Stinkpotter wouldn't cut me a break.

[AE28]

Great, let's add some more confusion!

[bacampbe]

Well, it's not just power boats that either don't know the rules, or don't pay attention.

October is prime sailing season around here. The weather is still nice, but water boarders and such have mostly given up for the year. We actually saw more sailboats than powerboats out yesterday.

One of the sailboats was a rented J24 that seemed bound and determined to make us run over them. We were close hauled on a starboard tack, on the lay line to make a cut over to the other part of the lake. The J was crossing our path on a port tack (and sailing across the channel entrance at the time). We realized after a while that they were had their heads down dealing with lines in the boat, and probably didn't see us. So we luffed a bit to slow down and let them get clear.

No harm, no foul, right? But then they tack directly in front of us. Now we're running right up their butt. It's now an overtaking situation (although it's not clear to me how COLREGS deal with an idiot tacking into a stand-on position right in front of you--that sounds more like an RRS situation.)

We try to feather a bit to slow down and let them get some speed on, hoping the light J24 would out accelerate us and get clear. At which point they tack again. We're back to them being port tack and crossing. And they _still_ haven't seen us. At this point it occurs to me that this would be a good use of a "danger" signal--but my buddy and I were too busy trying not to run over them to spare a hand for the air horn.

At this point we fall off, and consider options on how to even think about getting through that cut with these guys playing goalie. And they tack again, and fall off to a crossing position _again_. This time we're both starboard, but they're windward. My buddy says, loudly, "I think they still haven't seen us." One of the J guys hears him, looks up, and I see his eyes get really big. (I bet we looked really big from that angle!) At which point they scramble to maneuver, and make the worst possible choice--heading directly in front and putting us in an overtaking position again.

At this point, we give up and tack away from the cut. We sail north a bit, keeping an eye on the cut. They tacked back and forth for a while, then finally managed to make it through. I think they had been having problems pointing high enough to get through under sail (Although I'd think that boat could out-point ours), and in worrying about that they forgot to worry about traffic. Once they were through, we gave them another 5 minutes to get as far away as possible, then headed back to the cut.

I'm starting to want to install a power horn with a switch at the helm. Has anyone done that on a medium sized sailboat?

Other than that, it was an exquisitely nice sailing day.

[oceanscapt]

You could have shown the "Constrained by Draft" day shape assuming your depth was greater than his, but chances are the other boat would have been clueless.

I think you did the right thing - both navigation and response wise.

[Maxboatspeed]

Originally Posted by oceanscapt

You could have shown the "Constrained by Draft" day shape assuming your depth was greater than his, but chances are the other boat would have been clueless.

I think you did the right thing - both navigation and response wise.

Sorry to shoot ya down down BUT:

there's no way day shapes or lights come into this. No way.
Here's why:
"Constrained by draft" is... Not that simple. Claiming that your vessel is "constrained by draft" is not an option for any normal recreational guy.

It's just 2 sailboats? The j24 tacked, avoided the guy (stbd tk), did not tack so close that that the guy had to hit him, or take any immediate action? If so, that's over.
Then, I guess the concerned guy (same tack, maybe faster, SAILING upwind, tight area?) ended up - either not knowin what to do, or?
To me it seems it would be easy to avoid the guy. If didn't see ya, he wasn't that close. If was he was close, (nicely) hail "Starboard","Leward", "I need more room", etc. The RRS apply only to boats racing (same race). I'm not gonna quote the rules that applied here, 'cause if you don't know em.....

Anyway, lots of small (it all relative, j24s) sailboats have a racers perspective?
In other words - yes, "no harm, no foul" OR "tack close, don't worry about close call situations, don't consider if the other guy gets your intentions."
I won't argue that the guy may have been a total idiot, sailing a "race boat" capable of 6 second 360's, no clue, unaware of any vessels around him, and had no knowledge of rules. I don't doubt that the j24 did stuff that made the other guy "unsure of his(j24) intentions."
So...
This is a thing I push - maybe too hard?
Avoid close calls by taking early, obvious action
know rules that apply to you
Know that the rule don't explain all
know that the other guy don't get it
AVOID CRASHING

Also, again, power guys, commercial guys, and everyone else - are not gonna get your (our-sailboaters) perspective.

By the way, every boat (ok-exceptions) should have, at least, a handheld horn.
Still, rec sailboats should almost never (except opening bridges) get in situations where they need to be used.

Safe sailing,
Max

[surftom]

I always remember "two left feet" meaning 2 blasts I go left (port)

[bacampbe]

Just to be clear, the j24 did not tack to avoid us. We had already taken action to avoid them. They tacked into a position that nullified our action, and where we had to take immediate action to avoid hitting them. Repeatedly.

Also, we weren't constrained by draft yet, as we had not yet entered the channel. We would have had limited room to maneuver once we entered the channel, which is why we gave up and tacked away to let him get completely clear of the area. Otoh, we weren't in open water either.

[Maxboatspeed]

Dancin Days-
I'm gettin the picture better. Thanks for details. For some reason I thought there was a question? Now Im thinking the story is more about the wise actions you took to avoid crashing into this guy.
No disrespect intended. I like talkin about ideas, rules, and situations that have to do with... ah... Avoiding bad snit.
After all, in my mind, part of sailing is about recognizing potential bad snit? Avoiding it, challenging it, pushing your limits, kickin back in comfort, peaceful open waters - that's all up to the sailor. Whatever.
I'm just thinking crashing sucks. - and maybe I got snit to share.
Safe sailing
Max