Hi
I'm a new skipper and was cruising along in my gentleman's timber cruiser on the harbour when I had to take some pretty swift corrective action against a large yacht on my port side - I actually had to back my throttle right off and engage reverse to avoid a collision. The yacht had all sails packed away and was motoring, therefore I assumed that it was a "power meets power" situation and I was able to stand on.
Was I wrong?
Incidentally, in the event where there is a near miss, at what level of seriousness is it worth reporting to authorities and what is the process?
Thanks
A yacht with its engine running, sails up or down, is considered a power vessel even if the shaft isn't engaged. You were the stand on vessel on this occasion and he should have given way.
It would be worthwhile getting a power boat licence even if it isn't necessary for your vessel so that you are confident of your responsibilities. Nobody at sea has rights (you are just the 'stand on' vessel), we just have responsibilities.
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..
A yacht with its engine running, sails up or down, is considered a power vessel even if the shaft isn't engaged. You were the stand on vessel on this occasion and he should have given way.
It would be worthwhile getting a power boat licence even if it isn't necessary for your vessel so that you are confident of your responsibilities. Nobody at sea has rights (you are just the 'stand on' vessel), we just have responsibilities.
Unless its during the Sydney Hobart race and the engine is running to drive the hydraulics and electrics!
It's always better to avoid a collision than being right!
Also on the harbour if it's the Sydney harbour there are other rules.
I was thinking about yachts running non propulsion auxiliaries when I made the earlier post. Not just racing yachts but the numerous cruisers with stand alone generators.
A yacht with its propulsion engine running is considered to have the engine available for manoeuvring and therefore is a power driven vessel even if not in gear. How does the other vessel know that it isn't a propulsion engine when nearly every sailboat doesn't use the inverted cone to indicate they are under power?
Sydney harbour rules are a book in themselves.
