When the wind opposes the current, the wave height increases and the wave length (distance between wave crests) decreases. You get short, steep seas. Fortunately, most cruising guides and some charts indicate locations where these conditions may occur. Wind with current decreases the wave height and increases the wave length, so it’s not as dangerous, but the conditions could still be challenging to navigate.
What happens to the water when the wind blows in opposition to a current? (The word “tide” is often used as a synonym for current, as in “wind against tide”). If you’ve never encountered this in your travels you may not know. If you’ve been in a wind against current situation, you probably remember. A strong current flowing against a strong wind can produce waves that may be dangerous to vessels of all sizes, and in some places only a moderate wind against a current can produce uncomfortable or even dangerous conditions.
When the wind opposes the current, the wave height increases and the wave length (distance between wave crests) decreases. You get short, steep seas. Fortunately, most cruising guides and some charts indicate locations where these conditions may occur. Wind with current decreases the wave height and increases the wave length, so it’s not as dangerous, but the conditions could still be challenging to navigate.
0 Comments
The Rule of Good Seamanship, Rule 2(a) of the Navigation Rules, says there is nothing in the Rules that excuses a mariner from not complying with a navigation rule. So, may a boater ever ignore a Navigation Rule? The answer is a qualified “yes, in a very specific instance.”
Rule 2(b) of the Navigation Rules (aka the General Prudential Rule) says that a vessel may depart from the Rules to avoid a collision only when two conditions are met: (1) the circumstances must be special and (2) the danger must be immediate. The Rules don’t define “special” or “immediate.” Interpretation is complicated and argued by lawyers in marine accident court cases. Read Rule 2(a,b) at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent, and see the 11/11/13 post. Boaters certainly should pay attention to good seamanship in all aspects of boat operation, but is there an actual rule relating to navigation seamanship? Yes, there is. Rule 2(a) of the Navigation Rules (aka the Rule of Good Seamanship) says that there is nothing in the Navigation Rules that excuses a mariner who does not comply with the Rules, who doesn’t take precautions that a prudent seaman would take under the circumstances, and who does not take into account any special circumstances of a situation which may require special precautions. There are a lot of vague and undefined words in this rule. Seamanship evolves with technology, and the interpretation of good seamanship changes over time. All boaters are expected to know how to use all the functional navigational aids on their vessels; professional mariners are held to an even higher standard of seamanship. Read Rule 2(a) at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent, and see the next post.
|
AuthorPriscilla Travis spends more than 110 days each year on the water, takes photos, and writes about nautical topics. Archives
October 2015
Categories
All
|