Submarine versus sailboat

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by StdDev

Isnt "right of way" assigned to the "less manoeverable" craft?
I would think that a sail boat is much more manoeverable...

Actually, no. It's kind of the spirit of Rule 18, but it's a lot more complex.

(Paraphrasing since I can't find my copy of the rules)
A power driven vessel shall keep out of the way of:
-A sailling vessel
-A vessel engaged in fishing
-A vessel restricted in her abillity to manoeuver
-A not under command vessel

Now, of course, if there's a narrow channel or fairway involved, then it's a whole different thing, since the sailboat is less than twenty meter in length.

[Bill Nichols]

When I was earning my 'Officer of the Deck Surfaced' quals, I was taught that submarines are considered 'deep-draft' vessels and therefore the following applies:

"Under Rule 9 of the International and Inland Rules of the Road, all vessels less than 20 meters (66 feet), vessels engaged in fishing and all sailboats cannot impede the passage of a vessel that can only operate safely in a narrow channel or fairway."

I remember conning my boat (USS Nautilus) into San Diego and the sailboats were always getting in our way. That inspired me to include bunches of suicidal sailboats in my Dangerous Waters scenario, "We Dive at Dawn".

[JALU3]

Originally Posted by Bill Nichols

my boat (USS Nautilus) into San Diego and the sailboats were always getting in our way. That inspired me to include bunches of suicidal sailboats in my Dangerous Waters scenario, "We Dive at Dawn".

Although I was in the Army myself, and never stationed in San Diego, it must be hell for the boats out of the Point going through that relatively narrow channel out of the harbor and past the point. You have the break to the east, and the Point to the west . . . and all those pleasure boats, and fishing boats . . . I am suprised there hasn't been any major collisions recently. And from my understanding more SSNs will be homeported out of Point Loma . . . that will only increase the traffic.