Thread for Basic COLREGS Questions

[rramsey]

I'm almost afraid to add my two cents worth ...

Firstly "stand-on" is an obligation and thereby the COLREGs tell me what to do, e.g. maintain speed and course, and limit what I can do.

I regularly bring guests on my yacht (all right, vessel) and usually give them the helm. I do keep an eye on them of course ... I explain to them that no-one has the right-of-way on water. Right-of-way does not exist on water (I know, a few exceptions but why burden them?). So forget about land traffic rules. Then I explain stand-on principles: things they MUST do. It usually works. Some still translate stand-on into right-of-way though, as can be concluded from their erratic steering and throttling. I just remind them.

[Jim Cate]

I just remind them

Do you use the cat or just a starter for the reminder on your vessel?

Jim

[rramsey]

Sorry, don't get it

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by rramsey

Sorry, don't get it

The "cat" refers to the cat of nine tails, a device used for flogging miscreant sailors in days of yore. A "starter" was a small, handy instrument, sorta like a riding quirt, often used by officers or senior seamen to "encourage" sailors to speed up their work... a reminder, as it were.

My post was meant to be humour, not baffling... sorry 'bout that!

Jim

[NevisDog]

Originally Posted by rramsey

Sorry, don't get it

Okay, this is really lightening up - hilarious! Thanks.
Cat = cat-o-nine-tails perhaps?
Starter = ... mind boggles!

(See post above - I was too slow posting.)

[JPA Cate]

To those of you who noticed this thread went missing, I quarantined it for a while, due to many complaints about people's attitudes. The new moderator team is taking a harder line than some here are used to relative to demeaning and combative posting. Be warned, and please behave appropriately.

JPA Cate

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

To those of you who noticed this thread went missing, I quarantined it for a while, due to many complaints about people's attitudes. The new moderator team is taking a harder line than some here are used to relative to demeaning and combative posting. Be warned, and please behave appropriately.

JPA Cate

OK , tell us who the 'complainers' were so we can take them 'round the back of the shelter sheds and duff 'em up.... nobody likes complainers, dobbers, or snitches.....

[StuM]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

OK , tell us who the 'complainers' were so we can take them 'round the back of the shelter sheds and duff 'em up.... nobody likes complainers, dobbers, or snitches.....

The ones who felt they were losing the debate?

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by StuM

The ones who felt they were losing the debate?

Oh! So it was YOU!!!!!!!

[weavis]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

OK , tell us who the 'complainers' were so we can take them 'round the back of the shelter sheds and duff 'em up.... nobody likes complainers, dobbers, or snitches.....

NOw there is a mix of Australian and United Kingdom phrasing...

[NevisDog]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Oh! So it was YOU!!!!!!!

Stu well ahead on points, then Peng delivers the knockout! Thanks guys for such good-humoured sparring

[El Pinguino]

Something I have learnt in the last little while ... up until 1948 - instead of ringing a bell - when at anchor Turkish ships could beat a drum. How cool was that.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Something I have learnt in the last little while ... up until 1948 - instead of ringing a bell - when at anchor Turkish ships could beat a drum. How cool was that.

Ahh, now there's another one of those rules that are oft ignored. In all the years I sailed and lived aboard in foggy SF bay, I never once heard anyone ring a bell whilst anchored in the fog. And I blush to admit that, while I had the obligatory bell mounted and shined, I too failed to use the damn thing. O the shame of it all...

As to the drum, seems that most drums that employ leather heads (likely the Turks would use such, wouldn't they?) would go pretty soggy out in the fog, evoking a "thud, thud" rather than a resonant "boom, boom". Bells deal with humidity pretty well!

Jim

[rramsey]

No worries Jim. I was just picturing me throwing cats and starter motors at my guests. Cats, I'm okay with, starter motors are too expensive.

The gist of my message is though that for my guests semantics seem to matter. A lot. I need to get right-of-way out of their heads and supplant it with things they must do.

'tsall

[rramsey]

It seems the squabbling killed this thread. I'm sorry to see that, it was an interesting one and I learned a few things.

Thanks for the moderators taking a tougher stance. I for one lose interest quickly if a thread is too much off topic. Don't like to have to wade through other peoples squabbles however eloquently put.

It feels as though in this thread the ratio of substance over jibber jabber has dropped to 1 : 10. Or worse.

This is just such an interesting forum and the knowledge that can be gotten and shared is amazing! It should be treated with the respect it deserves.

So thanks JPA Cate.