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06-17-2009, 07:17 AM | #1 |
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Sailboat speed rules near shore
So, I'm crusing along at 6.2 MPH in my sailboat, in a great wind. The wind curves so I can make better way towards my destination by hugging the shore. The thought occured to me, I'm less than 150' from shore going over headway speed or 5 MPH - even though I'm leaving virtually no wake. Is this against the rules, or do they only apply to motorized craft?
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06-17-2009, 08:06 AM | #2 | |
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You scofflaw you !
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06-17-2009, 08:28 AM | #3 |
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I think you are ok, 0.2 mph is well within the margin of error for most speed measuring devices.
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06-17-2009, 01:16 PM | #4 |
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Here's how "No wake speed" is defined in various areas around the country:
So, what New Hampshire is saying is: Go slow, but maintain control of your boat. If you can maintain control of your boat at 3mph, but still don't produce a wake at 6mph, then you are allowed to go 6mph. But if you can't maintain control at 6mph, go to whatever speed you can minimally maintain control. The expectation is that if this is more than 6mph, it had better not be much more -- or else! |
06-17-2009, 02:46 PM | #5 |
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This'n'that is correct.
Weirs Channel is designated as headway speed zone. At times when the current is swift it will be awfully hard to go to the lake at no wake speed.
The biggest problem with this rule is that all vessels have a different head way speed. i.e. A PWC has a lower head way speed compares to a large cruiser. This becomes a problem in the channel when a PWC is obeying the law in front of me, and I don't have full control of my boat. Changing the head way speed through the channel to some arbitrary speed such as 6 mph will force all vessels to maintain a steady course. I have seen MP pulling over large vessels because they were going too fast and PWC's because they were going too slow! They were actually obeying the law by going headway speed!
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06-17-2009, 03:17 PM | #6 |
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There are two reasons for the 150 foot headway rule. One is wake damage, a sailboat at hull speed is not going to make wake big enough to be an issue.
But the second reason is control. If you are that close to other boats, or the shore, you have to slow because you have to be in control. Another boat can turn into your path, someone may be swimming near shore, a boat could leave a dock. So the real question goes back to Lakegeezer, when you were hugging the shore at 6.2 MPH, did you have complete control of your vessel? could you stop in time if something unforseen happened? If yes, then you probably met the intent of the law, even if you exceeded the letter of the law by 3%. |
06-17-2009, 03:37 PM | #7 |
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Lose Control
There is no reverse on a sailboat. If presented with a sudden need to stop, the only way to stop it, is to let go of the sheet, which essentially means "losing control". Kind of a funny paradox.
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06-17-2009, 07:08 PM | #8 | |
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Much faster to simply turn into the wind. Sailboats typically pivot on the keel when turning, and turn rather rapidly at 6 MPH. This move will stop forward progress within 1.5 boat lenghts. |
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06-18-2009, 06:31 AM | #9 |
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The real question, I believe, is "Sail Up" (i.e. I'm a sailboat) or "Sail Down/engine on" (i.e. I'm a motorcraft).
If I'm not mistaken the "no wake" rule applies differently depending on which situation.
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06-18-2009, 06:56 AM | #10 |
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I can't find a law that covers sailboats differently than powerboats with regard to wakes.
The crossing rules do give preference to sailing boats over most powered boats. But the safe distance rules apply to all vessels. BTW if the engine is running it is a powered boat. Sails up or down does not matter. |
06-18-2009, 07:17 AM | #11 | |
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06-18-2009, 08:08 AM | #12 | |
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In the Coast Guard site, I found the vague definition; "The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used." That could mean "propelling machinery" as in the prop, is not being used. Rule 25e also mentions a flag that a large sailboat should fly when "under sail and powered by machinery" - lending weight to the prop as machinery argument as does Rule 3, in general definitions: "The term 'power-driven vessel' means any vessel propelled by machinery;" NH DOT takes a similar stance, found at title 12, 270-D:1 Definitions; VII. "Motorboat'' means any vessel being propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion. " - again, propelled seems to be the defining term. My conclusion is; a sailboat continues to be considered one if the engine is running but not propelling the boat.
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06-18-2009, 08:52 AM | #13 |
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Clearly there is ambiguity, so here are the possible states:
Sails Engine Prop Rules to follow Up off stopped Sailboat Up running stopped Sailboat Up running spinning Powerboat Down off stopped Sailboat Down running stopped Sailboat Down running spinning Powerboat I don't know enough about the actual enforcement to know if this right. I'm guessing that the law was written to give preference to sailboats because they are less manuverable, when sailing. It's much easier for a powerboat to adjust speed and steer around a crossing situation, than a sailboat which might have to drop sails and or tack. Saying that a sailboat which is has running engines deserves special privileges just because those engines are not in gear seems counter-intuitive. I have a powerboat without sails, if I carry a sail in a locker or on my antenna, can I claim sailboat crossing privileges, just by putting my engine in neutral? |
06-23-2009, 07:14 AM | #14 | |||||
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Hull Maneuverability...
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While sailing, I was once directed by an MP to back up to his boat. I've since practiced backing—and it takes some sailing skill—but it can be a valuable maneuver to learn. Quote:
(Although our area was completely surrounded by looming dark clouds—Saturday, from 9AM to 2PM—had a huge open sunny area over the Lake). Quote:
(Down-slope winds generated from cool, heavily-forested slopes being one exception). If given a windward shore, you can run aground; sometimes, the wind will curl over trees and structures and drag your boat's mast and sails into the treetops! (And drag your rudders and boards across the bottom). Moreover, the mast and sails will shake up the canopy and you'll have branches, spiderwebs, insects, leaf debris and spiders raining down on you—don't ask me how I know!) If a lee shore, your chances of grounding are even greater. Lake Winnipesaukee's shoreline along it's undeveloped/prevailing/lee shores are usually rockier and shallower—with increasingly-intense waves and wakes. Even where shorelines are not shallower, they can have huge boulders lurking within reach of your boat. You will have fewer options for avoiding rafts, swimmers, floats, dogs, moored boats and rafts when they invariably appear in your path. Approaching rubberneckers (even at headway speed or less) are another moving hazard within that 150-foot environment. Quote:
A heavy motor-sailer like this one would be presumed under power with sails up or down. (Not a great example of a motor-sailer, but all I could find that wasn't oversized).
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06-23-2009, 02:37 PM | #15 | |
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Heading off the wind will likely make you jibe (and if this is an emergency situation, the crew won't be prepared for it) and won't ever put you in irons, so you won't stop. Would be fun to watch from my "stinkpot" though... |
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06-24-2009, 12:26 PM | #16 |
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Those things sound pretty like prety bad news, 1.5 boatlengths to stop even at no wake speeds, sudden jibes catching the crew unprepared, untrained operators, confliicting and confusing operation, damaging the natural shoreline flora and fauna with their masts, endangering rafts, swimmers, floats, dogs, moored boats and dredging the shallows with their rudders.
There should be a law against them |
07-06-2009, 06:20 AM | #17 | |||
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Sailboats Are "Bad News"?
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Maybe you're right: I was viewing the "Yoga" thread and thinking... Quote:
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