You seem to be carrying some baggage from your days in the Solent Nick?
Never sailed there Eric . . . well, not strictly true, I did sail straight through once in March on a delivery from Ipswich to Whitehaven, but it was blissfully empty then
I do however spend some time contributing to a national sailing forum, and some of the loonies who post on there have to be read to be believed.
PP - There is nothing unclear in the "Rules of the Road" ...but if you feel you can update them to incorporate the use of VHF radios in collision situations lets hear them then???? I sure the MCA would be most grateful too!
Erik, perhaps that is proof that the rules ahave not kept pace with change. Presumably the principals that todays regulations are based on were established 100 - 200 years ago, when things like VHF did not exist. I agree that the rules can only work if they can apply for all vessels on the seas, without exception (only more recent longboats might have VHF, satnav, and an auxuiliary engine) so you cannot include the use of VHF in the Rules of the Road. But a 'professional' should use all the means at their disposal to ensure safe navigation, and use of VHF in a collision situation makes perfect sense to establish the other vessel's intentions if they are not obvious.
The rules do change with the times - I seem to remember a recent revision to do with sea planes.
On VHFs ....
If it's all the same with you PP I'll take any guidance I need from the MCA who are quite clear "Although, the use of VHF may be justified on occasion in collision avoidance, the provisions of the COLREGS should remain uppermost, as misunderstandings can arise even when the language of communication is not a problem."
The International Marine Accident Reporting Scheme sees it like this ; "The Collision Regulations do not make any provision for discussion on VHF about the actions to be taken. As far as possible, the use of VHF in collision avoidance should be kept to a minimum. VHF can be used when it is not possible to take action as per Collision Regulations because of obstructions on the starboard side. In any case, the vessel should be positively identified. A reduction of speed should be preferred to communicating the intention on VHF."
Oh...and tell me what you do if the yacht doesn't have a radio? There is no mandatory requirements that a yacht has to have a VHF fitted! That's precisely why all seafarers are bound by the 'Rules'.
VHFs, Sounders, Plotters, GPS are only aids to navigation - useful yes but should never be relied on solely or subsituted for the principles of good seamanship. We vikings discovered Vinland long ago without the need for GPS.
I would suggest that you familiarise youself with the rules properly PP before trying to play with the big boys - You do yourself little credit by constantly highlighting your ignorance in these matters.
Om jeg hamrer eller hamres,
ligefuldt så skal der jamres!
Eric, everything that you say is correct and as always is right in principle. All I wanted to do was support Nick's earlier case for using VHF to help avoid collision.
And I am not entirely unfamiliar with the rules. Not everything I learnt in four years at Nautical College is forgotten.
I remember a story told to me by a young fisherman from crinan who was out creeling one windy summers day.He was throwing out a line of pots in a following sea it was quite rough apparently. And coming up on his port side was a large yacht mirroring the young mans course, puzzled he went out on deck among the flying ropes and asked in aloud voice what the skippers intentions were ,we are after some langoustine was the reply. You can guess what the young hero`s reaction consisted of.
Expressionism ,thats what they call it.I call it idleness
So where are you off to on your next adventure, nick? Is fairwinds taking you off to somewhere exotic like North Wales?? Be careful not to navigate too close to mvf's and whatever you do, do not not not use your vhf...
[/size]
