RE: [Paddlewise] Kayaks and Visibility

Paul wrote
>The International ColRegs are just a guideline - even for those who have
signed up to them.



Craig wrote

>So how do individual local jurisdictions manage to enforce navigational rules
which are at odds with the

>International Rules? No one bothers to tell them that they aren't supposed to
do that? Or are there loopholes?


G'Day Paul and Craig,



Paul's point makes sense. The International Regs opens up with the paragraph



(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master,
or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these
Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the
ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.



And certainly it is an "ordinary practice of seamen-kayakers" to make a kayak
visible for 360 degrees on the water at night in busy Sydney Harbour. Sadly
some power boaters do not and we occasionally hear of terrible accidents
leading to death and protracted court cases.



In any case whern I read the rules I see nothing that suggest that placing a
light of reasonabler luminance -- not sufficient to blind - on the fron and
rear of the kayak or on a masthead. Thus the rules: -





Rule 22 visibility of lights

	(d) In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed;

		a white all-round light; 3 miles.
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