Safety Topics

Better Bay Alliance (BBA)
February 2023

Objectives

Collision bearings and visibility obstructions
Sailboat regattas

Collision Bearings and Visibility Obstructions

How to tell if you’re on a collision bearing?

Hold your course
Take a bearing on the other boat, either by sighting across a compass or part of your boat
A little while later, take the bearing again
- If the second bearing is the same as the first, your courses are converging on a single point which is a collision bearing
- If the second bearing is different than the first, it’s either an opening or closing bearing, and you will pass ahead or behind, respectively, of the other vessel
If you’re the give-way vessel, start altering your speed or course sooner than later, so the other boat knows your intent.
If he’s the give-way vessel, watch him like a hawk and be prepared to avoid him
- Most people on the water don’t appear to know the right-of-way rules

It’s good to know how to determine what type of bearing you have, but it’s equally important to know the rules and which vessel has right of way!

What about visibility obstructions?

There is chance when checking for collision bearings that your vessel may have a physical obstruction (i.e. cockpit stanchion) not allowing you to see another vessel.

If the other vessel is on a bearing in that obstruction area, you might not see the vessel until it’s too late, or not at all

If your vessel has such obstructions, it is your responsibility to frequently check behind the obstructions for any potential crossing vessels

Unlike driving a car on a road with limited options from where other vehicles might come from, a vessel on the water must be on the lookout in ALL directions

Sailboat Regattas

Two basic types:

Bouy Racing

Boats race around buoys (Gov marks or race marks), usually in a relatively close proximity area of <3 miles distance between buoys
Not always, but boats usually race “windward/leeward” courses