Bl**dy Dinghy racers

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simon_m

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Last weekend was minding my own business ambling down the river past Mylor, Falmouth at the advised 8 knots to see a mass of little sailing boats racing round in circles, across the width of the river virtually. So slowly I make my way round them, to have them come at me in all directions, most of them without looking where they were going. At one stage I had to do a 180 degree turn to avoid 3 of them. I then skirt round the outside edge, and the only way I could get past was to increase speed and dodge between them. I had similar problems last year with much bigger ( 30ft+) yachts on the Falmouth-Flushing section of the river, they were tacking in all directions across the width of the river, short of turning round and going home it was very tricky to avoid a collision, coz these boys were racing, and weren't going to stop for anyone.

I guess the big fishing boats just steam ahead regardless. I appreciate everyone has a right to use the water, but I can't believe that the local regs allow racing like this, in a busy channel - but I'm told they do, and we have to give way. How do you guys handle this ?

Simon

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if you think thats bad in the solent they just point at their racing pennant and carry on regardless, they appear to think that with their pennant up the racing rules apply and the colregs don't........keith

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With 13 tons of wood,i have no prob's, just go strait on. i let them get out the way.

<hr width=100% size=1>rich :-)) <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jersey-harbours.com>http://www.jersey-harbours.com</A>
 
I get the same at Porthmadog, with a narrow channel at the harbour exit. They're a damn nuisance!

There is a rule that deals with this (rule 19, I think)...when navigating a narrow channel, you have right of way and no other vessel may pass under your bows. All vessels must give way to you.

There are no exceptions to this rule.


<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
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The pragmatic approach surely is to maintain a course at the edge of the channel at slow speed and for them to tack around you. This is what we used to do on the Norfolk Broads at any rate when confronted by 20 dinghy's tacking across a 40ft river! No chance of weaving in and out of them. Also as a ex dinghy racer when in my spotty yoof there was sometimes opportunity to use the presence of a motor cruiser to your advantage and claw a couple of places up the fleet!

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Well, I do what I can, but with sand banks and trots on one side and a harbour wall and submerged rocks on the other, I'm a bit stuck. I wouldn't mind, and I really am accomodating but the race officials hurl abuse at me from the harbour wall where they stand marshalling the event. This really gets my goat!!

It really is the very worst of sailing - the real yachtsmen don't behave like this. Maybe...dinghies are to sailing what jet skis are to power :)

(...oops, I've done it now!)

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
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Over the years I've developed a method of dealing with this problem which usually works. I motor at a steady speed down the side of the channel. Most of the dinghies tack around the boat. When one of the more belligerent types gets upset I appologise profusely. If they are really determined to insist on their "right of way" then they are more than welcome to test the strength of their lightweight vessel against my 10 tons of steel.

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Thats absolutely it. If you try and slalom through 'em all its bound to end in tears. Maintain a steady course and speed and remain calm and polite and at the end of the day self preservation should prevent them from bashing their dinghy against your 10 tons of steel!
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I hope you'll not mind the odd comment from a non-MoBo person but its a bit quiet on the other forums and its always nice to find a thread where raggies and stinkies are in total agreement. They really can be buggers to deal with. What makes it worse for me is (a) I can't move fast enough to get out of the way and (b) even if I clearly have right of way I usually have to take avoiding action anyway (rule 1).

A friend of mine is into hyper performance dinghies (International 14), which are banned from racing in Chichester harbour, and from his comments I would keep as clear of them as possible. They do up to 20 knots in a F4-5, are unsteerable better than +/- 45 degrees of their course in those winds and are equipped with an 8' carbon fibre pole sticking out the front at waterline height. Its probably alright for you steel-hulled chaps but that would go through my grp boat and out the other side! Makes the average Jetski seem positively benign.

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As a dinghy sailer, I endorse the view that it a motor vessel was travelling down the side channel then it is clear to all the passage being taken and then of course the motor vessel has the reason that they cannot move as they are restricted by room / draft etc etc.

.



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Yes.. works for me too, never make eye contact, and pretend your not paying attention, they usualy chicken out first. Give way to one and they'll all have you.

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I find emptying the holding tank as you are moving through them makes the swerving easier to bear......

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This thread has eased my mind considerably, I thought I was the only one who seems to get caught up amongst these guys!

I had an incident in Burnham a few weeks ago, big wind-over-tide rip, and trying to negotiate my way through the fairway. Inevitably the race came my way (stretching the whole width of the river and about 1/4 mile along it) I was trying my best to be considerate by giving way to the a dingy coming accross my bow (no thanks from crew, and not looking anyway) only to have a HUGE amount of verbal abuse from 2 other dingies actually going faster than me, and approaching from behind. How could I possibly stay out of everyones way in this situation given the conditions, and trying to stay in a narrow fairway? Surely I have just as much right to be there as well- or am I some lesser being for having propellers?!!

I have been met with this kind of abuse in both my boat and my fathers sailing boat in the past.

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