T&T: you may really hear a whistle

[Richard Quarles]

> Jeffrey Siegel wrote:


> Maybe it's different in other places but from Maine through Key  
> West I'd
> estimate that 80% of the recreational boats don't respond to whistle
> signals.  Heck, 30% of boats don't respond to a VHF hailing (60% of
> sailboats in my experience along the ICW don't respond).  Learning and
> following the rules is great but if no one else is doing it, you  
> need to
> find another way.  Getting someone on the VHF and saying, "let's  
> pass on
> one" is just asking for a collision.  It's much better to say,  
> "let's pass
> port-to-port."

Our experience in the AICW is similar to Jeffrey's.  Most sailboats  
seemed to recognize the whistle signals, as they turned the right way  
to wave us by; however the one's answering a VHF hail were rare.   
Most powerboats just thought we were saying 'hello'.

Rick Quarles
Barric II, Nordic Tug 32-147
New Bern, NC