Cantata
Well-Known Member
Off Frinton this morning, I was heading gently NE close hauled on starboard, tracking parallel to the coast.
Light airs, and the boat was plodding along at about 3 knots.
Having been established on this track and heading for about 30 minutes, I started to watch a very large cruising cat coming the other way, on an exactly opposing track, so he was on a broad reach on port. From about a mile away I could see there was someone on the foredeck, fiddling with a spinnaker. I tried pinching up a bit, and bearing away a bit, in an effort to get the courses to diverge a bit, but the boat wasn't having either.
As he got nearer, I started to wonder if there was anyone steering, but eventually I could see that there was a second person on board, presumably at the wheel.
Still no sign of them noticing me at all. At about 200 yards, I tried "hey!" in a loud voice. No reaction. Tried again, this made Mr. Foredeck look round, and he moved aft, spoke to the other person, and a big course alteration was made.
As we passed, I raised my hand and said thanks. To which a reply came back, mostly asking if I couldn't see that he was hoisting the spinnaker and that I was a prat.
Strange reaction, really.
Hope they enjoyed the rest of their day, and that it wasn't spoilt by any more stand-on vessels having the temerity to get in their way while they weren't keeping a proper lookout.
On the East Coast, too, disappointing.
Light airs, and the boat was plodding along at about 3 knots.
Having been established on this track and heading for about 30 minutes, I started to watch a very large cruising cat coming the other way, on an exactly opposing track, so he was on a broad reach on port. From about a mile away I could see there was someone on the foredeck, fiddling with a spinnaker. I tried pinching up a bit, and bearing away a bit, in an effort to get the courses to diverge a bit, but the boat wasn't having either.
As he got nearer, I started to wonder if there was anyone steering, but eventually I could see that there was a second person on board, presumably at the wheel.
Still no sign of them noticing me at all. At about 200 yards, I tried "hey!" in a loud voice. No reaction. Tried again, this made Mr. Foredeck look round, and he moved aft, spoke to the other person, and a big course alteration was made.
As we passed, I raised my hand and said thanks. To which a reply came back, mostly asking if I couldn't see that he was hoisting the spinnaker and that I was a prat.
Strange reaction, really.
Hope they enjoyed the rest of their day, and that it wasn't spoilt by any more stand-on vessels having the temerity to get in their way while they weren't keeping a proper lookout.
On the East Coast, too, disappointing.
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