101. In navigating a narrow channel or a river, which side must a steamer keep?

On her own starboard side of mid-channel, when it is safe and practicable. (Art. 21.)

102. What are the signals on the steam whistle that steamers are permitted to make by the new rules?

Steamers under weigh may indicate their course as

follows:

1 short blast means "I am directing my course to starboard."

2 short blasts mean "I am directing my course to port."

3 short blasts mean "I am going full speed astern." 103. Are steamers compelled to use these signals ?

No; they are optional; but if used, the officer must be sure that the signal agrees with the direction he intends taking. (Art. 19.)

Exercises on Article 14.

[In Questions 104 to 111, both inclusive, the two sailing ships A and B are either crossing, or meeting end on, so as to involve risk of collision. The wind remains at North.]

104. A is heading ENE, B is heading WNW; which gives way?

A; because she is close hauled on the port tack. (Art. 14b.)

105. A heading E, B still WNW ?

A still; she is running free. (Art. 14a.)

106. A heading ENE, but B W?

B this time; because she is running free. (Art. 14a.) 107. A heading E, B W?

A; because she has the wind on her port side. (Art. 14c.) 108. A heading SE, B SW ?

A; because she has the wind on her port side. (Art. 14c.) 109. A SE, BSW?

Still A; because she has the wind on her port side. (Art. 14c.)

110. A E, B SE?

B this time; because she is to windward. (Art. 14d.)

111. A South, B West?

A; because she has the wind aft. (Art. 14c.)

112. A is close hauled on the port tack, and sees a green light on her lee beam; what should she do?

Keep her course; because it is green to green. (Appendix E.)

113. She sees a red light on her weather bow ?

She still keeps her course; it is red to red. 114. She sees the red light 4 points on the lee bow? A must keep out of the way, because she is close hauled on the port tack. (Art. 14b.)

115. She sees the green light on her weather side?

A keeps her course, because the other ship is running free. (Art. 14a.)

116. You are in a steamer A, steering N., and see the white and red lights of another steamer B two points on your starboard bow; how is B steering ?

Between a little to the West of SSW round to NW.

117. If B had been 4 points on your starboard bow ? Between a little to the West of SW round to NNW.

118. If B had been 2 points before your starboard beam? Between a little to the West of WSW round to N.

119. What should A do in all these cases?

Keep out of B's way.

120. Why?

Because A has B on his own starboard side.

121. If B had been 2 points on A's port bow; how would B be steering?

Between a little South of SSE round to West.

122. If B had been 2 points before A's port beam ? Between a little South of ESE round to SW.

123. What should A do now?

Keep her course.

124. Why?

Because it is red to red.

EXPLANATION OF THE TEN POINT BUSINESS.

1. When you see a side light at sea, and wish to know how the ship carrying that light is steering, the first thing to do is to take the bearing of the light. Say you saw, in a vessel A, the Red light of a vessel B, and it bore NW. If B wanted to come straight to you, she must steer SE; therefore, SE is one course she may be steering.

In the sketch, A sees B bearing NW, and B steers for A SE; therefore, the opposite point to its bearing from you is always one of its possible courses.

2. Next to shew that this course is at one end of the 10 that the light can shew over. If the ship B, in the above cut, had been steering E, she would evidently be shewing not her Red but her Green to A. Suppose B to be put under her port helm, we shall, when she heads SE, see both Green and Red, the Red now coming in view for the first time; and, as we can see the Red for 10 points, let the ship still swing under her port helm for these 10 points, and then she must be heading WSW.

Then the vessel B must be shewing her Red light between SE and WSW.

Rule, when you see a Red light. Take the opposite to its bearing, face this direction, and count 10 points from it towards your right. Red always to the right.

3. If A had seen B's Green light, over what points of the horizon would that Green light be visible?

In the same sketch, suppose B to be heading S, then A must see his Red light. If B be put under a starboard helm, then when she heads SE, A will for the first time see the Green light; and if she still continues under her starboard helm for 10 points more, she will head NNE.

Therefore, the Green light of B shews from SE to NNE.

Rule, when you see a Green light. Take the opposite to the bearing, face this direction, and count 10 points from it towards your left. Green always to the left.

Example. You are heading NE, and see a Red and White light 4 points on your port bow; over what points of the horizon must that Red light be shewing?

Four points on your port bow makes the steamer bear from you due N; the opposite to this is S; and 10 points to the right of S is WNW.

Answer, from S to WNW.

Example. You see a Green light about 3 points on your starboard bow, when you are heading WSW; over what points does this Green light show ?

Three points on your starboard bow makes the sailing ship bear W by N; the opposite to this is E by S; and 10 points to the left of E by S is N by W.

Answer, from E by S to N by W.

125. Suppose the steamer A, heading South, sees the White and Red lights of another steamer 4 points on her port bow; how is the steamer B steering?

From a little North of NW round to ENE.

126. What should A do ?

Keep her course.

It is Red to Red.

с

127. She sees the White and Red lights 2 points before her starboard beam; how is B steering?

From a little East of ENE round to South.

128. What should A do ?

A must keep out of the way, because she has the other on her own starboard side.

129. A steamer A, heading N, sees the White and Green lights of another steamer B 2 points on her starboard bow; how is B heading ?

From a little to the South of SSW round to East.

130. If B were 4 points on A's starboard bow?

From a little to the South of SW round to ESE.

131. If B were 2 points before A's starboard beam ? From a little to the South of WSW round to SE.

132. What should A do ?

Keep her course. Green to Green.

133. If A sees B's White and Green Lights 2 points before her port beam; how must B be heading?

From a little to the East of ESE round to North.

134. What must A do?

A keeps her course.

A on her own starboard side.

B gives way, because she has

To find within what points a sailing ship must be steering when her Red or Green side light is visible.

Note. In all these exercises the ship is always supposed to be able to lie within 6 points of the wind..