COLREGS and common sense

[[70521]]

We were arriving at Roscoff on board the MV Armorique, 29,500 gross tonnes, a couple of Fridays ago. We sat quietly outside the harbour while MV Pont-Aven exited the berth then headed in.

I am always fascinated on how these big ships manoeuvre and was sat looking out over the bow, the family a tad surprised at my language as I watched a 36 foot, estimate 6 gross tonnes, sailing vessel (with a red duster) starting to cross the Armorique's path some 200 meters from the harbour entrance. While both vessels were motoring under power and Armorique was on the sailing vessel's port side I am not quite sure if the skipper was aware were were there or understood how long it takes to stop 29,500 tonnes of ship? Five blasts on the horn certainly woke most of Roscoff up and the helm of the sailing boat did a rather rapid 180 degree turn.

Are berths at Roscoff Marina that scarce that a skipper is happy to play chicken with a Cross Channel ferry?

 

[Biggles Wader]

I doubt that incident has anything to do with colregs or common sense. Surely there must be local harbour regulations at Roscoff which cover the space 200m off the entrance?

 

[lw395]

I doubt that incident has anything to do with colregs or common sense. Surely there must be local harbour regulations at Roscoff which cover the space 200m off the entrance?

Indeed.
It's probably a case of simply failing to realise the ferry had started moving, followed by a short period of not looking in that direction.
Somebody made a mistake, nobody died, move on.

 

[DJE]

Plenty of berths in Roscoff when I was there last month. Also harbour signals to prohibit yachts entering or leaving when ferries are moving. Oh and a very responsive crew on the vhf to direct yachts, and a schedule of ferry movements prominently displayed around the marina. Not much excuse for the yacht being there IMHO.

 

[Seajet]

You don't need a degree in Colregs to know not to go in front of a ruddy great high speed lorry while riding a spacehopper !

 

[zoidberg]

'Les fous Anglaises...'

 

[Kukri]

WAFI
Wind
Assisted
Fxcxing
Idiot

Is the term used in wheelhouses around the world.

 

[Tomahawk]

As opposed to a PAFI

 

[Seajet]

It's also a matter of consideration - I was crew on a 280 ton barge in France which steered like a tea trolley on ice, selecting astern gear just kicked the stern sideways with prop throw and did nothing to slow the thing - I'm always amazed any big ship makes tight spaces around channels and docks, the least I as a recreational sailor can do is not make their job harder.

 

[Daydream believer]

Whenever I have been to Roscoff I have been met outside by the harbour master in a launch. Of course one has to advise of approach first. I have then been told when it was safe to enter. In most cases I have been shown the way to a berth. All extremely civilised & friendly. I am not sure what happens after normal duty hours though.
On departure there are signals to say when one can leave.

 

[[70521]]

The yacht was heading east and was on the seaward side of the ferry port. Given the big ship movements I was surprised that all the crew did not have their eyes peeled.

We are based in Plymouth and whenever we are in the sound are always checking for shipping movements and that is with the daily email from the Queen's Harbourmaster so we are aware of what should be moveing. They tend not to publish submarine movements, but the men in black ask you very nicely to move away.

 

[dom]

The yacht was heading east and was on the seaward side of the ferry port. Given the big ship movements I was surprised that all the crew did not have their eyes peeled.

It's important to keep these things in perspective; five toots and all is usually well. Or a friendly VHF 'intentions clarification' call, as a big Danish ship made to a Volvo 60 yacht last w/e which was playing near the Brambles Bank.

WAFI labeling seems a bit over the top for something like this.

 

[RichardS]

It's important to keep these things in perspective; five toots and all is usually well. Or a friendly VHF 'intentions clarification' call, as a big Danish ship made to a Volvo 60 yacht last w/e which was playing near the Brambles Bank.

WAFI labeling seems a bit over the top for something like this.

Indeed so. Any sailor who has never received 5 blasts from a big 'un has never really pushed the envelope.

Richard

 

[Elessar]

Indeed so. Any sailor who has never received 5 blasts from a big 'un has never really pushed the envelope.

Richard

Or given 5 blasts to them.

They're not always right......

(though there seems no debate about that in the OP)

 

[chriss999]

Taking about playing chicken with ferries reminds me of something I saw.

I was on a ferry leaving Santander some years ago, and noticed a fleet of about 50 windsurfers ahead and to port of us. As the ferry moved down the channel, suddenly the windsurfers headed at speed across our bow. 49 passed ahead of us, some quite close. But one poor sod couldn’t make it and he bore away sharply to avoid the ferry, then passed astern to join the others. I bet he received a lot of stick for that.

No sound signals from the bridge, but I bet they were cursing.

 

[Stemar]

I've never given 5 blasts - the only time I should have done, I was a bit like a rabbit in the headlights of a Challenge boat - I couldn't believe he wasn't going to alter course - until it was too late, then I was too busy missing the bastard, but I once gave 5 flashes on a big torch to a cross channel ferry off the Isle of Wight hoping to avoid emulating the Ouzo. I don't know if it reacted or just made a routine change of course, but it turned shortly after.

 

[Elessar]

I've never given 5 blasts - the only time I should have done, I was a bit like a rabbit in the headlights of a Challenge boat - I couldn't believe he wasn't going to alter course - until it was too late, then I was too busy missing the bastard, but I once gave 5 flashes on a big torch to a cross channel ferry off the Isle of Wight hoping to avoid emulating the Ouzo. I don't know if it reacted or just made a routine change of course, but it turned shortly after.

Doubt very much if it was a coincidence. 5 flashes across the wheelhouse absolutely the correct thing to do IMO and got the correct response in all probability. A good skipper would have wanted to show you he'd seen you.

I gave 5 blasts to the redjet just last week entering cowes. He was using 5 blasts as a "get out of my way" and as I was behaving properly and not at all ambiguously (just going slower than he wanted) I refused to be bullied by him. My response was a proper "I am unsure of your intentions".

 

[dom]

I once gave 5 flashes on a big torch to a cross channel ferry off the Isle of Wight hoping to avoid emulating the Ouzo. I don't know if it reacted or just made a routine change of course, but it turned shortly after.

It wasn't per chance at the West Princess Cardinal marker off Foreland? The ferries sometimes use this inner route and seem to regard it very much as their priority channel.

 

[[70521]]

Taking about playing chicken with ferries reminds me of something I saw.

I was on a ferry leaving Santander some years ago, and noticed a fleet of about 50 windsurfers ahead and to port of us. As the ferry moved down the channel, suddenly the windsurfers headed at speed across our bow. 49 passed ahead of us, some quite close. But one poor sod couldn’t make it and he bore away sharply to avoid the ferry, then passed astern to join the others. I bet he received a lot of stick for that.

No sound signals from the bridge, but I bet they were cursing.

Chris we are both in Devon, have you ever sailed into the Exe with the kite surfers playing? My greatest fear was on of them being impaled on a mast or bowsprit!

 

[chriss999]

Chris we are both in Devon, have you ever sailed into the Exe with the kite surfers playing? My greatest fear was on of them being impaled on a mast or bowsprit!

Yes I do that!
It is quite an amazing experience to see them flying past to left and right. Like rainbow-coloured angels! I love it.
How do you handle it?
If under sail I just assume that they know what they are doing and I steer a straight course & hope for the best. Last trip one came off the plane 25 yards ahead of me but I was able to steer round him (to windward seemed sensible).