Butch Helm Disease?

beancounter

beancounter

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Just catching up with S'butt after a few day's absence, and was wondering what the posters to the threads on boatmanship and tacking up channels would make of the following.

The Sunday before last we were motoring into the Hamble at about 4pm, after a great day's sailing. Not being a regular down there, I found the sheer volume of craft heading up river to be a little daunting. In amongst all this, we were overtaken by a boat under full sail. He had boats close-ish on both his port and starboard sides, and ahead and astern. The tide was behind him, with the wind coming from aft of the beam.

The friend I was sailing with remarked that the other boat was taking a bit of a chance, as should evasive action be needed, it would be difficult for him to slow down quickly amongst the press of craft. To my (less experienced) eye, it certainly looked as if the skipper was being a tad gung-ho, and that if there were any sudden manouevres required, a bit of gel-coat swapping would be the result.

Were we a bit negative/over cautious in our assessment?

John

<hr width=100% size=1>Fabricati Diem, punc
 
More info please

I have a theory, and I'd be grateful for your confirmation from the Hamble experience, that those such as the helmsman you witnessed, can only steer a boat when standing up and with their feet planted well apart.

I suspect the cause is that their balls are far too big.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
Re: More info please

how do such people cope with a tiller, i wunner? ......

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Re: More info please

blokey on helm was sitting down, looking very nonchalant. I wish I could remember what colour the ensign was......

<hr width=100% size=1>Fabricati Diem, punc
 
Were you being overcautious? Probably not, but as someone who sails almost everywhere because I don't trust the engine as much as I trust the sails, and it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, I am loathe to criticise someone for sailing a sailing boat when others are motoring. Too much sail up, and going too fast is just as inconsiderate as no sail up, and going too fast, but you do see the latter more often than the former.

I have motored up the Hamble before, and with a top speed under power of 3.5 knots and a low freeboard it can be a bit worrying. Better to keep some sail up and keep up with the Mobos and Moodys, than to be run down from behind.


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There are some sailing boat drivers who dont realise that if they overtake another boat, then even if they are sailing and the boat they are overtaking is a mobo, the right of way is with the boat being overtaken.

The biggest drawback of sailing up a narrow channel like this is visibility. Modern genoas are so low cut that they cut out a great area of visibility ahead of you, so unless they have stationed a lookout, they are blind in that area - not a great idea in a tight congested channel.

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I went to a talk given by the Hamble Harbour Master a couple of years ago and just such a question was asked of him. His response was that the Hamble River Byelaws include a requirement that (and I quote) "upstream of the Harbour Master's Office, if your vessel has an engine, you must use it". His point was just as has been well articulated in this thread, that the risk of a vessel manoeuvering in a crowded channel without engine power causes an unnecessary and avoidable hazard.

Having said all that, I've never seen it published anywhere. He definitely was the Harbour Master though, he had a badge on his Blazer.

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I thought the rule was "No spinnakers above Warsash/HM's Office"? Or perhaps he meant that if you had an engine you'd be wise to use it (I certainly don't disagree with that, particularly at 4.00pm on a Sunday afternoon with a brisk breeze) /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho
 
Interesting thread. Had an unpleasant experience once losing my engine in the Solent on a Saturday lunchtime and with a pretty stiff NW wind blowing. Decided to try for Cowes Y Haven - the boat I was sailing wouldnt have made it up wind into any of the marinas I could see in the almanac (I'm not a Solent native). Trouble was I found myself running downwind accompanied by hordes or other boats, particulary power boats, but with me the only one under sail and with no ability to quickly slow down. several times I found myself overtaling power boats that had suddenly slowed for some reason, and at other times being passed by everyone in sight. Eventually made it onto the pontoon under sail but I certainly needed the G@T afterwards.

Cowes YH were very helpful, and didnt even charge any extra for a multi.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
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