Amazing video of a yacht rescue, Brixham Harbour, today. (5/8/23)

[Capt Popeye]

Well i came accross this Video whilst trawling UTUBE this evening , was decided to post it on YBW but found that it had already been done : A friend had his Open Fishing boat moored in the outer Harbour some years ago , it sank in a similar Storm /Wind direction ; I have seen the Seas breaking over the outer Harbour Wall before now , so very very exposed a Harbour at times : Watching those smaller boats heaving up n down on their Moorings like they were is just frightening , just hope nobody was aboard them at the time

Think I will cross Brixham Harbour of my 'must do list' , sharpish CP

 

[ashtead]

They are very helpful at the MDL and I recall other attached to shore pontoons are available opposite the local shoreside pub as well but many places have issues when the blow comes from wrong direction.

I’m sure I recall that outside Guernsey marina on the walk ashore pontoons can become challenging to cross the pontoon links after a few beers when it starts to blow from the wrong way.

I wondered if this was a locals boat left there too long and the weather arrived quicker than expected?

 

[B27]

Well i came accross this Video whilst trawling UTUBE this evening , was decided to post it on YBW but found that it had already been done : A friend had his Open Fishing boat moored in the outer Harbour some years ago , it sank in a similar Storm /Wind direction ; I have seen the Seas breaking over the outer Harbour Wall before now , so very very exposed a Harbour at times : Watching those smaller boats heaving up n down on their Moorings like they were is just frightening , just hope nobody was aboard them at the time

Think I will cross Brixham Harbour of my 'must do list' , sharpish CP

I've seen similar levels of roughness in Portsmouth Harbour in a proper gale.
Also Braye, Alderney.
Also some moorings around Torpoint in a Northerly.
It's uncomfortable, you would not choose to be on the boat, but swinging moorings routinely work in such conditions a day or two most Autumns.

It's a commercial harbour, not a marina.

Being alongside a pontoon, or rafted on another boat, as you might do in fine weather, is just wrong.

I've been moored to a ponton in Cowes in much less wind (again from Northish) and had a rough time of it.

If you only want to use moorings which are comfy in F9+ from any direction, choice will be limited.
Possibly to the canal system?

 

[Just_sayin']

The guy who jumped onto the yacht has just replied to some of the comments on YT.

It‘s his uncles boat, wooden (mahogany), built in 1960. There was a hole under the water line. 8 planks damaged but already being repaired … will be used for the rest of the season.

Lots of corrections to the armchair sailors including why he apparently didn’t know how to ‘undo a cleat’.

He also covered the fact that the anchor was apparently out and was the only thing stopping the boat dragging (he moved the anchor chain so that it was easier to attach the tow line)

He ignored the one about being very stupid and making things worse until he got a tow and cut the lines

They walk amongst us

 

[Capt Popeye]

The guy who jumped onto the yacht has just replied to some of the comments on YT.

It‘s his uncles boat, wooden (mahogany), built in 1960. There was a hole under the water line. 8 planks damaged but already being repaired … will be used for the rest of the season.

Lots of corrections to the armchair sailors including why he apparently didn’t know how to ‘undo a cleat’.

He also covered the fact that the anchor was apparently out and was the only thing stopping the boat dragging (he moved the anchor chain so that it was easier to attach the tow line)

He ignored the one about being very stupid and making things worse until he got a tow and cut the lines

They walk amongst us

Hi thank you for this info : Might I ask , though , we it have been better if the Yacht /Boat had been moored to the other side of that Pontoon , so maybe the wind would be directing the Craft away from the pontoon ? Juast asking , cause I like to learn from others {~

 

[lustyd]

The wind is blowing it off of the pontoon, the springs are the reason it's hitting it.

 

[[2574]]

Hi thank you for this info : Might I ask , though , we it have been better if the Yacht /Boat had been moored to the other side of that Pontoon , so maybe the wind would be directing the Craft away from the pontoon ? Juast asking , cause I like to learn from others {~

To be honest the boat would be better off just not at that location. Easy to be wise in hindsight but I’m sure there are reasons why the owner couldn’t clear off round to the Dart and get a mooring outside the pub at Ditsum‘, otherwise laying to anchor above Ditsum‘ somewhere. That’s the only proper answer to the conditions forecast/expected/experienced.

 

[C08]

To be honest the boat would be better off just not at that location. Easy to be wise in hindsight but I’m sure there are reasons why the owner couldn’t clear off round to the Dart and get a mooring outside the pub at Ditsum‘, otherwise laying to anchor above Ditsum‘ somewhere. That’s the only proper answer to the conditions forecast/expected/experienced.

Surely Torquay would be the logical and local place for shelter in any heavy weather with north in it?

 

[B27]

Surely Torquay would be the logical and local place for shelter in any heavy weather with north in it?

Inside the actual marina at Brixham would be a fair option.
As would a strong swinging mooring, that would be less than pleasant to be on the boat, but should not be destructive.
I don't know if the inner harbour at Brixham is a possibility.

It's being alongside another floating object that makes it destructive in my view.
Obviously more shelter would be less stress and wear'n'tear.
Boats will sit out F10 storms with 6ft waves in a harbour on a sound swinging mooring.

Possibly just moving to a different bit of the harbour would make a big difference?

It tends to come down to where there is space and being prepared to pay for several days marina berth etc. to avoid 12 hours of weather.
Anywhere 'up river' is good, but it takes time and foresight to get the boat there in advance.

 

[Jacana139]

Brixham Marina Facebook page has a clip of the conditions last Saturday. Looks like all staff were called in and around 80 lines had to be attended to.
I was offered a swinging mooring in Brixham a few months before getting the berth in Torquay Inner. Glad I held on! The Brixham assistant harbourmaster was candid about conditions and said that they were better for local owners who can keep an eye on their boats and check lines after inclement weather.

 

[[2574]]

Surely Torquay would be the logical and local place for shelter in any heavy weather with north in it?

Yes, anything but being tied to a loose pontoon in a full gale with no protection. I said Ditsum’ as the bucolic views and proximity to the pub is a bonus……

 

[chriss999]

But a bit exposed to a northerly?
We were there last Wednesday for the westerly gale and it was fine but a bit splashy for dinghy rides.

We’d passed through via Brixham on Monday where we were warned not to stay there for the coming northerly gale/storm. Seeing this vid I’m heartily glad we weren’t there for that.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well there is NO Pontoon Corner heavy duty fendering apparent fitted that I can see on the Pontoon ? IF not , why NOT ?

Maybe a RYA Course should rectify that error ?

Can I ask ? is there an RYA course that covers Yacht /Boat Club responsibilities and awareness of sittuations ?

Does the Brixham Harbour Authority actually advise or check Pontoon tittings as to being adequate for the 'job' etc in their Harbour ?

 

[[2574]]

Well there is NO Pontoon Corner heavy duty fendering apparent fitted that I can see on the Pontoon ? IF not , why NOT ?

Maybe a RYA Course should rectify that error ?

Can I ask ? is there an RYA course that covers Yacht /Boat Club responsibilities and awareness of sittuations ?

Does the Brixham Harbour Authority actually advise or check Pontoon tittings as to being adequate for the 'job' etc in their Harbour ?

Without wishing to be disagreeable I don’t understand your direction here, the boat shouldn’t have been on the pontoon in the conditions forecast. Surely the yacht club cannot be held responsible for every user’s actions? It was obviously and evidently an inappropriate place to moor a boat in the conditions, skipper’s responsibility surely?

 

[Wansworth]

Without wishing to be disagreeable I don’t understand your direction here, the boat shouldn’t have been on the pontoon in the conditions forecast. Surely the yacht club cannot be held responsible for every users actions? It was obviously and evidently an inappropriate place to more a boat in the conditions, skipper’s responsibility surely?

Maybe if he had doubled up his lines it may not have suffered damage……from my armchair

 

[westernman]

Maybe if he had doubled up his lines it may not have suffered damage……from my armchair

Note that two lines with no stretch or snubber have no more strength than one line.

 

[Wansworth]

Note that two lines with no stretch or snubber have no more strength than one line.

But by chance one of them might have held

 

[westernman]

But by chance one of them might have held

If you have the chance that there are no more snap loads which are as big as the one which snapped the first line.

I.e. no real chance.

 

[ylop]

Note that two lines with no stretch or snubber have no more strength than one line.

Is the normal failure mode for lines parting in these circumstances failure of their inherent strength or chaff damage of the rope through repeated movement across a surface and then failure of a much weaker/narrower rope? IF its a wear-induced failure then a second rope that's not initially as tight is probably not wearing anywhere near as fast. If it takes 3 hours of wear on the first rope to weaken it, then perhaps a second rope lasts long enough to then add another rope or for weather to die down. Not that I'm advocating leaving a boat with multiple thin lines, no snubbers etc, I'm just wondering if its right than adding a secondary line brings no real benefit.

 

[ylop]

Well there is NO Pontoon Corner heavy duty fendering apparent fitted that I can see on the Pontoon ? IF not , why NOT ?

Maybe a RYA Course should rectify that error ?

No RYA course I've been on said you should have fenders on the pontoon at all.

Can I ask ? is there an RYA course that covers Yacht /Boat Club responsibilities and awareness of sittuations ?

There is not a course, but there is operating guidance. I've never had reason to read any part about ponoon provision (and no club I've been in had such luxuries of its own). Its unlikely to be as prescriptive as you expect if it exists at all.

Does the Brixham Harbour Authority actually advise or check Pontoon tittings as to being adequate for the 'job' etc in their Harbour ?

Unlikely. I've never known a Harbour Authority to actively inspect equipment they haven't provided.