me to get close enough to another boat (the exception being an unlit boat with no watch - Darwin award cantidates) that I would have to take evasive action. They are travelling in a straight
line at a steady speed. That can all change if someone is alerted to my presence at short notice. I see them so I just go around. Ultimately this is better use of my time and energy.
I usually sail single handed and I do not consider it a good choice to sail without a watch in busy waters. Fortunately I can sleep for 5 minutes at a time with the help of a $2 kitchen timer.
Cheers
Peter