Beware “Indulgence” (of Orwell)

Frayed Knot

Frayed Knot

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This afternoon, sailing beautifully wing and wing up the Deben on our way home from our first mini cruise of the year, my wife and I had the misfortune to meet the above (unapologetically) named yacht; a large, 40 - 45’ grey hulled Hanse I think, motoring towards us - no sails set.
Motoring close to the port side of the Ramsholt fairway he would have comfortably passed about 10 - 15m on our stbd. side. However, at the last moment he turned hard to stbd. cutting close in front of us leaving us no option but to steer hard to stbd. ourselves, gybing all-standing, to avoid
T-boning him. We then gybed again to miss a moored boat. (We sail a heavy displacement 38 footer)
The skipper’s reaction was only to repeatedly bellow “Port to port!”
As an experienced cruising yachtsman for more than thirty years, as well as being an MCA licensed boatmaster working for many years on the river, I have never witnessed behaviour quite this bad - especially with such a large vessel involved.
As mentioned, I make no apology for naming this vessel and seriously urge caution from anyone sailing in its vicinity as the owner/skipper is dangerously incompetent, completely ignorant of the Col-Regs & is quite possibly deranged.
If anybody knows this person please, for everyone’s safety (and fewer spoiled days) urge him either to seek some training or to just take up golf instead of boating.
 
Risking starting a colreg debate, but would rule 9a (narrow channels) be applicable in this situation?


I guess it depends if a river is a “narrow channel”. Not sure about this, the colreg does not give a definition of a “narrow channel”
 
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just wonder if there are some out of practice people about. Last week I got a bollocking from a port vessel for standing on whilst I was on starboard ;-) and today I got a shouting at cos I was motor sailing out of Harwich, boat crossing was sailing, I thought he'd pass in front but as I started to alter to starboard anyway to pass behind to be sure.. he bore away a bit to pass behind me leaving me no option but to straighten up and bung the foot down to avoid the classic two men in a doorway scenario.
 
Gitane said:
Risking starting a colreg debate, but would rule 9a (narrow channels) be applicable in this situation?


I guess it depends if a river is a “narrow channel”. Not sure about this, the colreg does not give a definition of a “narrow channel”
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I work professionally on the water & always try to make allowances for people who are less experienced/practiced. This was something else entirely. Rule 9a - very familiar with sailors’ lack of understanding of that one - it certainly had no relevance there. My main concern is that someone with so little skill, knowledge or simple common sense + such an awful attitude should be in control of such a large & powerful vessel.
 
Frayed Knot said:
I work professionally on the water & always try to make allowances for people who are less experienced/practiced. This was something else entirely. Rule 9a - very familiar with sailors’ lack of understanding of that one - it certainly had no relevance there. My main concern is that someone with so little skill, knowledge or simple common sense + such an awful attitude should be in control of such a large & powerful vessel.
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40ft is a "starter boat" these days
 
Might say, though, I have been out with Skippers who believe that the vessels approaching each other should alter both course and speed to pass each other in a certain way, when there is lots of clear water around us, even some shouting out that the other vessel is on the wrong side of the river {:-(#

Cripes whatever happened to keeping close in on a bend to minimise the current and possibly getting the benefit of a 'back eddy' cripes bloody 'text book skippers'
 
I always try to pass port to port but if under sail this is not always easy / possible. if he was under power and you were under sail then it’s a no brained isn’t it?
we all make mistakes but the attitude stinks.
 
Once upon a time, we were in my 'starter' boat, a 25ft clinker centrerboarder. We were sailing down from Pin Mill with the wind nicely behind. Full sail up, don't need the centre board down running, do you? A nice 35-40ft sailing posh new boat is motoring up on our starboard, out of the way, behaving nicely as we bore down the channel. and then there is a huge gust of tailwind, no a HUGE gust of tailwind. The main takes control of everything - rudder, keel, me, crew. We do a perfect 90 degree turn to starboard right in front of the nice posh boat completely out of control with my tiller heaved right over under my chin. Oh well. Fortunately the posh boat were very alert. I apologised but I think they knew I was out of control. I learnt to put the board down. When that happened again we had control; we laid over and scooped up half a cockpit of water but we didn't turn 90 degrees.

By the way I am not sugggesting by my tale that the OP was in any fault.
 
I’m not sure golf is a suitable hobby for a deranged nutter, you can do a lot of damage with a set of clubs!
 
It should surely be a matter of common sense that a boat sailing should be given room by a boat motoring to follow its natural course, whether constrained by the need to make its best course to windward or to avoid a gybe etc. As someone who is sometimes under sail and sometimes under power, I like to think that I observe this. The collision rules are irrelevant in all except close situations here, providing each boat's actions are clear, something that was clearly lacking by the miscreant in the account given.

There are times, unfortunately, when no amount of sticking to the rules can protect you from the unpredictability of some of the human race. We were returning from a three month cruise without mishap and were approaching Stone Point under power with a motor boat coming the other way. I edged a little to starboard and the other boat moved a little the same way. I edged over a bit more and he did the same. Before going on the mud I was able to bring my boat to a crash stop as he went past close to my port side shouting abuse.
 
Which reminds me once. We were motoring up just before Maldon Quay, on the starboard side and a small motor boat with loads of space to our Port coming the other way. As we passed an oldish chap hollered 'We've got to be on the Port side'. ?. Frankly there was ample room whether we went sideways.

Actually I think I need to put up a Ball, Diamond, Ball up but I need a bigger mast. I suspect a few peeps thought I was odd on Tuesday - mind you I am odd on any day of the week. ?

Sorry OP I am in danger of levity - how come we don't have an embarassed face/thingy.
 
tillergirl said:
Which reminds me once. We were motoring up just before Maldon Quay, on the starboard side and a small motor boat with loads of space to our Port coming the other way. As we passed an oldish chap hollered 'We've got to be on the Port side'. ?. Frankly there was ample room whether we went sideways.

Actually I think I need to put up a Ball, Diamond, Ball up but I need a bigger mast. I suspect a few peeps thought I was odd on Tuesday - mind you I am odd on any day of the week. ?

Sorry OP I am in danger of levity - how come we don't have an embarassed face/thingy.
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You’re forgiven - levity is good!
Thanks to all for your comments. I have to confess I found myself surprisingly rattled yesterday & felt a need to get it off my chest, so to speak. Today’s a new day ☺
 
Gitane said:
Did find the following on the Inland Waterways Association website.




The Collision Regulations (COLREGS)

But, perhaps this applies to motor vessels only, so I am not sure.
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I have sailed motor free on on the Broards, its a real laugh going upwind. Plenty of clueless folk motoring every which way but the rule is very simple. All none commercial motor traffic gives way to sail. When sailing upwind it is essential that you almost ignore all motor yachts, treat them as an extension to the riverbank and tack short, but only as short as you HAVE to.

The problem is that some of the motor boats will zig zag and try to get down either side. You must ignore them when they do this, it is the ultimate game of chicken! but they are fairly soft if you do hit them.

I don't know how these rules translate to other rivers.
 
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