Vessel Traffic Management During the 2010 Swiftsure Yacht Race

by Anthony Zecca

The Swiftsure Lightship Classic

and associated races are a historical favorite of many Pacific Northwest sailors. With several hundred participants each year, Swiftsure presents unique traffic management challenges for the Canadian and United States Vessel Traffic Services. In an effort to safely manage traffic, Vessel Traffic Service Puget Sound (Seattle Traffic) participates in a joint U.S./ Canadian Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service to manage traffic in the Strait of Juan de Fuca region. Weeks before the first boat crosses the starting line at Brotchie Ledge, Victoria Traffic, Tofino Traffic and Seattle Traffic coordinate special efforts to ensure the safety of all Swiftsure participants. In the back of the Swiftsure race

instructions you will find a “Race Management Grid.” This grid breaks the Strait of Juan de Fuca into 87 numbered boxes. (It is recommended that participants tape it on their chart tables, or transfer the grid lines to Canadian Chart 3606 or U.S. charts 18460 and 18465.) This grid is the tool Swiftsure participants need to make sense of VTS traffic advisories. The way to use it is simple. Each of the three vessel traffic centers, (Victoria, Tofino, and Seattle) make a broadcast on channel 9 VHF during the race, at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. During each broadcast, they will pass a grid number, the name, direction and speed of commercial vessels in transit throughout the race course. Transit broadcasts will include information on inbound vessels first, then the outbound vessels. The grid numbers represent the positions of inbound and

outbound traffic. If you know your position, you’ll know which traffic will be of concern to you. The key is to be aware of your position at all times and keep tuned to channel 9 VHF. Victoria Traffic begins the broadcast

first and continues broadcasting until each participant has passed Race Rocks. At this point Seattle Traffic begins broadcasting to all race participants. Those participants that pass 124°40’ West longitude and continue to Swiftsure Bank will be hearing broadcasts from Tofino Traffic. This entire process reverses itself upon the return and completion of the race.

The following is an example of a transit broadcast that might be heard on VHF channel 9.

“Securite, Securite, Securite…All

stations this is Victoria Traffic, this is the 0915 vessel transit broadcast for yachts in the Swiftsure Yacht Race. Grid 10…Grid 10 …the bulk carrier “Westward Venture” is outbound, speed two zero knots, standby for the Seattle Traffic broadcast, Victoria Traffic out.”

Contact information:

Anthony Zecca VTS Puget Sound Waterways Management USCG Sector Seattle 1519 Alaskan Way S. Seattle, WA 98134-1192

206-217-6041 (work) 206-217-6900 (fax) Anthony.j.Zecca@uscg.mil

Long before the race is underway,

Victoria, Seattle and Tofino Traffic notify commercial vessels of the Swiftsure event. During the race, commercial vessels are advised of the number of participants and any concentrations of sailboats. A reminder about RULE 10 OF

THE COLREGS will also be broadcast. Specifically, “A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a power driven vessel following a traffic lane.” “Shall not impede” means a vessel MUST NOT (this is not an option) navigate in such a manner as to risk the development of a collision with another vessel.) Generally speaking, when a vessel following the traffic separation scheme (TSS) is forced to maneuver in order to avoid another vessel; the vessel following the TSS has been impeded! Use common sense and don’t push the envelope! The order of precedence changes radically when operating in a traffic separation scheme; as a sailing vessel you no longer have stand on status (right of way) over a power-driven vessel following the traffic lane. In addition, you may be dealing with foreign shipping and language difficulties often result. If you find yourself in extremis, call the appropriate VTS directly and ask the sector operator or regulator to help sort out the problem. Tofino Traffic can be reached on channel 74 VHF (for vessels west of 124-40), Seattle Traffic on 5A VHF when in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, or Victoria Traffic on channel 11 VHF when north of Race Rocks.

48° N

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