Ferry nearly mows down yacht - whose fault?

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Story HERE. I guess this is the Yarmouth - Lymington ferry. From the pics, it doesn't look to me as if the ferry is in the Lymington river and constrained by draft or otherwise restricted in it's ability to manouvre and nor does it seem to be exhibiting the necessary shapes to confirm this. So why did the ferry captain seem to think he had right of way or am I missing something here?
 
As Richard correctly pointed out it is the S'oton Cowes ferry...

I am an ex raggie and owed and raced a J24 for a few years...so I know the bloody mindedness of priorities of sail to motor but this guy must have wanted to commit suicide. Utterly ridiculous! Hopefully the ferry captain got the boats name and sail number. As I understand it he must report it as an incident which will be investigated...

...mind you I also find it bloody daft the people who tack down the river Hamble on a busy Saturday, some of the small day sailors certain got me in a sweat entering on Saturday, especially when they seems to work in pairs tacking across your bow from different angles so you don't quite know whether to go forwards, stop or turn.? But before anyone says anything, yes they are perfectly entitled to do so....still doesn't make it safe IMHO!

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
As a raggie I agree entirely Firefly.... sometimes, hanging on to your sails for as long as possible just isn't sensible, or even fair....

The consensus on Scuttlebut, is that the yacht involved, while technically in the correct, until the last minute when he should have taken avoiding action, was actually completely and utterly bonkers......
 
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I'll second that

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That's a bit out of order, 'cos you proposed the original motion on S'butt /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Mind you, I agree - he was either seeking candidature for the Darwin Awards, or he was stoned out of his crust.

Erm; pure speculation on my part, allegedly, etc..............
 
Just a pratical thought (I'll leave Colregs to others!) but does anybody know exactly how close the ferry & the yottie actually came? Is there not a possibility that we have photographic fore-shortening of an incident tied in with a certain amount of journalistic dramatics?
 
Still looked pretty close to me, even allowing for the foreshortening effect of the camera, though I doubt it would be on the news pages if someone hadn't taken the pix. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The ferry captain could obviously see the situation developing, because he issued warning blasts and, by the sound of it, finally had to slam everything into reverse. The pix are cropped in quite close on the action so you can't see - for example - if Calshot Spit was lurking, just out of shot. Or, indeed, a fleet of racing X Boats .......... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
perhaps.... ???? but not sure looking at this picture, there really doesn't seem a lot of space between sail and ferry!!!
Although the picture is taken at the worst angle to really judge the distance!
REDFUNNELCLOSEUP.jpg
 
"stoned out of his crust. "

An unfortunate choice of words I think???.............







Just bloody watch it you! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
You know what Hadyn??





I don't often agree with you, (just on principal you understand), but there is a lot of merit in that suggestion, 18 feet LOA or under, keep out the perishing way, end of!

That'll larn 'em! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just by way of reciprication, all mobos to stay out of the way of everything, and to travel at no more that 7 knots at all times!

I'll be going then! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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18 feet LOA or under,

[/ QUOTE ] Is that with or without bowsprit? Mines retractable and I think I might just pop over your limit .... so GET OUT OF MY WAY .... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Never thought you agreed with anyone normally. Still it's a start. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It's totally ridiculous, that everyone's supposed to get out of the way, of ten year olds sailing round in circles.
 
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Just by way of reciprication, all mobos to stay out of the way of everything, and to travel at no more that 7 knots at all times!


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...I cause more wash at 7 knots than I do at 20 knots.... but I do slow down for raggies and give them a wide berth... unless they are under 18ft and tacking across my bows!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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Never thought you agreed with anyone normally. Still it's a start. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It's totally ridiculous, that everyone's supposed to get out of the way, of ten year olds sailing round in circles.

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Ah well see now, I have to confess to having a foot in both camps, but I think I have said that before on here.

If I have my saily boat hat on, then I can't agree with anything you say, but if I have my mobo hat on then whatever you say is ok by me!


It's all very, very, confusing /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif


/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
but back to Mike's point..
The article suggests the ferry gave more than one set of 5 blasts (assuming that was indeed the signal and not 1 or 2 ?). That then suggests the ferry also had plenty of time to make a course alteration to pass behind the sailing boat.
So why didnt he?
 
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[ QUOTE ]
Just by way of reciprication, all mobos to stay out of the way of everything, and to travel at no more that 7 knots at all times!


[/ QUOTE ]


...I cause more wash at 7 knots than I do at 20 knots.... but I do slow down for raggies and give them a wide berth... unless they are under 18ft and tacking across my bows!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite right to, damn the little blighters....Wot-Wot! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Over the last 55 years of playing about on the water I have been on every side of this argument from being the stupid and inexperienced dinghy sailor through to Captain and eventually Pilot standing on the bridge amazed at the pointless risking of life and his/her expensive craft by some buffoon more intent on proving some point regarding his perception of the Colregs or earning a few points in the latest racing series.

Nowadays I still observe the Colregs but with the proviso that life is too short to bother about close quarter situations and so keep clear of everyone.

At the end of the day, whatever the rights or wrongs of the case, it is small consolation knowing, as you are run down, that you believe yourself to be in the right.

Whatever happened to common sense and the instinct for self-preservation ?

Tom
 
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