david_steward
New member
Last Sunday whilst returning from the Channel Islands we motored through the Solent from West to East, with a quick stop at Cowes for fuel.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
It was utter chaos, boats of all shapes and sizes all over the bloody place. Worse than the M25 on a Friday teatime.
I thought boating was about relaxation and getting away from it all. No chance at all in this neck of the woods.
What struck me most was the appalling manners and seamanship displayed by so many. Several times we were forced to take avoiding action when we were so obviously the stand on vessel. This from power and sail in equal numbers.
We witnessed some very large power boats on the plane almost scraping the paint off of some very small yachts. I was sure a collision was imminent at one point.
We do our boating from Ramsgate, when we leave harbour we are straight into the North Sea or the Dover Straight. There is no such thing as a quick trip in a sheltered ditch.
Probably the most criminal events we witnessed were going into Cowes for fuel. There was no wind but the wash appeared to be about Force 7 from all directions.
Where do people keep their brains?
Why are they sunbathing on the foredeck at 20 knots? Or on the foredeck of a tiny yacht? Not a lifejacket in sight, in very disturbed waters. Only lifesaving equipment seemed to be Ambre Solaire and a pair of Oakley sunnies.
What took the biscuit though, was the several instances of yachts towing dinghies full of kids without lifejackets. No worries at all about the Red Funnel ferry thundering past with a three foot wash. If the dinghy flipped they would all be DEAD.
I will not pretend to get everything right, but it was very shocking indeed.
No wonder you have so much boat rage and power v sail nonsense down there.
And it costs an absolute fortune to keep a boat there anyway.
You can keep it,
<hr width=100% size=1>We don't want a sports cruiser, totally impractical. Err ok then.
Dave S
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
It was utter chaos, boats of all shapes and sizes all over the bloody place. Worse than the M25 on a Friday teatime.
I thought boating was about relaxation and getting away from it all. No chance at all in this neck of the woods.
What struck me most was the appalling manners and seamanship displayed by so many. Several times we were forced to take avoiding action when we were so obviously the stand on vessel. This from power and sail in equal numbers.
We witnessed some very large power boats on the plane almost scraping the paint off of some very small yachts. I was sure a collision was imminent at one point.
We do our boating from Ramsgate, when we leave harbour we are straight into the North Sea or the Dover Straight. There is no such thing as a quick trip in a sheltered ditch.
Probably the most criminal events we witnessed were going into Cowes for fuel. There was no wind but the wash appeared to be about Force 7 from all directions.
Where do people keep their brains?
Why are they sunbathing on the foredeck at 20 knots? Or on the foredeck of a tiny yacht? Not a lifejacket in sight, in very disturbed waters. Only lifesaving equipment seemed to be Ambre Solaire and a pair of Oakley sunnies.
What took the biscuit though, was the several instances of yachts towing dinghies full of kids without lifejackets. No worries at all about the Red Funnel ferry thundering past with a three foot wash. If the dinghy flipped they would all be DEAD.
I will not pretend to get everything right, but it was very shocking indeed.
No wonder you have so much boat rage and power v sail nonsense down there.
And it costs an absolute fortune to keep a boat there anyway.
You can keep it,
<hr width=100% size=1>We don't want a sports cruiser, totally impractical. Err ok then.
Dave S
