Getting a tow in Guernsey or Jersey

[Daydream believer]

Last week i was en route from Roscoff to st peter port when my chart plotter froze. This was just before the rocks between the sept isles and roscoff. Fortunately i have been there before and had a chart so although the plotter was leading me to the rocks i comfortably avoided them. But whilst fiddling with the plotter i ran into a weed bed that disabled the prop. As a result i had to sail against significant currents in light winds for many hours to get to st pp..
I was worried about how to get into st pp without engine ( as it was the eeed cleared at the south end of the little russel)
my question results from the barney between the rnli and andy hibbs and the coasguard. As i understand it there was a call for a tow from a vessel and the cg intended to send a commercial tow vessel to the casualties aid. However the lifeboat aparently launched without permission and got there first thus depriving the commercial vessel of its towing fee.
now without going into the finer detail or who was right or wrong what i want to know is what would have been my position if i had gone to either island and asked for a tow. Would the cg have sent a commercial vessel thus meaning that i would have incurred a substantial fee or would they have sent the rnli meaning i get a freebie and a silly look on my face
in other words -what is their policy when the situation is not life threatening. Do they give the job to a commercial operator or the rnli

 

[Bobc]

Could you not have sailed into Havelet and dropped anchor?

 

[James_Calvert]

We needed a tow into St Peter Port last year when the engine stopped in the approach up the Little Russel.

A harbour dory met me by the pierheads and gave us an alongside tow directly into a finger in Victoria Marina.

No charge, wouldn't even take a contribution to their Christmas party or whatever. Just part of the service I was firmly told.

This year I'm totally OCD on logging engine use, diesel tank levels and top ups. I'd got a bit lax over the years...

 

[prv]

A couple of years ago I acted as VHF relay for a large motorboat which had suffered dual gearbox failure halfway between Jersey and Guernsey (and apparently had a really crappy radio installation). They were eventually towed into St Peter Port by a Nelson type motorboat that came out from Sark. Didn't look like a commercial operation, more like just a local boat responding to a general call. I would assume the broken down motorboat paid for the towage.

Pete

 

[penberth3]

We needed a tow into St Peter Port last year when the engine stopped in the approach up the Little Russel...

This year I'm totally OCD on logging engine use, diesel tank levels and top ups. I'd got a bit lax over the years...

So can we assume you'd run out of fuel?

 

[Daydream believer]

Could you not have sailed into Havelet and dropped anchor?

That would not have helped one bit. I do not carry a dinghy. Besides i have had my boat 15 years and anchored less than 5 times. I hate anchoring.If i had not been single handed i would have sailed onto the visitors pontoon. I have actually sailed up bradwell creek and into the marina when i ran out of fuel once. so that would not have been totally out of the question in the light winds. However, i was not sure if the harbour launches would be on duty at that late hour to give me a hand if i needed it
but that does not answer my question about who the cg would contact if a call was put to them

 

[prv]

That would not have helped one bit. I do not carry a dinghy. Besides i have had my boat 15 years and anchored less than 5 times.

Weird, but each to their own, I guess. How does one visit the Channel Islands without a dinghy?

Pete

 

[NorthUp]

The RNLI will launch to assist if you are in danger, or will be at risk without intervention, eg deteriorating weather.
If you are just drifting about you should broadcast an all ships call requesting a tow, and when/ if somebody responds you can negotiate a contract with them for towage fees.
The CG may broadcast your request to utilise the greater range of their transmitters, but they will not appoint salvors unless you become a pollution hazard.
The CG in the Channel Islands is/was also the Harbour Authority in some places, so may have their own tug or workboat available, but expect to pay salvage fees unless in a distress situation.

 

[Angele]

Weird, but each to their own, I guess. How does one visit the Channel Islands without a dinghy?

Pete

By being a good swimmer?

 

[johnalison]

My rate of picking up weed and being stopped or partially disabled in the Channel Islands is running at about 50%. These events have occurred when motoring south of Jersey and twice necessitated drying out in St Helier (on their excellent pad) and once for a lift-out to deal with a loosened anode (actually caused by fishing net).

 

[dunedin]

That would not have helped one bit. I do not carry a dinghy. Besides i have had my boat 15 years and anchored less than 5 times. I hate anchoring.

Out of interest, why? Anchoring is often far simpler and less stressful than going into a busy harbour.
And in suitable weather is often the best way to see the best places.
As well as being an essential seamanship / fallback in the event of problems, such as engine failure when insufficient (or excess) wind to sail safely.
When in places like Croatia we have often anchored 3 or 4 times in a day. It’s great.
Perhaps worth a review of your anchor gear and/or technique and doing a few more practices?

 

[theoldsalt]

Daydream believer

If you want to know the CG policy you should be asking the CG not posting the question on an internet forum.

 

[Daydream believer]

Daydream believer

If you want to know the CG policy you should be asking the CG not posting the question on an internet forum.

And there was me thinking that there were knowledgeble people on the forum who might know the answer. Plus thinking that the resulting answer may have been of interest to others
silly me

 

[Daydream believer]

Out of interest, why? Anchoring is often far simpler and less stressful than going into a busy harbour.

Last time i anchored was in the Orwell. The boat did 360's round the anchor in the night and wrapped the rope round the keel. The deck got covered in east coast mud that took ages to clean off because i had to take it back to the sheet winches to break it free. I drifted aground before i could get it right up. I spent the night half asleep due to the motion. Could not get pint. Sod pumping up dinghies then the hassle of rowing miles then back and the deflating the damned thing and stowing it plus all the extra weight. Cannot cook so as there was no access to a restaurant i had to eat the last of my sandwiches. How on earth anyone wants to go through all that palaver when they can just motor gently into a marina
there is no stress in going into a marina ( i have no problem manouvering the boat and quite enjoy that part of sailing) and stepping ashore, meeting people and having a decent meal in comfort plus a wander round a town like st pp or Dieppe where i am right now

 

[LadyInBed]

We needed a tow into St Peter Port last year when the engine stopped in the approach up the Little Russel.

A harbour dory met me by the pierheads and gave us an alongside tow directly into a finger in Victoria Marina.

Many years ago, when I had a 22 footer, coming from Paimpol to St PP I picked up a rope on my prop. I missed the tide to take me up the Little Russel and spent several hours tacking to and fro making no progress.
I called and asked if I could get a tow in but I was told that the harbour dory wasn't allowed outside the harbour (insurance I guess).
A RNR ship in St PP (who had come up from Jersey and had heard my previous call to say that I was going over the stern to try and free the rope) radioed and said she would come out and collect me.
She duly turned up, towering above me, transferred my two girls (8 & 6 at the time) over and fed them cocoa and cake, put a couple of chaps down to help me and towed me up to the harbour entrance where the harbour dory took over and put me on the drying grid.
Needless to say that this made a deep impression on the kids, so much so that the youngest, when at Uni, joined the Navy Unit and eventually married the Unit CPO Bosun!

 

[Tranona]

And there was me thinking that there were knowledgeble people on the forum who might know the answer. Plus thinking that the resulting answer may have been of interest to others
silly me

You have your answer in post#8. The answer would have been the same in any other part of the British Isles and I am surprised somebody with your experience would not know that. Almost every time I go out (2 in last weekend's cruise along the Dorset coast) I hear at least one exchange with the CG along the same lines. The answer is that it depends on the circumstances and the resources available, but the request is invariably, once it is established that no lives are in danger, for anybody close to offer assistance. Failing that the CG would look at other alternatives.

The recent fracas with the Jersey lifeboat does not alter this procedure. So, in a sense your question is a non question.

 

[Uricanejack]

I cant speak for the Chanel Islands CG.

Just report what I hear the CCG and USCG apparent standard response. To a typical "mayday" breakdown call. Heard routinely almost any day during local boating or sailing season.

CG response to reply Mayday Vessel this CG.
What is you vessel name.
What is the your position.
How many persons on board.
What is the nature of your distress.

When the reply at this point is, No not in immediate danger, out of fuel, flat battery. ect
The Next question is will you accept commercial assistance?

Obviously there are two possible answers Yes or No.
CG do not tell the boater what answer to give the choice is left to the skipper of the boat.

The CG will then make a relay broadcast for a broken down vessel, Requesting assistance, Giving a description including name sometimes including contact info like a cell phone. In Position. and if willing to accept commercial assistance.
When the answer is yes. The vultures' circle quickly. Usual a quick reply from one or more of the tow companies followed by working channel contract arranged on radio.

When the answer is no the re broadcasts requesting assistance may go on for quite some time. A passing CG asset may still assist if not busy. Don't hold your breath waiting. Often a friendly boat will help.

My observation. Unfortunately as the No of vultures, has increased the traditional willingness of other mariners has decreased.

You guys in the UK are very fortunate to have the RNLI usually so willing to assist.

 

[Daydream believer]

You have your answer in post#8. The answer would have been the same in any other part of the British Isles and I am surprised somebody with your experience would not know that. Almost every time I go out (2 in last weekend's cruise along the Dorset coast) I hear at least one exchange with the CG along the same lines. The answer is that it depends on the circumstances and the resources available, but the request is invariably, once it is established that no lives are in danger, for anybody close to offer assistance. Failing that the CG would look at other alternatives.

The recent fracas with the Jersey lifeboat does not alter this procedure. So, in a sense your question is a non question.

Not quite the same. When i lost my rudder in the murray firtth the rnli were there to give me a tow really quickly and the cg did not hesitate to call them as first responders after confirmed i was in no danger and had anchored ok. All i needed was a tow back to inverness marina. I certainly did not hear the cg call to any of the other boats in the area.
i know of a friend on a boat out of ramsgate who had engine failure and the cg just informed the rnli who towed them straight back
i am sure there are forumite's who can quote numerous similar incidents.

 

[lpdsn]

i am sure there are forumite's who can quote numerous similar incidents.

Heard one at the weekend. No danger really but the coastguard asked if they needed assistance and the boat said yes (reluctantly I think from the tone of voice) and the RNLI were tasked straight away to tow them into the nearest harbour. Not the usual voice on the radio from the lifeboat - usual cox'n has a strong local accent and I later heard him talking to the lifeboat from the boathouse so I guess the reserve crew got to play with the lifeboat for a simple job.

 

[Tranona]

Not quite the same. When i lost my rudder in the murray firtth the rnli were there to give me a tow really quickly and the cg did not hesitate to call them as first responders after confirmed i was in no danger and had anchored ok. All i needed was a tow back to inverness marina. I certainly did not hear the cg call to any of the other boats in the area.
i know of a friend on a boat out of ramsgate who had engine failure and the cg just informed the rnli who towed them straight back
i am sure there are forumite's who can quote numerous similar incidents.

You are still relying on the CG to take the most appropriate action based on the specific circumstances. Clearly asking if there is anybody nearby who can offer assistance is more appropriate in waters where there are likely to be other boats around. One of the incidents at the weekend was a private fishing boat with engine failure. Immediately two responses from boats within 1.5 miles. Discussions identified that the boat was heavy so one volunteer dipped out and another, a Swan 65 went to assist. Don't know what the final outcome was.

In the two examples you quoted the CG may well have judged that the best course of action was to use the RNLI, probably because of the risk of escalation.

Anyway the point is that what happened in Jersey with the lifeboat does not have any impact on how the CG respond to a call for assistance - the same choices are open to them (except of course when the lifeboat was out of action).