11 BT Nov 2017 for archive

RYA GUIDE TO COLREGS
5TIPS FOR
LEARNING
COLREGS
20m in length) using deck level port, starboard
and stern lights can help larger vessels identify
you against background lights and establish
the distance between you more easily.
01
Do a little bit often - fl ip
cards are great as they
are visual and can be
picked at random.
Although the absence of a steaming light
indicates a sailing vessel, the COLREGs permit
yachts to show an all-round red and all-round
green light at or near the top of the mast in
conjunction with deck level port, starboard and
stern lights. This instantly identifi es you as
yacht and removes any ambiguity a tri-colour
can cause.
Clear and present danger
Where can I find
the COLREGS?
02
Remember the priority
between vessels -
Power > Sail > Fishing >
Constrained by Draught
> Not under Command
and Restricted in Ability
to Manoeuvre.
Of course you should continually assess the
situation around you to determine if you think
a potential collision situation exists. If you
weigh up all the key factors, including whether
you think the other vessel has seen you, and
determine on balance that a collision is likely,
then the clock really starts ticking.
All the rules relevant to the situation must be
considered before decisions are made. You
need to establish what action is expected of
the vessels involved, when the action should be
taken and whether the action of the give way
vessel alone will be suffi cient to prevent the
collision. Ultimately preventing a collision is the
single most important thing.
So if the action of the give way vessel alone
isn’t suffi cient to prevent a collision or it takes
no action at all, the stand on vessel must also
take action. If a collision does occur, then both
vessels may be found to be at fault to a certain
extent.
For more information and advice or to find
out more about RYA courses and publications
visit www.rya.org.uk
Core COLREGS information can be found in
many nautical publications. The full document
is available in the MCA Merchant Shipping
Notice (MSN) 1781 - The Merchant Shipping
(Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions)
Regulations 1996.
The RYA’s International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea (G2) is written
with pleasure craft skippers in mind, providing
a clear, authoritative explanation of each
regulation by rule order, with chapters including
Assessing the Risk, Who Gives Way, Restricted
Visibility, Lights and Shapes and Sound and
Light Signals.
In addition, the RYA Essential Navigation
and Seamanship online or classroom course
provides a useful basic COLREGS introduction
or refresher. RYA Day Skipper theory delivers
the fi rst comprehensive introduction to
COLREGS, which is then revisited in Coastal
Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore theory.
The RYA Powerboat Scheme also covers the
COLREGS at an appropriate level during each
of the practical courses.
03
04
When travelling at
speed the closing time
from seeing another
vessel and the potential
risk of collision is quite
short, so knowing the
rules without thinking
about them is crucial.
Lights and sound
signals mostly have
a logical build-up /
progression. Learning
the build makes it
easier to decipher the
overall picture of what
you’re seeing.
05
Collisions tend not
to occur when
everybody sticks to
the rules!
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