The reality of my sailing ground. (A short video)

[Michel]

It looks very intimidating seen from that angle.
https://youtu.be/UAplaFy_VEU

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Wheeee!

Years ago we entered the St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario with a ship in the distance and she kept getting bigger, and bigger, AND BIGGER! We "pulled over" in a cove and let her past.

Does fill you with awe to be in a relatively narrow seaway with a 600 ft + ship!

[Michel]

I don't worry when sailing in my usual territory because I know very well the path of the ships. I just don't get into their way when I cross the seaway.

I can also sail very safely by using my sounder to sail in to shallow waters for them. There is also less current to fight.

[lustyslogger]

I just stand on the foredeck and yell as loud as I can "I am a sailboat and I have the right of way". Then I head off to a cove or 6 feet of water to get out of his way!!

Don't have much of a problem in my lake with large container ships but when I sailed on the St Johns River in Jacksonville I did have an issue with barges, especially at night. You definitely need to learn how to read the running lights under those circumstances!

[Michel]

Ha ha! It would be nice but the problem is that the ship has the priority when sailing in a channel! (To me, they always have the priority anyway!)

Many people seems to ignore that fact and this is why I very often hear the five rapid whistle signals blowing when some lunatic is crossing their path at an unsafe distance!...These things just can't brake or manoeuver very much so it is up to us to stay out of the way.

[lustyslogger]

Under Colregs even if you have the right of way, which you don't with container ships and the like, you are required to do everything in your power to avoid a collision. Expecting the other guy to grant you the right of way is both illegal and foolish in my opinion.

I remember one day on my lake a newcomer in a 35 foot power boat came up behind me and obviously was not going to change course (he was already doing a high rate of speed in a no wake zone so I knew he was an idiot) so although I definitely had the right of way I had no intentions of being dead right so I quickly changed course and let the fool go past.

I got my revenge when he tried to pull the boat out of the water and dropped it on the ramp. Cost him over $3000.00 to get it moved plus repairs to the ramp.

[Michel]

I think the same! I trust only myself to avoid collisions. I also pity the fools!