From Martin Bartholomew – one of our instructors.
Rule of the Road for Day Skippers and Yachtmasters.
(for vessels in sight of one another)Â Â
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Keep a look out at all times;
See a ship, and do your rhymes.
If the bearing does not change,
Then action’s needed (at long range). (more…)
Leave Comment » Rule 17
Action by stand-on vessel. This Rule is in Part B, Section II and therefore applies to vessels in sight of one another.
(a) (i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed. (more…)
1 Comment » Rule 24
Towing and pushing.
Part C – Lights and Shapes
(a) A power-driven vessel when towing shall exhibit:
(i) instead of the light prescribed in Rule 23(a)(i) or (a)(ii), two masthead lights in a vertical line. When the length of the tow, measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow exceeds 200 metres, three such lights in a vertical line;
(ii) sidelights;
(iii) a sternlight;
(iv) a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight;
(v) when the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape where it can best be seen. (more…)
Leave Comment » Both of these Rules are in Part C – Lights and Shapes
Rule 28 – Vessels constrained by their draught
A vessel constrained by her draught may, in addition to the lights prescribed for power-driven vessels in Rule 23, exhibit where they can best be seen three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or a cylinder.
Rule 23 – Power-driven vessels underway (more…)
Leave Comment » Rule 23 – Lights and Shapes for Power driven vessels underway. This rule is in Part C Lights and Shapes.
Power-driven vessels underway
(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:
(i) a masthead light forward;
(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so;
(iii) sidelights;
(iv) a sternlight. (more…)
Leave Comment » References to a ships bell are often made in modern day parlance. The ship’s bell was primarily used for telling time on board a ship.  These days yachts have all sorts of watch systems. 2 hours on, 6 hours off. 3 hours on 3 hours off for example.  Probably the most common watch system is 4 on, 4 off. A ship’s bell, struck every half hour, used to indicate by the number of strokes the number of half-hours of the watch that had elapsed. The striking of eight bells indicated midnight. After midnight, one bell was struck at 0030am, two bells at 0100, three bells at 0130 and so forth until eight bells were struck again at 0400, at which point the above progression was repeated until eight bells were again struck at 0800. In this way eight bells ring rang four hours around the clock.
Leave Comment » Rule 7
Risk of Collision. This is in section 1 of Part B the Steering and Sailing Rules.  It therefore applies to the conduct of vessels in an y condition of visibility.
(a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist. (more…)
1 Comment » Last week we looked at Variation. This week we are going to look at Deviation.Â
You will recall that bearings on a chart are aligned with true north yet the compass you steer by does not point to true north. It is affected by the position of the magnetic pole in relation to you – variation. And it is also affected by the small magnetic fields that are present on the boat you are on. These can stem from the engine, the instruments, and metal work including galley pots and pans. The compass is also affected by the magnetic field in a phone or ipod. This local magnetic affect on the compass is called (more…)
Leave Comment » A compass points north. But the compass found in the cockpit of most yachts points to what is called Compass North. Compass North is not necessarily True North which is what charts are aligned with.
When drawing off a Course to Steer on the chart you must apply 2 corrections to the course you come up with before you tell the helmsman what to steer. The 2 corrections are Variation and Deviation. Variation is the difference between True North and Magnetic North. Deviation is the effect of the magnetic fields on the boat caused by things like the engine. More about Deviation next week. Today we will concentrate on Variation.
Variation
Charts are aligned with True North. The North Pole. However (more…)
Leave Comment » Rule 8 – Action to Avoid Collision
This rule is in Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules, Section 1 – so applies to vessels in any condition of visibility.
(a) Any action to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.
(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar; a succession of small alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided. (more…)
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