Can a sailing vessel be a "vessel constrained by her draught"?

That's what I was asked today in my first lesson on "rules of the road". I answered (having read the rule over once a minute before) "yes, if the available depth and width of water severely restrict her ability to deviate from her course".

Whoops, I though I was going to get that one right, of course the rule states "a power driven vessel", so not a sailing one then! Could have recovered by adding on the end "if she proceeds under power of her engines" but then she wouldn't be a sailing vessel so I wouldn't have answered the question correctly either!

Still, next week when we have learnt the rules 1 to 3 off by heart it shouldn't be a problem. I hope. Then we have just 6 short weeks to learn the lot and its test time. The test is constructed of a series of multiple choice questions of which all answers seem plausible but only one is the correct wording. We were given an example today:

These rules shall apply to...

(a) ...all vessels upon the high seas and in all water connected therewith...
(b) ...all vessels upon the seas and upon all waters connected therewith...
(c) ...all vessel that are upon the high seas or water connected therewith...
(d) ...all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith...


Got that one right, but if they are much more tricky than that then it could get nasty! Hopefully simply a case of learning them at this stage. This is only a phase test by the way, not the mca's latest version of orals, so please don't flood me with comments about what a disgrace multiple choice is!!

We have also had lessons aver the last two weeks on wet cargo, dry cargo, maneuvering, ship construction and most interesting and enjoyable is the navigational instruments lessons. We have been studying the magnetic compass and the theory of correcting its deviation and therefore the directive force. Next week we have two sessions where we will adjust the real thing on the roof of the college which I am really looking forward to. Its a really fascinating subject and the lecturer also evidently thinks so which makes it much more enjoyable to learn than it could have been.

Am off for a weekend sailing on Friday, off around the solent for a few days, should be a nice break from the college bar anyway!

Math test Tomorrow

Tomorrow (probably today as you are reading this) is our Maths test. The pass mark is 50%, So far I have got 100% in the practice papers, but I am not so hopeful for the real thing. I dont get exam "nerves" but that said, I dont get 100% in them either. Results are on Wednesday so I shall post them as soon as I get them. The last week has been very uneventful, maths, maths and more maths. amazingly I am beggining to enjoy it! Ciao! R