So, who has the right of way here?

smackdaddy · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

NO FREAKIN' WAY!!! A tanker versus a pink-kited-racer at Cowes week? Who wins this one?

Oh snap!

PaulfromNWOnt · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

Tanker under tow.... Still the kid with the biggest toy I guess. Looks like the sailboat saw it coming but had trouble vacating the area.

jrd22 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

The tanker was restricted in it's ability to maneuver, therefore it was the stand on vessel (there is no "right of way" in the rules). The tanker was not being towed, it had a tug being towed from the stern to assist turning, slowing, etc.
Basically, the guy in the sailboat was playing a dangerous game, and he lost.

jackdale · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrd22

The tanker was restricted in it's ability to maneuver, therefore it was the stand on vessel (there is no "right of way" in the rules). The tanker was not being towed, it had a tug being towed from the stern to assist turning, slowing, etc.
Basically, the guy in the sailboat was playing a dangerous game, and he lost.

The tanker is not showing a ball - diamond - ball; therefore not RAM. This may be a TSZ or a narrow channel.

You should see Juan de Fuca during the Swiftsure.

Actually there is one ROW in the Inland rules.

Quote:

RULE 9: NARROW CHANNELS

(a) (i) [Inld] A vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway shall keep as near to the outer limit of the channel or fairway which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable.
(ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(i) and Rule 14(a), a power-driven vessel operating in narrow channels or fairways on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner and place of passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i), as appropriate. The vessel proceeding upbound against the current shall hold as necessary to permit safe passing. [Inld]

CalebD · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

I do race my old shoe and all I can say is that racing captains are crazy.
I'm more the cruising captain in my partnership of owning our boat but I like racing too.
We race in the Hudson River where there is current going both north and/or south depending on the tides and we get commercial traffic from time to time. Avoiding barges and other shipping is our foremost goal other then winning the race.
That boat left their spinnaker up too long and could not manouver away from the ship; they flocked up and could clearly see the boat coming in, yet they hit them and doused their spinnaker the easy way, by having the ship tear it away.
Racing mentality can bring out the dipstick in all of us.

sailguy40 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

That was one huge ship and it dwafted that racing yacht. Seems like too many sailboats were crowding that ship instead of clearing a path. Bascially tankers are the 18 wheelers of the seas... big, super heavy and can't stop.

lapworth · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Who wins this one?

Big boat wins. That sailor might want to give up sailing.

Zanshin · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

COLREGS (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea - 1972), Rule 18 (b) ii

Quote:

...A sailing vessel under way shall keep out of the way of...a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver...

and Rule 3,

Quote:

...The term "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" shall include but not be limited to...
(g) The term "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel...
(h) The term "vessel constrained by her draft" means a power-driven vessel which because of her draft in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following...

Considering the cardinal mark in the video (I can't access it from here, but remember seeing it) I would assume the (h) is the rule in effect, but (g) would also be true in this case.

HPLou · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

The operator (does not deserve the title of captain) of the sailboat should not be allowed at the helm of another boat for putting the boat, his crews' lives as well as his life in danger like that.

PorFin · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

Basic physics trump (or support, depending on your interpretation of which was the stand on vessel) the COLREGs on this one -- mass ALWAYS has right of way...