Chaos in Cowes

[BrendanS]

I wouldn't have hated you at all. Despite many people who will contradict me I'm just as happy poddling along at a few knots as doing 40+ ,and if I fancied a need for speed, would have zoomed off for half an hour and investigated some of the coastline, bays and coves.

If you fancy taking a longer trip and want some company, you have my mobile number.

It's not always as bad as you saw this weekend, probably something to do with bank holiday owners being out and about.

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[steve_cronin]

Well actually.....

I started in the 70s too!!

The "attitude" is down to nothing more that "Yob Culture" IMO.

Steve Cronin

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[Chris_Robb]

Re:Le Palais

Yup - quite the most wonderful entertainment I had for years. We locked in early and got a berth on a finger berth in the Marina. And thank god we did, It really was seriously good entertainment - I would not have liked to have been in it!!!!



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[Guest]

Having witnessed.....

a party of 42 Sunsail boats in Cowes one time - I will make all effort to never ever be around when they mass up like that again ......... the boats were in various states of 'control' and when all berthed and crews showering etc. the general attitude and ignorance had to be seen to be believed ...... waiting to use the marina showers ..... I was repeatedly 'knocked' back in the queue by 'friends' of 'friends' etc.

I have great respect for all boaters ..... whatever size / type of boat / craft - as long as all follow some simple and sensible 'rules' remembering that they are not the only ones who want to enjoy their time on water ......

Anyone remember my post about the Jet Ski and its side-swiping my boat off Cowes ??????


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Mirelle]

Re: Well actually.....

Can I join in? Started in the late 60's, first two boats had no engine and the third had a Stuart Turner...

I think both of you are right.

Modern boats are far more delicate than their predecessors when it comes to bumps and scrapes and their owners have forgotten how to behave decently towards each other.

Going back into the Dawn of Time, when Burnham-on-Crouch was famous as the most crowded anchorage in Britain (let's say 1910-ish) Francis B Cooke states that it was the recognised custom to go sailing with a supply of visiting cards - you dropped one in the cockpit, or through an open porthole, of any boat that you clouted in the course of getting under way or bringing up!

When I burn off Mirelle, every 10 years or so, I can see the mass of dings and scrapes that 60-od years have inflicted on her teak topsides - all perfectly hidden by trowel cement and paint, of course. You cannot do that with a gelcoat.

I enter marinas in a state of near-terror because of the damage that ten tons of teak oak and iron might do to some eggshell-thin modern product - so far, so good!

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[steve_cronin]

When I invented....

...the terms "[ah em!]" (self explanatory), "The [ah em!] Kiss" (Often heard in Port Hamble - the sound of crunching gelcoat on aluminium Walcon pontoon) and suggested that Ch16 be re-named "Radio [ah em!]" I was vilified on these forums as "criticising a company with a mission to encourage new recruits to sailing"

Would anyone care to repeat the charge?

Steve Cronin


Mr Ab Kettleby** seems to have censored my references to SC um SA il by replacing them with "[ah em!]"

Clearly this yachting publication is happy to continue to condone the activities of this organisation although there is clearly a case for labelling them malevolent to the interests of the majority of it's readers.

** Sorry, that's a village in Leicestershire! In the interests of truth and accuracy in journalism I should point out that it should of course have been "Mr Kim Hollomby"
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[Twister_Ken]

Sunsail\'s role in life

I don't doubt for a minute that Sunsail's flotilla operations encourage new recruits into sailing and boat ownership, nor their UK sea schools. But I do wonder whether the whole corporate hospitality aspect of their UK fleets encourages new sailors? From my, limited, observations (I always change course if a Sunsail yacht looks like it might end up in close proximity*) for corporate hospitality, read pissup-at-sea.

*Honourable exception, the two 'France' 12 metres that they sail out of Gunwharf at Portsmouth.

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

 

[AndrewB]

Near terror!

I never realised other owners of heavy yachts felt the same! My one and only collision, 8 years ago, low speed marina manouvring, 50-50 blame, more than proved the point. A bent stanchion and scratched paint for us, crush damage that of course only the yard could fix, so six weeks out of action for them. If you and I had hit at that speed, we would hardly have noticed.

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[iangrant]

the crusie went ok then?

Ian

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[Mirelle]

Re: Near terror!

Neither did I - I feel a lot better now! Locked basin marinas, or those with sills, are safer for us than those in a tideway or even those with a slight chop. Those with high surrounding walls, like Dover, are best of all! Our boats are less affected by wind, but also less quickly affected by helm and throttle movements, and their movement in a slight chop is so much less that a neighbouring boat without a good fender (we carry a monster, and two pretty big ones!) could do herself a damage by mere contact.

In fact, given the very modest sailing I do now, its probably the thing that scares me most, although I nearly made a fool of myself on the Deben bar on Tuesday...

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[BrendanS]

Re: Sunsail\'s role in life

I think you're being a just a tad unfair. It's the majority and minority again.

In the past I've done more than a few corporate charters with Sunsail. My corporate clients were offered the opportunity of a glass or two of wine at lunch. Without exception they declined, preferring the challenge of racing some other Sunsail boats. The skippers were on the whole superb, one guy was awesome, and his knowledge of the Solent and racing was incredible.

Come evening and return to Port Solent, a bottle of beer each was about it.

Personally, it was one of the reasons I bought a boat, and several of my clients also did, some power, some sail.

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[Guest]

Is Sunsail ever going to post ????

I invite Sunsail to answer / comment / dispute / put forward their views etc. etc.

It is common that posts on these forums put SS in a bad light - it is apity that SS do not reply ........... or is it that they know they are subject to bad incidents and choose NOT to rise to the occasion ?????

C'mon show yourselves ..... you cannot tell me that out of all the skippers etc. you have that none read these forums ?????

Now to the questions I have to SS :

a) Are your Skippers advised that other users are entitled to their bit of water as per ColREgs ? and GOOD seamanship ?
b) Are your skippers also advised to consider that some boaties may not so experienced and may not understand intentions ?
c) Are your skippers taught to cut close to others when close hauled and 'racing' ?
d) Are your skippers regularly checked out or only once when first employed ?
e) Do you act on complaints or give it a sort of attention then bin it ?
f) Do you value public image or do you consider that being one of the largest charter companies that you can ride all critisism without too much concern ?
g) Doi you think it correct to take over marinas and facility's to the detriment of other 'private' boaters ??????

Yes these are loaded - leading - biased questions based on my many years of sailing in the Solent and seeing the antics / attitudes of SS skippers and boats .............. funny they seem to go along similar lines to others comments - so maybe they are NOT too wrong ???????

Please Please Answer for all of us ......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

Funny thing happened at Folly Inn ...

Woke up in morning and sorted out to get under way. I don't have a big boat - but being an older heavy lay-up motor sailer - can inflict a reasonable amount of damage to the average Euro-Yot.

Pressed start switch and engine just clicked !!!! Tried anothers battery ..... click click .... starter jammed !!

What to do ? Crew looked at me in horror - I said right up with main, ready to raise genny ..... pass the bow line back doubled to be able to slip, let go springs, let go stern ........ let her blow off with main, hoist genny, slip bow-line ......... sheet in genny to turn bow and we sailed off the pontoons with Sunsail etc. waiting for the crunch which never came ........

We even got the boat back into the home marina without engine ..........



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Is Sunsail ever going to post ????

Nigel,

Before proffering challenges - just how often do you sail in the Solent? I thought you were based abroad most of the time?

Brendan

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[Guest]

Re: Is Sunsail ever going to post ????

Don't tell everyone !!!!

When I get back I spend a lot of time out there, except when I am salvaging my boat !!!!

I don't know why - but I seem to fall foul of SS so much that it seems the Solent was placed there just for them.

Your point is taken and I agree that I am not there all year round - pity as I really miss the Solent etc. But still risk making the challenge ....... I think I may be supported by others in this ?????????????????????????



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !