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The
Barge Safety Rule Valley Sailing
Association
1. PURPOSE The purpose of The Barge Safety
Rule is to promote safe sailing, by discouraging boats from crossing
the river too close to the bows of oncoming commercial vessels.
2. BACKGROUND A commercial 'towboat', 'made
up' with barges, that is, pushing a raft of barges, is referred to as
a 'tow'. Because of their size, weight
and physical configuration, tows have limited visibility, are restricted
to a narrow channel, and are not capable of rapid alterations in speed
or direction. Commercial towboats
and tows have the right of way. It
is the obligation of sailboats crossing the channel in front of towboats
and tows, for both legal and safety reasons, to keep a safe distance
between themselves and the commercial vessels. As a reference, a typical large grain barge is 195 - 200 feet long and 35 feet wide. Towboats are usually 120 - 175 feet long. A typical tow, consisting of a raft of barges 3 wide by 5 long, being pushed by a towboat, is approximately 1095 - 1175 feet (365 - 392 yards) long and 105 feet (35 yards) wide.
3. SAFETY PROCEDURES The Race Committee will attempt
to lead tows through the race course, with the Safety Boat, at what
it determines to be a safe distance for the existing conditions. If the Race Committee is not able to lead a tow through the course, a sailboat shall only cross in front of a tow at a safe distance.
4. RULE A sailboat shall not cross
the channel between a Race Committee lead boat and a commercial tow. In the event that a Race Committee
boat is not able to lead a tow through the race course, a sailboat shall
not cross the channel, in front of a tow, at a distance less than 1200
feet (400 yards) from the bow of the tow.
This distance shall be measured across the entire width of the
bow. This distance may be altered by the Race Committee,
on a specific day, if it determines that the existing conditions so
warrant. Commercial towboats and tows and designated as obstructions.
5. PROPULSION If, while crossing at a safe distance in front of a
tow, the wind dies or a boat is otherwise disabled, and she determines
that she is no longer able to continue crossing safely, she may use
any means of propulsion, including outside assistance, necessary to
remove herself from the path of the tow.
If this boat wishes to continue racing, she must first return
the side of the channel from which she was coming, using any means available.
She may then continue to race, and no penalty will be incurred. This exemption does not apply to a boat which uses
propulsion after attempting to cross at an unsafe distance, or otherwise
uses propulsion in violation of the Rules.
6. PENALTIES A boat which violates The Barge
Safety Rule while racing will be scored DSQ, without the possibility
of exoneration, appeal or redress. A boat which violates The Barge
Safety Rule while not racing will be scored DSQ for either the race
immediately preceding or the race immediately following the infraction,
whichever is closer in time, as determined solely by the Race Committee.
A skipper who violates The Barge Safety Rule three
(3) times within a sailing season will be barred from racing at Valley
Sailing Association for a period of 30 days.
Continued flagrant violations of this rule will be grounds for
revocation of membership and privileges at Valley Sailing Association,
subject to review by the Board of Directors. |