Long distance cruising sailors have used strobes for over 25 years all over the world. The same thing with EPIRBS which were originally developed to indicate a 'downed aircraft'. Sailboats at night, like kayaks, often have running lights that are difficult to see. A larger ship or even a tug when approaching a coast line has a mirad of 'background lights' from shore, other vessels, etc. Fog, bad sea conditions, rain, snow, etc. also complicate this ... not to mention the 'understaffing' of the vessels themselves. According to maritime law, these vessels 'are supposed' to have 'lookouts posted'. 95% of the time ... that lookout, if any at all, is sitting up in the air-conditioned wheelhouse of the vessel chatting with the wheelman ... drinking 'coffee'. 'Supposedly' also, they are watching their radar. With any kind of sea condition ... the sail-boats don't show up unless they have a radar reflector. And forget it with a kayak. Lighting off a STROBE in a 'sea lane' will almost certainly catch someone's attention ... and that is the object of the exercise. LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE THERE! Strobe light, VHF communication, Flare pistol with a white parachute flare. The same thing applied to the thinking when the cruisers started using EPIRBS ... long before they became regular requirements on certain vessels. If my boat is 'sinking' ... I do not care if the SAR people or some aircraft flying over thinks I am a 'downed aircraft' ... I want help ... and I want it ASAP. Remember, the larger the vessel .. the longer it takes it to react, stop and / or maneuver. And, with a tug .. when he stops 'forward motion' and is towing a barge or a series of barges .. he loses all 'control' ... he might manage to avoid you himself .... but that barge that just went totally 'crazy', now controlled by 'wind and current' only will certainly give you something to think about. And the tug is also worried about that barge running over him. If the decission is to avoid hitting a recently 'spotted' or identified kayak with possibly one or two persons ... or being run over by a huge ocean barge himself ... and risking not only his vessel but his entire crew ... 'guess who loses' ...... Bottomline ... identify yourself in any way you can .. as soon as you can. Illegal or not. I doubt that any Coast Guard guy is going to fine you or even spank your hand. Regards, Capt. Donald R. Reid *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Mar 10 2001 - 07:09:42 PST
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