5 SALUTES ARE NOT A COMPLIMENT
Last Friday we left Shilshole and crossed the sound. A northbound freighter, a car carrier, was the only traffic to be concerned about, but he was well south and a quick calculation proved we would be well ahead of him with a wide margin of safety.
We crossed the lanes safely and were out of even the southbound lanes when the freighter let loose 5 blasts from her horn. The culprit was a small Camano Trawler also headed North, but right in the shipping lanes. More horn blasts — a long drawn out blast followed by 2 more sets of 5 then the freighter visibly slowed and began a turn to port to avoid collision.
Finally and belatedly the trawler made a dramatic starboard turn and the freighter resumed its course.
The picture was taken a few minutes after the drama occurred, but the story and the pic hold many lessons, not the least of which are know where you are and look aft!