attached mail follows:
I have been watching this thread. May I take a step back? Look at RULE 2 - RESPONSIBILITY. SECTION (a) Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel or crew or master thereof from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these rules or the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice or seamen or by the special circumstances of the case. (b) In construing and complying with these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances including the limitations of the vessels involved which may make a departure from these rules necessary to avoid immediate danger. What does this mean? It means you shall (not should or may) kayak with the equipment specified in the rules. See rule 25 ;(ii) a vessel under oars (oar?) MAY (not shall or must but MAY) exhibit the lights prescribed in this rule for sailing vessels but if she does not SHALL (not may) have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which SHALL be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision...... HOWEVER, since you see rule 2 (called the rule of good semanship) You can make departure from the rules to avoid immediate danger....in fact you must make that departure when in extremis or get banged in admiralty court (if you make it there). Why do we have these rules? so there is consistency on the water for all vessels and operators involved. Once some cowboy goes out and starts flashing all kinds of light signals they loose their meaning. As a Merchant ship officer, I would be perplexed by a flashing red light. Depending on conditions, I may alter course to find out what the heck it is....do you want that????? In the Azores, fishermen in sailboats shine a flashlight into their sails. That meets the rules compliance and they are seen! I know what it is! I stay away! Rules were put into place to help avoid ambiguity....please try to keep some consistency and operate with them. It is safer all around especially when the other vessels are not kayakers and have no clue what kayakers do. Personally, I am one of the geeks with a plastic boat. When paddeling with a group you can shine a light INSIDE the boat and it gives a warm glow that doesnt bother anyone if done for a short time. The light is from my electric torch ....uh flashlight. I also have one of those small all round lights that west sells. It is essentially a lifejacket light. If there are power boats around. let them know your around by shining the flashlight so as not to "embarrass" or blind them (see rule 36- signals to attract attention) . If there are ships around, GET OUT OF THE WAY, THEY DONT SEE YOU... I would avoid second guessing the rules and shining goofy flashing lights or smoke signals in hopes of attracting attention.....you will attract attention but it may be the wrong kind!!! Have fun Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat May 09 1998 - 10:34:09 PDT
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