Flying sheets in Chichester Harbour

Poignard

Poignard

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[ QUOTE ]
3/00 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions
Under Byelaw No. 10, these regulations apply to the harbour and to vessels navigating therein. The maximum fine for contravention is £1000. Because of the considerable traffic in the harbour, mariners are to pay particular attention to:-
a) keeping to the starboard side of the channel
b) reducing speed and if necessary altering course in plenty of time if the giving way vessel;
c) if under power and sail displaying a black cone point down <u>or letting fly sheets.</u>

[/ QUOTE ]

The above is taken from the Chichester Harbour website.

Can someone explain Rule 3c "or letting fly sheets" as a means of indicating that a yacht is motor sailing. The inclusion of "or" suggests this is an acceptable alternative to a cone [something I have yet to see in Chichester Harbour, by the way.]
 
Point one; you have doctored the quote; it is neither underlined nor emboldened on the website. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

However it is interesting that the option to let fly sheets is not in the written version of the local N to M (Page 68 of the Chichester Harbour News and Guide)

I take it to mean that they are now considering that letting the sheets fly is an acceptable alternative to the cone. As you say virtually nobody uses one and in any case with a foresail set it would be obscured from many angles.

Perhaps you should also put your question on the harbour's own forum.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Point one; you have doctored the quote; it is neither underlined nor emboldened on the website.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well of course I have, but only to draw attention to the part I am particularly interested in!

If it bothers you that much I will, in future, add a comment along the lines of "my emboldening, italicizing and underlining".

However, what I wanted was an explanation of the practice of "lettings sheets fly" in the context of ColRegs. Does it mean that when I start my engine I may uncleat my sheets and let the sails flog? Will other people understand that that indicates motorsailing? It's the first time I have ever heard of it being done and it certainly wasn't mentioned on my Day Skipper or Yachtmaster courses. As a Chichester Harbour based sailor can you enlighten me?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does it mean that when I start my engine I may uncleat my sheets and let the sails flog? Will other people understand that that indicates motorsailing?

[/ QUOTE ] Yes it would be my understanding that "uncleating" the sheets and allowing the sails to flog is being suggested as the alternative to hoisting a cone. With the sails flogging you wont actually be sailing so it'll be a pretty good indication that you are motoring I suppose.

Its not something I like the idea of but when you are sailing in the harbour it is very difficult to tell those who are motorsailing apart from those who are sailing

I thought you'd have it up on the Harbour forum by now but I don't see it.

I am a registered user I'll put it there if you like.
 
[ QUOTE ]
a sign of Sunsailing in the solent

[/ QUOTE ] No problem with them. You know you're the give way vessel.
 
If you only flash the engine on for a short leg then letting fly sheets is an easy way of showing you're under power ... a little difficult when the wind is behind you though!
 
Flogging sails cos the sheets are flying is a horrible thing to do to sails.
The concept is impractical. Roll up or lower the jib will ease the flapping as a main sail manages a lot better under motoring.

So in practice a stand on boat will not know if you are sailing or motorsailing so you should show give way intentions as early as possible. A cone point down does anyone carry a cone?????????

olewill
 
The idea of letting my sails flog themselves to bits and sheets flailing catching on things around does not appeal. Next time I visit Chichester Harbour I'll get my cone rigged. Less trouble.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A cone point down does anyone carry a cone

[/ QUOTE ] Of course. We all do in Chichester. Until Twisted owner spotted this bit on the website about letting sheets fly we thought we had to in order to show when we are motor sailing. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif We keep them with our balls.(anchor balls that is)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does this mean I can't bumble along drying the laundry

[/ QUOTE ] That won't be tolerated in Chichester! You'll be wanting to go sailing without a blazer and tie next!
 
Re: A cone point down does anyone carry a cone?????????

I still consider myself a bit of a novice sailor and in some situations will have the engine running but not in gear. ( a couple of non starting situations has made me paranoid about this despite my new starter motor)
I am not motor sailing, I dont have the cone up ( I do have one!) Am I in contravention of the regulations?
 
[ QUOTE ]
We <u>all </u>do in Chichester.

[/ QUOTE ]

[My emboldening, italicizing and underlining!]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ooh, you fibber, VicS! Go and wash your mouth out at once.

The thought of Itchenor Channel, on a busy Saturday, full of yachts doing uncontrolled gybes with sheets trailing in the water or lassoing helmsman strikes me as a bit alarming; something I'd rather observe from shore. Also what would the motorboat drivers make of it?

Do please bring this up on the Chichester Forum. I'm honestly not trying to score points or start a row. All I want is an explanation of where this idea came from and how it works in practice because I have never heard of anything like it before.
 
The question that puzzles stinkies in Chichester harbour is not so much whether a rag 'n' string has its engine on, as exactly what purpose the bedlinen hoisted above deck actually serves.

My empirical research suggests that it is unconnected with the propulsion of the vessel given that the most popular style is to wind in the sheets as far as possible so that the linen doesn't flap too much as the boat is driven under diesel power directly into the wind.

Were I to see one with all the linen aflap I think I'd just assume it to be another eccentricity and give the vessel a wide berth.
 
Well thanks for that. I have often wondered what they were for. I just put them up because SWMBO says they look nice, like an old nautical print.
 
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