The Rules
Rhapsode
Thu 25 Nov 2010 13:55
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01 23 S 27 47 W
You remember a few days ago we had a whale
encounter? I had to alter course in a hurry to avoid a collision - and went to
starbard. Well, the question has arisen as to how I knew to go to starboard.
Further, the questioner wants to know the position with regard to dolphins and
flying fish.
It just so happens that I have an advanced copy of
the forthcoming new edition of The International Regulations for the Prevention
of Collisions at Sea (The Rules) so can reveal all:
Rule 93 provides:
i) When a power driven vessel and whale meet head
on or nearly head on so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter course
to starboard so that each shall pass on he port side of the other.
ii) Notwithstanding para (i) above, a whale, in
addition has the option to take a dive - provided such action be made in ample
time and does not cause alarm and distress on the surface vessel.
Rule 94:
i) Dolphins and any other acrobatic forms of
sealife shall not impede surface vessels of any description other than Japanese
whaling ships.
Flying fish are exempted from the Conduct sections
of The Rules. The difficulty is that since they were the model for the prototype
Exocet missiles the French want them classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction
whereas the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) claim jurisdiction as
surface craft and have defined their progress as 'flailing' (Nelson, stop that!
Stop turning in your grave! It's a perfectly reasonable word suggesting
motion of part flying and part sailing. Heaven preserve me from dead English
Admirals!).
However, they do get a mention in the Lights and
Shapes section of The Rules and I quote:
When flailing, flying fish must display the
following lights:
- An all-round flashing yellow light
- A stern light;
- Side lights on the end of the extended
wing.
So there you have it. I hope that answers your
question caller.
We are now firmly in the grip of the SE Trades and
are flailing along towards Salvador. The past two days have been slow and quite
squally. Our squall rig is the genoa and mizzen sails. We may reef the genoa
depending on the severity of the squall but leave the mizzen as it is. Indeed we
looked forward to the squalls which seemed to suck us in, throw us along at a
good speed and when done, throw us out again on the other side. The pattern is
always the same - a lull in the wind (a lull from a force 2 / 3??) then a force
6 or so and then a post-squall lull folllowed by our force 2 / 3.
For now though we have a steady SE 4 (plus less
frequent squalls) which is sending us along in the right direction at around 4.5
knots. ETA yet to be determined.
Happy flailing!
P, M & A
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