How often do you see a motorsailing vessel displaying a cone? Without the cone, nearby boaters may assume the boat is a sailboat and follow the Rules of the Road for encountering a sailboat. If the motorsailing boat follows power-driven vessel rules, because the skipper knows that the engine is on, this may cause unexpected actions that confuse other boaters. In a close-quarters situation it could be dangerous. Sailboat operators, please buy a cone or drag it out of your locker and use it when motorsailing.
A sailboat may have one or more sails up and the engine on at the same time, which makes her a power-driven vessel. Under Rule 25 of the International and Inland Navigation Rules “a vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen, a conical shape, apex downwards.” Under the Inland Rules a vessel less than 12m/39.4ft is not required to exhibit the cone, but may display it. The text of rules 25 is available at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent.
How often do you see a motorsailing vessel displaying a cone? Without the cone, nearby boaters may assume the boat is a sailboat and follow the Rules of the Road for encountering a sailboat. If the motorsailing boat follows power-driven vessel rules, because the skipper knows that the engine is on, this may cause unexpected actions that confuse other boaters. In a close-quarters situation it could be dangerous. Sailboat operators, please buy a cone or drag it out of your locker and use it when motorsailing.
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Many boaters know that “Mayday” means grave or imminent danger to human life or the vessel, but what does “Pan Pan” (repeated three times in succession) mean? It indicates an urgent situation that is not as serious as a Mayday. Examples of where a Pan Pan call may be used include a non-life-threatening medical emergency, a vessel aground or dragging anchor (but not in immediate danger), loss of engine power in a shipping channel, etc. The purpose of a Pan Pan call is to alert the Coast Guard and other listening stations that a vessel is in difficulty and requires or may require assistance. It’s better to issue a Pan Pan and cancel it if you resolve the problem, than wait until you’ve got a Mayday situation on your hands. See Mariner’s Guide pp. 298-299 for advice on how to make and cancel a radiotelephone Pan Pan call.
Here I’m talking about boats in the approximate 8-18ft/2.5 to 6m range, such as canoes, kayaks, dinghies and small rowboats with or without an outboard. An excursion could be a long ride from the big boat to shore or to another boat, a trip up a river or creek, a ride out to a nearby island or fishing spot, or any trip that takes you away from immediate aid if something happens to you or the boat. The farther you take the boat from land or nearby vessels, the better it should be equipped.
In addition to whatever comfort items you take, such as food, drinking water, fishing gear, extra clothing, etc., have lifejackets for everyone aboard and proper navigation lights for the boat’s size, if you’ll be out after dark. An outboard powered boat should have an air horn to comply with the Navigation Rules for power-driven vessels, and it’s also a good emergency signaling device. Comply with any equipment rules set by your state or country. The following supplies fit in a small carrying bag or box: duct tape, spare pieces of rope and light line, WD-40® or similar, a sharp knife, a basic first aid kit, a survival blanket, a simple tool kit or a multi-tool, and anything you may need for the outboard. The boat should have an anchor of suitable size and a length of anchor rode approximately three times longer than the prevailing depths where you will travel. Can you row the boat in a breeze, against a current, or if the motor dies? Having an anchor may be very important if you can’t! For some excursions you may wish to include a handheld VHF radio and/or a mobile phone (if within coverage range). According to Navigation Rule 3(k, or j of Inland) “vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.” If you can see the other vessel only on radar or AIS, it is not in sight. Many of the Navigation Rules apply specifically to when vessels are in sight of each other. The text of Rule 3 is available at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent.
Sometimes this is a difficult decision because there’s a schedule to keep. The skipper may feel obliged to get to another location because a person aboard has a flight from there, friends are waiting, the boat must get back to the charter company, etc. The decision to turn back or stand on shouldn’t be primarily influenced by any schedule, real or imagined. It should be based on a careful assessment of the factors affecting safety first and comfort second. The more experience you have, the better you’ll be able to make an informed decision that’s right for your boat and its crew. Each situation is different, even in waters you’ve traveled before. Getting out of the harbor and into open water may be uncomfortable, but when the boat is out in deep water things may change for the better. In some cases, it may be more difficult or even dangerous to get back into the harbor if you turn around than it was getting out. If the weather turns unfavorable while you’re en route, the decision should consider what the conditions may be at the destination or at an alternate harbor, and how far you have to go. Have you determined a “point of no return” where a decision must be made? If everyone is seasick or someone is injured, that could be an important factor. If you’re not completely confident in the ability of the crew or the boat to cope with difficult conditions, that could affect your decision. Take the time to consider the options, but ultimately it’s the skipper’s choice and responsibility. There’s no shame in turning back – it’s often the most seamanlike decision to make.
If you have a VHF-digital selective calling (DSC) radio aboard have you read the radio’s manual for the use of this important piece of communication and safety gear? Does the radio have an integral GPS or must it be interfaced with an existing GPS on your boat? Do you have an MMSI number? How do you make a distress call? Find out the answers to these and other important questions about the features on a DSC radio. Consult articles in boating magazines or websites, or read DSC radio and DSC radio distress call on pp. 151-152 of the Mariner’s Guide.
Whether you use paper or electronic charts you must learn what the symbols, colors, and notations mean. In the U.S. and other countries there is a publication (paper and electronic) called Chart No. 1, which has all the chart symbols and words used on charts published by a particular country. In the U.S. you can download Chart No. 1 from www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/chartno1.htm. (In 2012 paper copies were not being printed by the U.S. government, but plans are being made for chart agents to be authorized to print paper copies.). An excellent source for a paper copy is Nigel Calder’s book, How to Read a Nautical Chart (A Complete Guide to the Symbols, Abbreviations, and Nautical Data Displayed on Nautical Charts). It has all of Chart No. 1, plus detailed explanations. Nautical bookstores and on-line booksellers stock this book. It should be aboard every boat that uses charts – you can’t remember everything and unfamiliar symbols may be very important to know.
Flag etiquette may seem to be an old-fashioned concept, but even today there are guidelines for the proper display of flags aboard a boat. The purpose of the guidelines is to give each flag the respect it deserves by flying it in the proper position and to show respect for maritime traditions. The national flag (also called the ensign) of the country receives the place of honor: it may be flown on a stern staff on all boats, or two-thirds up the leech of the aftermost sail of a sailboat. In most countries, the correct national ensign is that of the country where the boat is registered, not the national flag of the skipper’s homeland, if it differs from the country of registry. The ensign should be in good condition; replace a faded or tattered flag. In some countries it is customary to display the ensign when the vessel is moored or at anchor only from 8:00 a.m. until sunset (or some particular evening time, such as 9:00 p.m.). Flags are flown continually when the vessel is underway. Where do you fly other flags, such as a yacht club or cruising club burgee, a courtesy ensign, or a “fun flag”? The website of the U.S. Power Squadron (www.usps.org) has guidelines for the proper display of flags on U.S.-registered vessels. The UK RYA (Royal Yachting Association, www.rya.org.uk) has a good booklet on “flag etiquette and visual signals” as they apply to both UK-registered vessels and vessels of other countries. The websites of boating organizations in other countries may have flag display guidelines for vessels registered in the particular country.
Recently I’ve been looking at the boating clothing people are wearing (it's been raining) and thinking about its visibility if someone fell overboard. In an April 12, 2012 post I commented on the desirability of wearing brightly-colored upper body clothing while aboard. What I am seeing rather frequently this summer is dark blue or black foul weather jackets with bright green hoods. OK, the hoods are visible when they are on the wearer’s head, but what if a person falls overboard and the hood blows off or fills with water and comes off? Maybe I’m making too much of this, but I’m happy when my crew wears bright colors on their entire upper body (and they look better in the photos, too.)
It’s a simple and important definition: a vessel is underway when it is NOT at anchor, aground, or made fast to the shore. Dragging anchor or drifting is underway; engine on or off doesn’t matter. When a vessel is underway the Navigation Rules apply. As soon as you lift the anchor out of the seabed (or it drags), or the boat starts floating after being aground, or you cast off the mooring or dock lines your boat is underway. Lots can happen before the boat is moving under control – you’re still bringing up the anchor, you need to turn hard to one side as the boat floats free from a shoal, you have to turn sharply as you leave a dock – the Navigation Rules apply if there is another vessel near you so that risk of collision may exist. Analyze the situation and vessel traffic near you before getting underway.
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AuthorPriscilla Travis spends more than 110 days each year on the water, takes photos, and writes about nautical topics. Archives
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