Barge Racing - Tom Cunliffe

[pkb]

We sail out of Poole where there is a huge amount of dinghy activity. Like some of the previous contributors to this thread my preference is to motor and to weave, as far as I am able, through what is often, literally, a swarm of small, fragile, fast moving craft coming at me from all points of the compass. In such situations any rigid adherence to who is and is not the stand on vessel has to become meaningless.

However, I do so, not out of any deference to those who are racing, but in the interests of mutual safety.

As a point of principle I cannot see why those who choose to race should claim any primacy over those who choose to cruise and comparisons which are often made, by the racing apologists, between the "competitive" racer and the "pottering" cruiser are as spurious as they are distasteful.

Peter

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: here here NM.

.

 

[Chris_Robb]

agree with what you say, however in the TC article it implied that it might have been a single hander. If I was sailing my boat single handed I would not want to tack for anyone, especially as it takes me at least 5 minutes to get up the necessary speed to tack from dead in the water.

The stand on boat does not have the option to bear away under the Port tack boat's stern, as the alteration in course would only be marginal, and could lead to a major misunderstanding and subsequent collision. The stand on boat's only option is to tack. I don't think politeness to a racer comes into it. As someone who has raced for years in my youth, I do try to understand the racer. This however would not go so far as me tacking single handled to give way to a barge or anyone. (especially when he had a crew of gorrillas (TC excepted!))

 

[Chris_Robb]

You can't - however if there is only one person in the cockpit, as the article described, then there is a good chance they are, or at least very shorthanded.

 

[Cornishman]

Re: Tectona ....

........which is why I always took charge of taking on fresh water!!!!
When did you do your survival course? Maybe it was me what threw you in!

 

[billmacfarlane]

I read the article too and thought his justification for the yacht to give way to the barge as flawed. The main reason was that the barge was a pain to tack and the yacht should have realised this and gave way out of politeness. With due respect to TC's extensive knowledge I think that his logic in this case is crap. The barge skipper who didn't have right of way should have realised well in advance , knowing his boat's limitations , and taken appropriate action to avoid a collision. The fact that the barge was racing I don't think comes into it . TC's love of traditional boats etc is well known but would he have used the same argument if the boat that had to give way was an 80' flier with 20 people on the rail which would also be a pain to tack ? Don't think so.

 

[peterb]

Constrained by draught

Last Tuesday we were crossing one of the watts in the German Friesian Islands, with about a foot of water under our keel, when we realised that we were being overtaken by a car ferry. We used the two halves of our anchor ball shape, a black towel and some clothes pegs to make up a cylinder which we hoisted with the main halyard. The ferry gave us a wide berth!

 

[Guest]

Agree with you on this one Bill !

Have to say that TC has become rather too self important of late, which seemed to have started following the TV stuff . Although he still has some useful things to say at times, I no longer hold him in the esteem that he once commanded.

Does racing compromise safety ?

It has to in my book. Can you imagine car races round the M25 that everyone who is not racing must 'consider' them ? I have seen many a normal decent cruiser turned racer for the day turn into someone I never new existed when 50 quids worth of silverware is put on offer.

In my view yachts are given the PRIVILEGE to race by the rest of us and the barge skipper was being very aggressive by trying to barrel his way through. If anything, he should have made an early move, particularly when faced with the classic 'forward stare'.

But there again this is becoming the norm in the Blackwater. I have always had the greatest respect and sympathy for the many barges skippers that now earn a living on the East Coast but the Barge Asscn. must take action on this one.

 

[ianwright]

Whatever the regulations say I never cross close ahead of a barge, they generally sail faster than they look and my boat is handier than any barge. Also the Blackwater is narrower than it looks ,,,,,,,,,,, give 'em room say I.

IanW

Vertue 203, Patience

 

[Chris_Robb]

I was highly surprised at TC tone. Some time since I read the article, but it seem to imply that the barge skipper assumed the other boat would tack, and taken unawares that the yacht was still on course, resulting in a last second crash tack.

TC praised his seamanship - I think If I was an examiner - I would have failed him - for a total lack of anticipation let alone good racing tackticks.

This one article will make me think twice about anything else he writes/

 

[Guest]

Re: Tectona ....

1975 ...... and some b----d forgot to place the pump in the l/raft so we couldn't pump up the floor !!!!

It was one of the coldest and most sickening incidents I have had !! It convinced me to use a life-boat from ship if ever necessary !!!!

After the 'ducking' we were all treated to Bovril - that sorted out a few stomachs !!

I only remember a few Names ... Capt. Nelson, CPO Signals Tozer, McKelvie ....

But will always remember Tectona and the trip along the coast etc.

 

[CaptainCava]

Shame on you all for criticising such a very important yachtmaster instructor!

Especially one with such perceptive and frequent comments on ladies/girls/fishermen's daughters etc. and of course booze, in so many of his articles.

How dare you all!!