Exercise: See the situation, choose the action
Practise three decisions on a daylight trip. Assume there is room for the stated manoeuvre and no special vessel signals unless mentioned.
Step by step
On Sydney Harbour, a powered cruiser is coming directly towards your powered boat. What should happen?
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For powered vessels meeting head-on, both turn to starboard. Check that your turn is safe and make it clear early. Handbook, p. 83.
Later, another powered boat approaches from your starboard side on a crossing track. Who gives way?
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In this powered-vessel crossing, you give way to the boat on your right. Alter course or slow early to let it pass. Handbook, pp. 82–83.
Put this safe response to the crossing in order.
- 1Keep watching until both vessels are safely clear
- 2Recognise that you must give way
- 3Check your manoeuvre is safe and make a clear early change
- 4Look all around and identify the crossing risk
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Look first, identify your responsibility, act clearly and check the result. Do not stop looking once you have changed course or speed. Handbook, pp. 79, 82 and 88.
You then enter a narrow river reach. Where should you travel?
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The narrow-channel rule requires you to keep as far to starboard as practical. Take extra care at bends and do not block the river. Handbook, p. 88.
Now on your own
Now try a Hawkesbury River trip. Think about the vessel's activity as well as its type.
A yacht under sail is overtaking your powered boat. Which vessel must keep well clear?
A vehicular ferry is moving. Within 100 metres of its chains, ropes or cables, what is the maximum speed?
You are now the stand-on boat in a separate crossing. The other skipper has not acted and a collision is developing. What do you do?
Before towing a water skier on an unfamiliar reach after a flood, what does the handbook recommend?