In a message dated 6/25/00 6:32:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time, dlloyd_at_telus.net (Dough Lloyd) writes: << Great trip report Duane...not too daring, but exciting enough. I like the use of your "nipple-tape". Fair winds friend! >> Doug, I apologize for not the "...not too daring..." trip report. I suppose that if I would've screwed up and needed a rescue, the trip report would've been more to your liking. ;) Duane Your buddy in Southern California http://hometown.aol.com/pirateseakayaker/cat2.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Strosaker_at_aol.com wrote: > Doug, > > I apologize for not the "...not too daring..." trip report. I suppose that > if I would've screwed up and needed a rescue, the trip report would've been > more to your liking. ;) > Duane, Duane, get it right man, I've never "needed" a rescue...not one personally called in anyway. The Trial Island rescue was due to outside interference, and it was incumbent upon me to "accept a ride" back to the beach; the Storm Island fiasco was due to the other two guys falling apart - well at least one of them, the other, it was his kayak. I also thought we were simply hailing a ride from a fish boat, not the Airforce and Coast Guard. But, as "no man is a island", guess the odd rescue is okay, especially given the amount of time and mileage I've logged over twenty years on BC's hairy coast. Now, as far as screwing up, well...that's another matter. I've done a fair bit of that, that's for sure! Well, I know you were just kidding, Duane. As far as not kidding, I've got some rather disappointing news. I bumped into Dave today at the lake where he was teaching. It would appear that the Storm Island rescue trip report will never happen in Sea Kayaker magazine. I don't really care one way or the other, its just that a lot of energy went into the report, not to mention the fact that it is one of Matt's best pieces ever written, far beyond anything in "Deep Trouble" or some of the dry reports George used to write (in my opinion!). Nothing like it has ever been written before, with such potential impact to possibly save other paddlers from making the same grievous errors; the incident covered so many issues, Matt couldn't even fit them all into his final version -- not to mention the fact that nothing has ever been published before like it, that would have concerned itself with the aspects of commingled poor communication and navigational hubris. It is really a shame, and I am very angry with all the parties involved for not getting this story out a year ago (as I was told would happen), before Dave had time to post- traumatize himself, which I repeatedly indicated to the major players involved was occuring. I don't think my posting my version on PW last April was responsible for the negative outcome. With the background info I have, I was fairly sure at the time of my posting that the ball had already been dropped a long time ago. However, I am not a vindictive, mean person intentionally, and I wish Dave peace in his life. (I never have any peace in my life, _except_ when I am out in the waves). BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
"It would appear that the Storm Island rescue trip report will never happen in Sea Kayaker magazine." Can it be posted to Paddlewise? Regards, Peter Treby 37* 42' S 145* 08' E *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Duane, What are safety considerations on crossing shipping channels? How do you know when you are in the channel? How can you tell if a large ship is going to cross in front or behind? Do you VHF to large ships that you see to inform them of your presence? What do you do if it is foggy, just trust to luck that no ship is bearing down on you? In your night crossing, do you think that a large ship would see your lights and avoid you? Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Gerald Foodman wrote: > > Duane, > What are safety considerations on crossing shipping channels? How do you > know when you are in the channel? I suspect Duane's group was crossing a shipping "lane," not a shipping "channel." The former is a relatively wide strip of sea in essentially unrestricted waters, often with charted separation zones in places where opposing traffic might be in danger of a head-on collision without some agreed-upon separation. Find a small-scale chart of near-shore waters adjacent to a large sea port and you should see shipping lanes. Not normally buoyed, except near separation zones. In contrast, a shipping channel is usually a narrow (200 yards wide in the Columbia River, for example) waterway in restricted waters which is the only piece of the seascape where vessels of deep draft can safely transit. Heavily buoyed. Opposing vessels communicate via VHF to decide how to pass each other safely. IMHO, a shipping lane is trickier to cross, because large vessels can "wander" side to side, and their exact course is sometimes difficult to predict. I bet Duane and others who cross shipping lanes off LA sometimes do use a VHF to warn near traffic of their presence, inasmuch as a sea kayak is hard for a ship's captain to pick out in seas. In contrast, shipping channels are easy to cross, because they are so well-defined by aids to navigation, and so narrow. > How can you tell if a large ship is going to cross in front or behind? Whether lane or channel, you have to watch the apparent angle the other traffic makes with your course. If that angle is constant, you are on a collision course with them. If the angle increases as you paddle across the ship's path, you will pass ahead of the ship; if it decreases, you will pass behind. Hard to explain in words. Try this with smaller boats and you'll see what I mean. > Do you VHF to large ships that you see to inform them of your presence? I normally do not, when I cross a *channel.* I just stay out of their way. I would only hit the VHF if I were dead in the water in the channel, or capsized, or if I had a large group which would take a while to cross. When crossing a shipping lane, I would watch the other vessel's course carefully, and use the VHF if it looked like our passing would be "close." > What do you do if it is foggy, just trust to luck that no ship is bearing > down on you? I do not cross shipping channels when it is foggy. > In your night crossing, do you > think that a large ship would see your lights and avoid you? I'd like to know what Duane's answer is, also. I suspect shipping traffic would not see chemical light sticks, and I also suspect their radar would not pick up Duane, either, out of the sea clutter. I think I'd be on the VHF with a Securite' call at the beginning of a crossing, and maybe in the middle, too. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
One comment re Dave's excellent insights on channels, shipping lanes and us. Dave Kruger wrote: > > Gerald Foodman wrote: > > > > Duane, > > What are safety considerations on crossing shipping channels? How do you > > know when you are in the channel? > > I suspect Duane's group was crossing a shipping "lane," not a shipping > "channel." The former is a relatively wide strip of sea in essentially > unrestricted waters, often with charted separation zones in places SNIPPED > captain to pick out in seas. In contrast, shipping channels are easy to cross, > because they are so well-defined by aids to navigation, and so narrow. This is generally true but in some port areas such as NYC you may find it hard to know whether you are in a channel or not. In the Upper Bay area's South West quadrant, a little bit aways from where the Kill Van Kull meets the Bay, there are several meeting and crossing channels. I was cross that area at one time and realized I wasn't certain where I was exactly in terms of being out of channel or not. Later I happened to be on a large vessel in a museum harbor tour and I looked out at the area. The buoy markers were as clear in defining channels as are the broken lines of a highway and exit ramp. But from the seat of a kayak they were not so clear. It was a mesh of nuns and cans. You could think you were out of one channel when you were actually in an adjacent one. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/25/00 11:16:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time, klagjf_at_worldnet.att.net writes: << Duane, What are safety considerations on crossing shipping channels? How do you know when you are in the channel? How can you tell if a large ship is going to cross in front or behind? Do you VHF to large ships that you see to inform them of your presence? What do you do if it is foggy, just trust to luck that no ship is bearing down on you? In your night crossing, do you think that a large ship would see your lights and avoid you? Jerry >> Jerry, I know where the shipping lanes are by finding them on a chart. On the water I estimate where the lanes are, but I always keep a look out for ships and boats where ever I am at. I don't bother to use my GPS to know exactly where the lanes are. I once saw a ship out of a shipping lane anyway. Avoiding a collision with a ship is easy. All you do is watch where it is going, and maneuver to avoid it. I think it would take an idiot to get hit by a ship. They are not hard to avoid. The trick is to be aware of them so you can avoid them. In the fog, I have relied on ships blasting the fog horn every two minutes. If the direction of the horn remains the same and is getting louder, the ship is heading right to you. Obviously, the fog does make things more dangerous. I carry a VHF, but I don't bother to contact ships, because avoiding them isn't hard. At night, as in the day, I act as if the ships don't see me, and I avoid them. I think small power boats are much more dangerous to kayakers than ships, because the course of small power boats change more often and are harder to predict. Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation by David Burch has excellent info on kayaking in shipping areas. Duane http://hometown.aol.com/pirateseakayaker/cat2.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Gerald Foodman wrote: > > > > > How can you tell if a large ship is going to cross in front or behind? > The easiest way to determine if you are on a collision course is to watch the other vessel's "drift." If the other vessel is on your port side and is drifting left, it will pass behind you. If the bearing is constant and the range is decreasing, you will colide with it. If (again the vessel is on you port side) the vessel is drifting right, it will pass ahead of you. If the vessel is on the starboard side, just the reverse is true. Try to visualize this in you head. Once you get it, it is very easy and doesn't require much thought. Steve Featherkile *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/25/00 11:16:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time, klagjf_at_worldnet.att.net writes: > (Snipped to death) What are safety considerations on crossing shipping channels? How do you > know when you are in the channel? There have been some great answers to Jerry's questions so far. One thing I'll add are some suggestions to make a GPS effective for crossing lanes. During your pre-trip preparation, enter waypoints (taken from your chart) for the entry and exit points into and out of the lanes and the separation zone along your route. Have your GPS running on the route function when you approach the lanes and correct for drift as needed to make sure you are on your course before you reach the first entry point. Take a food/water/bio break before entering the lanes, maybe at the midpoint of the separation lane, and then not until you are well clear of the opposite-direction lane. Things can get a bit too busy to sit and read and compare lat/lon figures in your head as you approach the lanes in trying conditions. Safe passages, Harold *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Tamia, Very interesting .... in Portuguese we would say 'touche' or 'para bems' ..... I scanned the Rules of The Road, a simple program I have on my computer .... on Inland Rules ..... I didn't go into detail as far as researching the COLREGS and all of the notations. My point was simply ... professional mariners the world over .. don't always abide by the rules as written ... espcially in these days and times of economizing on crew allotments. In the marine business, it is a known fact that that the American (especially) Merchant Marine is rapidly becoming extinct as 'owners' find it not economically feasible to 'abide' by the rules. So they move their ships into 'flags of convenience' to circumvent these rules. This conversation is getting deep when we start trying to think about all of the reasons behind the 'truth' .... Rules are written by bureaucrats ... not seamen. In real life and real situations, such as a small kayak or row boat, or primative sailboat (or even one with so called modern lighting systems) ... on one side we have a so-called professional crew navigating a huge tanker in a restricted waterway from the comfort of an air conditioned wheeel house. The coffee pot is on .... the music playing on the radio in the back ground ... a wheelman that is probably just getting over a good drunk in port last night ... an officer that is chatting with the pilot, if one is on board .... and on the other side, we have a small, probably unlit boat directly in his path trying to cross the channel paddling his boat or kayak (or under sail). On 'terra' we call this 'defensive driving' .... the small boat should try to respect the fact that things are not in his favor. First, 'right away' does not come into play ... considering everything, the 'big guy', even if somehow he was to see the little guy could never stop in time, nor change his course to avoid an accident. A strobe is one option ... if I was in the little boat I would at least like to make the big guy aware I was there ... however I did it. Believe me ... I am not arguing for the case of the ship ... The rules say that a lookout should be posted at all times .... 'forget it' .. not true ... it doesn't happen. Many times the crew .. who have been up and working all day ... go to bed as soon as the ship leaves the dock. Many times I have been in the wheelhouse by myself, no wheelman, no lookout, no extra pilot. An the guy or person in the little kayak, when he sees me coming down on him ... is not going to get out his 'rule book' and try to see what is the 'legal' thing for me to do now .... turn on the strobe, try the VHF, shoot a flare ... anything to get their attention. Think 'defensive' ... Donald > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Tamia Nelson [SMTP:tamia_at_paddling.net] > Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000, 9:06:12 > To: dreid_at_andetur.com > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] crossing ship channels safely? > > I found your earlier letter on this subject extremely > interesting and > very helpful, Donald. It's good to know that my own > practices are the > same as those advocated by a professional mariner. > > > With regard to your most recent note, however, you should > be aware > that there is one mention of strobe lights in the 72 > COLREGS (the > International Rules, as later amended): Rule 36 (Signals > to Attract > Action) _proscribes_ the "use of high intensity or > revolving lights, > such as strobe lights." > > In their commentary on this rule, Llana and Wisnesky > (_Handbook of the > Nautical Rules of the Road_, 2d ed) suggest that, although > "these > lights have often been used by commercial fishing vessels > and some > recreational vessels to warn other vessels away[, s]uch > use is not > legal on International Rules waters except under Rule 2 > when a need to > avoid _immediate_ danger would justify a departure from > Rule 36." > > They also note that even under the Inland Navigational > Rules Act, Rule > 36, while not "distinctly prohibit[ing] strobe lights," > proscribes any > light having the "flash characteristic described for > distress in Rule > 37, that is, fifty to seventy flashes per minute." (Annex > IV to the > Inland Rules identifies "a high intensity _white_ light > flashing at > regular intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute" as a > signal > "indicat[ive] of distress and need of assistance." > [emphasis added]) > > Best wishes, > > Tamia Nelson > Contributing Editor and Columnist, www.Paddling.net > tamia_at_paddling.net > > _In the Same Boat_ <http://www.paddling.net/sameboat/> > > ---------------------[Original Message > Follows]--------------------- > > Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] FW: crossing ship channels > safely? > Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 22:24:53 -0500 > From: "Donald R. Reid" <dreid_at_andetur.com> > Reply-To: <dreid_at_andetur.com> > CC: <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> > > > Mike, at sea ... according to all the 'rules and regs' ... a > strobe, per sie, has no meaning ... > > A 'red strobe' might be interpreted as a distress signal ... > but .. a white strobe will certainly 'catch their > attentions' and that is the whole objective of the deal. > > ... > > I do have the inland rules on my computer ... and I find > nothing about strobes as 'distress' signals.... > > Donald > > -----------------------[End Original > Message]----------------------- > > ----- End Of Original Message ----- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Is this an example of the "Law of gross Tonnage?" He who has the grossest tonnage has the right of way? ;-) Steve Featherkile Donald R. Reid wrote: > Tamia, > > Very interesting .... in Portuguese we would say 'touche' or > 'para bems' ..... I scanned the Rules of The Road, a simple > program I have on my computer .... on Inland Rules ..... I > didn't go into detail as far as researching the COLREGS and > all of the notations. > > My point was simply ... professional mariners the world over > .. don't always abide by the rules as written ... espcially > in these days and times of economizing on crew allotments. > In the marine business, it is a known fact that that the > American (especially) Merchant Marine is rapidly becoming > extinct as 'owners' find it not economically feasible to > 'abide' by the rules. So they move their ships into 'flags > of convenience' to circumvent these rules. > > This conversation is getting deep when we start trying to > think about all of the reasons behind the 'truth' .... > > Rules are written by bureaucrats ... not seamen. > > In real life and real situations, such as a small kayak or > row boat, or primative sailboat (or even one with so called > modern lighting systems) ... on one side we have a so-called > professional crew navigating a huge tanker in a restricted > waterway from the comfort of an air conditioned wheeel > house. The coffee pot is on .... the music playing on the > radio in the back ground ... a wheelman that is probably > just getting over a good drunk in port last night ... an > officer that is chatting with the pilot, if one is on board > .... and on the other side, we have a small, probably unlit > boat directly in his path trying to cross the channel > paddling his boat or kayak (or under sail). > > On 'terra' we call this 'defensive driving' .... the small > boat should try to respect the fact that things are not in > his favor. > > First, 'right away' does not come into play ... considering > everything, the 'big guy', even if somehow he was to see the > little guy could never stop in time, nor change his course > to avoid an accident. > > A strobe is one option ... if I was in the little boat I > would at least like to make the big guy aware I was there > ... however I did it. > > Believe me ... I am not arguing for the case of the ship ... > > The rules say that a lookout should be posted at all times > .... 'forget it' .. not true ... it doesn't happen. Many > times the crew .. who have been up and working all day ... > go to bed as soon as the ship leaves the dock. Many times I > have been in the wheelhouse by myself, no wheelman, no > lookout, no extra pilot. > > An the guy or person in the little kayak, when he sees me > coming down on him ... is not going to get out his 'rule > book' and try to see what is the 'legal' thing for me to do > now .... turn on the strobe, try the VHF, shoot a flare ... > anything to get their attention. Think 'defensive' ... > > Donald > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Tamia Nelson [SMTP:tamia_at_paddling.net] > > Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000, 9:06:12 > > To: dreid_at_andetur.com > > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] crossing ship channels safely? > > > > I found your earlier letter on this subject extremely > > interesting and > > very helpful, Donald. It's good to know that my own > > practices are the > > same as those advocated by a professional mariner. > > > > > > With regard to your most recent note, however, you should > > be aware > > that there is one mention of strobe lights in the 72 > > COLREGS (the > > International Rules, as later amended): Rule 36 (Signals > > to Attract > > Action) _proscribes_ the "use of high intensity or > > revolving lights, > > such as strobe lights." > > > > In their commentary on this rule, Llana and Wisnesky > > (_Handbook of the > > Nautical Rules of the Road_, 2d ed) suggest that, although > > "these > > lights have often been used by commercial fishing vessels > > and some > > recreational vessels to warn other vessels away[, s]uch > > use is not > > legal on International Rules waters except under Rule 2 > > when a need to > > avoid _immediate_ danger would justify a departure from > > Rule 36." > > > > They also note that even under the Inland Navigational > > Rules Act, Rule > > 36, while not "distinctly prohibit[ing] strobe lights," > > proscribes any > > light having the "flash characteristic described for > > distress in Rule > > 37, that is, fifty to seventy flashes per minute." (Annex > > IV to the > > Inland Rules identifies "a high intensity _white_ light > > flashing at > > regular intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute" as a > > signal > > "indicat[ive] of distress and need of assistance." > > [emphasis added]) > > > > Best wishes, > > > > Tamia Nelson > > Contributing Editor and Columnist, www.Paddling.net > > tamia_at_paddling.net > > > > _In the Same Boat_ <http://www.paddling.net/sameboat/> > > > > ---------------------[Original Message > > Follows]--------------------- > > > > Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] FW: crossing ship channels > > safely? > > Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 22:24:53 -0500 > > From: "Donald R. Reid" <dreid_at_andetur.com> > > Reply-To: <dreid_at_andetur.com> > > CC: <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> > > > > > > Mike, at sea ... according to all the 'rules and regs' ... > a > > strobe, per sie, has no meaning ... > > > > A 'red strobe' might be interpreted as a distress signal > ... > > but .. a white strobe will certainly 'catch their > > attentions' and that is the whole objective of the deal. > > > > ... > > > > I do have the inland rules on my computer ... and I find > > nothing about strobes as 'distress' signals.... > > > > Donald > > > > -----------------------[End Original > > Message]----------------------- > > > > ----- End Of Original Message ----- > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
"Donald R. Reid" wrote: > First, 'right away' does not come into play ... considering > everything, the 'big guy', even if somehow he was to see the > little guy could never stop in time, nor change his course > to avoid an accident. I believe the term we use for that around here is "The rule of gross tonnage." He who has the tonnage rules. Us, in our 1/10 ton vessels, must remember that we are mice in the elephants playground. Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Donald & all, I posted this once before but this seems a good time to do it again. About 15 years ago I went out for a week on a commercial fishing boat, more or less. The boat's owner was an elderly fellow who liked a dram now and again. Once he saw I could drive the boat, he pointed to the radar and said, "you might want to try that out, the switch is down there." That was the extent of my training. Trying it out in clear conditions, I saw how it could pick up the boats around us. I then watched as a moderately sized boat disappeared from radar while it was in plain sight. The boat had a jeep-style gas can on the deck, and as the boat turned, that or something else on the boat at first reflected the signal nicely, then disappeared. That showed me a serious limitation of radar. >From that point I drove us down the Straights of Juan De Fuca, into Neah Bay, and later 16 miles out into the Pacific several times. (My previous motorboat experience was my dad letting me take the wheel of a 15 footer a couple of times). Once we returned in fog so thick that I had difficulty seeing the bow. A faint blip on the radar alerted me to something ahead and the depth meter showed the water suddenly down to 4 feet below the keel. There are two very deadly rocks at the mouth of the Straight which I had to find my way between. Later, another faint blip came straight at us. I changed course slightly and radar showed the other boat less than 100 yards away as we passed. We never saw each other. If there had been a kayak or even a small motorboat out that day there would have been zero chance of avoiding it. Radar saved us from hitting another boat that day, but thinking back on that gives me the willies. Radar was also the only way that I found our way back into Neah Bay that day -- I could not have navigated with chart and compass in that fog and the Loran was broken (pre-GPS at that time). Oh, and where was the captain? He was giving mouth to mouth to another bottle of vodka every day for that week. So when you cross that shipping lane, or see that fishing boat coming your way, chances are the big fellow pointed at you has all the modern equipment and a very experienced crew with the best intentions. But just don't bet your life on it. (The other) Jerry. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Captain Reid wrote; > >An the guy or person in the little kayak, when he sees me >coming down on him ... is not going to get out his 'rule >book' and try to see what is the 'legal' thing for me to do >now .... turn on the strobe, try the VHF, shoot a flare ... >anything to get their attention. Think 'defensive' ... > Captain Reid's post have been great. The key word that he so properly install at the end of his latest post, "defensive", puts it in a nut shell. Being someone that's been on the open seas in a kayak with the "big boys" can appreciate the Captain's post. During the crossing of the Gulf I had numerous flares, smoke and dye units. Not to mention white lights, VHF, ARGOS system, strobe, Auto SOS light, 406 EPIRB. On my numerous encounters with the "big boys" (up to 13 large vessels in a 24 hour period) I never once even thought of deploying any signaling device. Defense, defense, defense. Of course playing defense 24 hours a day is why I never slept much for 20 days. With the ships I seen at a distance their travel was determined by several ways which has already been mentioned in these post on this subject. I guess the only other means I determined there travel at night was through their range lights (if the range lights were mention I must have missed it). With the four mountains of steel that did sneak through my defense I did not have time to deploy any type of signaling devices (would not have served any purpose any way), I just concentrated on getting da hell out of dodge and staying upright. So all that said I'm with the Captain. "Think defensive" Arthur Hebert *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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