Posted by Gwyn on June 20, 2001 at 10:49:20 from 203.164.3.170:
In Reply to: Re: Sailing Right of Way rules posted by Jock on June 19, 2001 at 15:54:30:
Thank you Jock and Jon for your input. I have done some further research
in my husband's modest library, on the International Rules for Preventing Collision at Sea,
and have found a reference to "Vessels Running Free" in Eric Hiscock's book "Cruising under Sail"
first published in 1950. He quotes from Brown's and Reed's Nautical Almanacs that
a "Vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled"
Like many Tars, I "learned" how to sail from reading AR as a child, however my practical
sailing was done in the 1960's and the rules that I learned at the time were the ones I quoted
and were taken from the Yachting World Handbook of 1967. There is no mention there of
"Vessels Running Free" having to give way regardless of the tack they are on.
It would seem that the rules changed sometime between 1950 and 1967, so John, in 1931
would have been quite correct. How could I have doubted AR?
My own copies of the S&A series are 1940's editions. Do more recent publications carry
a footnote to correct the interpretation of the rules (as has been done with regard to
the signal flag for Pilots in WDMTGTS), or are there Tars out there,sailing close-hauled
on port blissfully thinking that windward boats approaching them on starboard tack will
keep out of their way??