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The USCG Rules of the Road Part 1

The USCG Navigation Rules of the Road (NAVRULES) are regulations which aid mariners in safe navigation, just as driving laws aid vehicles in safe driving. The NAVRULES are legally binding and relevant to each and every boater. The proper use of them makes our waterways safer for everyone to enjoy and helps prevent collisions and the loss of life. The overview I’m providing will be summarized in a three-part series and is meant for recreational boaters navigating on salt water bays, harbors, rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. While reading it, please keep in mind, the average recreational boater does not need the same working knowledge of all 41 NAVRULES that a licensed USCG Captain must know, but you are, “by law”, responsible to have a strong working knowledge of the NAVRULES. The first NAVRULE we will discuss is Rule 13 (Overtaking). As defined, a vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking (passing) when approaching another vessel from a direction of more than 22.5 degrees abaft of the beam; that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel you are overtaking, that at night you would only see the sternlight of that vessel but neither of the sidelights (running lights). The inland application of this rule (by law) requires that the overtaking vessel sound a signal of either one or two short blasts which must be answered with the same signal by the vessel being overtaken to acknowledge they concur with the maneuver or by immediately sounding five short blasts that indicates that they do not concur with the maneuver. When overtaking another vessel, you are designated the “give way” vessel and you must stay clear of the vessel you are overtaking.

Captain Jack R. Sanzalone is a 30-year submarine veteran and licensed USCG Master Captain and Assessor with 42 years of experience. He is the owner of The Captain School Orange Beach, Al and teaches both basic and advanced boating education. You can contact Captain Jack at: jack@boattutors.com or by visiting his website at www.boattutors.com

If July is going to be anything like May and June, we are all in for a big treat. The bite we have seen thus far has been one of the better ones we have seen in many years. With another year of the spillways NOT opening, the oysters and grass bed seem to be doing much better than they have the last several years.

We are seeing great numbers and great sizes of speckled Trout. The good news is, is that we are seeing this everywhere. Bay St. Louis, like Borgne, the barrier islands, and of course the Louisiana marsh has been teaming with speckled Trout. The Bait seems to be bigger and better and the fishing has just been very consistent. The majority of the fish we are catching are in areas with shells or reefs. Moving water(hopefully clean) and bait are usually the key.

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