Close shave today

Micky

Micky

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Just 3" from taking the side out of a yacht today that cut across our bow.
Had to swing very hard to starboard to prevent sinking the idiot who came up on the blind side of me tacking across the channel in our local river and all he could do was smile like a Pr..t.
Do we want pea brained [--word removed--] like this in control of boats/yachts putting peoples lives at risk.
 
Details.
What tack were you on? Who was under power? Having read all the threads on collision regs, I don't many people have a firm grasp of the rules.
 
I was under power, doing about 4knts on my side of the Chanel, IF i had seen him i would have taken earlier action.

However, Yacht stormed in from nowhere on my starboard side from which visibility is partly blocked from my mast and cockpit screen, impossible to see anyone from a certain angle, also i have no view of anything coming up at the stern of me without jumping up and peeping over the aft cabin every few minutes. Never know what or who is going to pass next. Luckily no-one was close behind at the time.

No doubt this guy could see me OK, but carried on regardless of a possible collision.
 
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However,Yacht stormed in from nowhere on my starboard side

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So who is the pratt? Not keeping a lookout, or is this a wind up!
I hope you know it was up to you to keep out of his way /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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my starboard side from which visibility is partly blocked from my mast and cockpit screen,

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Micky
I suggest you find some way to improve your vis from that side as in most cases (not all) your the give way vessel and anyone approaching you may well reasonably expect you to carryout some avoiding action.
 
Micky,

Regardless of what the other vessel did or did not do, you were not, by your own admission, complying with IRPCS Rule 5: " <font color="blue">Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight as well as by hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision</font> "

It would be wise to temper your criticism of the other vessel with your own infringment in mind /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Tony
 
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Micky
I suggest you find some way to improve your vis from that side as in most cases (not all) your the give way vessel and anyone approaching you may well reasonably expect you to carryout some avoiding action.
..........................................................................................

I agree.
I will and do give way if i can see the need to do so. However, i did not build the boat, the blind spots are there and can-not be improved on. It's not possible to see at every angle, or to leave the helm every few seconds.

I do not agree that someone should take for granted that another boat will give way, even if it is the give away boat, everyone should be prepared to take and make a move to prevent a collision and not just assume because the rules say so, it must be done.
Quite often the sun reflecting on the water can make visability very limited.
 
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Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight as well as by hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision


Cheers Tony.
Does this mean we people that are deft can-not have a boat??
Isn't that discriminating the disabled.
 
Does this mean we people that are deft can-not have a boat??

No, but it does mean that if you are deaf and do not hear sound signals (or have someone on board to hear them for you) which leads to a collision causing injury or severe damage, then you can expect to be reprimanded or charged (perhaps even if one was the stand on vessel).

A similar case I know of involving a pleasure vessel that was run down (and one of its crew lost), the helmsman of the pleasure vessel was not wearing their prescribed spectacles and was found culpable for not doing so as they could not maintain a proper watch.

From what you describe of your incident, I suspect if there had of been a collision you would be on very thin ice. You would almost certainly be expected to carry a watchperson to cover those areas that you could not see yourself.

John
 
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I was under power, doing about 4knts on my side of the Chanel, IF i had seen him i would have taken earlier action.

However, Yacht stormed in from nowhere on my starboard side from which visibility is partly blocked from my mast and cockpit screen, impossible to see anyone from a certain angle, also i have no view of anything coming up at the stern of me without jumping up and peeping over the aft cabin every few minutes. Never know what or who is going to pass next. Luckily no-one was close behind at the time.

No doubt this guy could see me OK, but carried on regardless of a possible collision.

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dangerz.gif
 
I would suggest that all would be sailors/watchkeepers read the above correspondances. They are a serious reminder that, especially at sea, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing when compounded by obdurate stupidity.
 
Disability and sailing

Political correctness doesn't apply at sea. You can't qualify as a ship's officer unless you are capable of keeping watch. That for example requires vision, including colour.

A person with relevant disabilities can of course still own a boat but will need to have someone else on watch.

Now a question: if I am sailing on port tack and my view to leeward is obscured by the genoa, does that mean that starboard tack boats crossing from my lee side must keep clear of me?
 
Re: Disability and sailing

in fact if it avoids a collision - yes it does ...... but we are on the merry go round again

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Just two questions Micky: how was the yacht supposed to know that you have a 'blind side' and could not see him coming, and what did you expect him to do about it, as the stand on vessel?

From what you describe, your boat would be regarded as unsafe by MRSA, DOT or H&S Inspectorates, and consequently ANY insurance claim by or against you could and almost certainly would be refused by your insurers, regardless of blame.

Lack of clear all round visiblity from the steering position was quoted as one of the main factors in the Marchioness tragedy - the skipper could not see the ship coming up astern of him from the steering position, and started his turn, putting Marchioness firmly across the its bows. The finding still went against the skipper (who was lost in the accident), even though it was the design of the boat that caused the accident.

If you do not take steps to correct this problem - modify the steering position or carry watch keepers to cover the blind areas - you will be held at fault, because you already know there is a dangerous problem with your boat.
 
Surely if he came in on your Starboard side he was stand on vessel and expecting you to give way!!!!!!!! The problem with the colregs. is that they assume everyone understands them......obviouslly not.

Paul.
 
the yacht skipper was stupid to get so close ,it should have been obvious before then that you were not going to give way.

All accidents between moving vessels are caused by 2 skippers failing to some degree.I would put 60%of the blame on you had there been a collision.Others may disagree with the percentages but I think you should accept that you were negligent steaming along in a busy channel without checking in your blindspot.

Sorry if its not the reply you were hoping for.
 
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