Close Encounters

Is the OP prepared to offer us any more detail of the actual incident? He clearly didn't get run down so following on from one of the comments made earlier regarding different perceptions and interpretations I was wondering just how close it had to be for them to consider it a "close encounter"?
 
Praxinoscope said:
RichardS

Better go to Specsavers!
Click to expand...

They're not going to be able to help me I'm afraid ..... because no matter how much I peer through the Med heat haze I'm never, ever going to see that 100 foot power cruiser bearing down on me at 20 knots on a direct collision course from 10 miles away. ;)

On the other hand, my AIS tells me everything I need to know.

Richard
 
RichardS
Sorry not everything, minimum required size of vessel to transmit AIS is 300GT or over, that leaves a lot of crazy fishing boats zooming around without AIS. I remember sailing off the Finistere Lighthouse in limited visibility when a local fishing boat came whizzing over our bow at about 15 knots, and disappearing in the mist, absolutely no signal on our AIS..
We heard him coming but couldn’t pinpoint his course.
 
Last edited:
Praxinoscope said:
RichardS
Sorry not everything, minimum required size of vessel to transmit AIS is 300GT or over, that leaves a lot of crazy fishing boats zooming around without AIS. I remember sailing off the Finistere Lighthouse in limited visibility when a local fishing boat came whizzing over our bow at about 15 knots, and disappearing in the mist, absolutely no signal on our AIS..
We heard him coming but couldn’t pinpoint his course.
Click to expand...

"Everything I need to know" about that particular impending encounter.

My post #48 covers the rest. :)

Fishing boats do usually have their AIS turned off or don't have it ..... but they are not doing 20 knots (I've never seen one at anything like 15 knots :confused:) so one can afford to be a bit more up close and personal .... as long as you avoid the nets. :ambivalence:

Richard
 
alahol2 said:
Just for information there have been a few NTMs over the last few months relating to hovercraft operating from the slip at Lee-on-the-Solent. I assume they are historic craft from the hovercraft museum.
Saw one passing Titchfield Haven on Saturday about 1300Hrs(?).
Click to expand...
It is an occasional service to Ryde. I think on various Saturdays
 
Triassic said:
Is the OP prepared to offer us any more detail of the actual incident? He clearly didn't get run down so following on from one of the comments made earlier regarding different perceptions and interpretations I was wondering just how close it had to be for them to consider it a "close encounter"?
Click to expand...

I would suspect a 'close encounter' with a hovercraft is unlikely to be danger of actual collision, more a matter of getting a lot of draught from propellors and soaked by spray.
 
RichardS said:
They're not going to be able to help me I'm afraid ..... because no matter how much I peer through the Med heat haze I'm never, ever going to see that 100 foot power cruiser bearing down on me at 20 knots on a direct collision course from 10 miles away. ;)

On the other hand, my AIS tells me everything I need to know.

Richard
Click to expand...

And there's the difference. Collision avoidance in the solent is not done at anything approaching 10 miles distance. Mostly because nothing ever goes 10 miles in a straight line in the Solent. Or 5. Or probably 2. Principally because it would have run aground before it did. Or it's had to dodge about 20 other boats...
AIS is amazing for open waters. It's just a distraction in the Solent in good vis.
 
flaming said:
And there's the difference. Collision avoidance in the solent is not done at anything approaching 10 miles distance. Mostly because nothing ever goes 10 miles in a straight line in the Solent. Or 5. Or probably 2. Principally because it would have run aground before it did. Or it's had to dodge about 20 other boats...
AIS is amazing for open waters. It's just a distraction in the Solent in good vis.
Click to expand...

Agree and its the same in so many parts of the world. Nothing will beat keeping a good lookout. :encouragement:
 
sailor211 said:
It is an occasional service to Ryde. I think on various Saturdays
Click to expand...

Then it was trying to make its passengers ill as it was spinning circles near E Bramble - had plenty of time to watch whilst trying (and failing) to sail upwind to 4W I think it was, the Bramble stake kept getting closer :eek: (congrats Flaming - pity about Sunday)
 
Last edited:
flaming said:
If people are genuinely using AIS as their primary collision avoidance tool in the Solent in good weather and clear visibility.....

I'm scared.
Click to expand...

Totally agree :)
I was making a general point about how wonderful AIS is.
We weren’t informed about the clear visibility until post 36.
The other two close call incidents mentioned in the thread were at night time I think.
 
Last edited:
Giblets said:
Judging by the number of boaters who can't even pass the correct side of two gert big red piles in a certain south coast harbour even though there are signs with arrows on said piles instructing the correct side to pass you probably have very good reason to be scared! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

This is true. I never assume anyone's going to go the right side of it, though I suspect charter boats are probably the worst offenders, while foreign boats rarely seem to get it wrong, presumably because they do a bit of research before leaving. It's a source of some amusement to watch the harbour patrol stopping miscreants. I do hope they can fine them.
 
Steve, the foreign boats must do a lot of reading in harbour as they don't do too much before they get there as they seem to favour the eastern side of the main channel for entry.
 
have you tried to out manouver a hovercraft doing 40kts when you are doing 3. makes for an intestering exercise in applied geometry
 
Triassic said:
Is the OP prepared to offer us any more detail of the actual incident? He clearly didn't get run down so following on from one of the comments made earlier regarding different perceptions and interpretations I was wondering just how close it had to be for them to consider it a "close encounter"?
Click to expand...

I posted an appeal for witnesses. Anyone who saw the incident would have had no doubt about how close it was. Anyone who didn't isn't actually responding to the post.
 
Topcat47 said:
I posted an appeal for witnesses. Anyone who saw the incident would have had no doubt about how close it was. Anyone who didn't isn't actually responding to the post.
Click to expand...

Sounds like appallingly bad seamanship. I do hope the MCA take it seriously as I've heard (very anecdotally to be fair) that they shelve most complaints for one reason or another.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top