How the other half..........

boatone

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Seeing the thread re why mobos have to pass so close to flappies, and also having seen a particularly close shave between a mobo and a raggie on the Thames last weekend, prompts me to ask how many MoBo skippers actually understand the mechanics and manoeuverability of sailing boats?

I was behind a small mobo on Sunday passing through a fleet of racing dinghies. With reasonable knowledge, it was easy to see where their racing marks were, the wind conditions, and what they were likely to do. Also knowing they can turn on a sixpence is part of the equation. Matey in front of me clearly had no idea and tried to exercise what he clearly thought was a power gives way to sail scenario, just as the dinghy tacked treating him as a hazard to be avoided.

I could say the dinghy held on till the last possible moment before tacking but he was racing and, if the mobo had stood on, there would not have been a problem.

So, guys, do we take the trouble to learn about raggie behaviour?
 

smileygirl

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thats part of the problem - racing boats understandably leave it until the last moment to tack - giving us MoBos a heart attack. If they gave some acknowledgement that they had in fact seen us, MoBos and sails might get along a bit better.
 

Major Catastrophe

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[ QUOTE ]
if the mobo had stood on, there would not have been a problem.

[/ QUOTE ] So, not only do you want us to be mind readers, you want sail to give way to power.

I'll work on it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

Lakesailor

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I can see your reasoning with cruising or pleasure sailing dinghies, but sometimes racing boats can do the unexpected to gain a tactical advantage. On the lake here some sailors can read the wind shifts better than others and as a newby mobo-er I can see how wind direction is a bit of a mystery to a power boat pilot.
Even then I sometimes approach a yacht on a beat, to their lee, reasoning that if they carry on or take a tack I'll still not be a problem to them and bugger me, they bear away onto a run right across my bows.

Stay well away and go under their stern is my motto. I can't see the problem for Mobos. I used to wonder why they would change direction and go across my bow when it was as easy to change direction and duck under the stern.
Now that I use petrol power I still can't see the problem with going under the stern, it's the one spot the yacht is least likely to turn towards.
 

Fire99

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To be fair 'standing on' is all well and good but my MOBO may not be the most expensive in the world but its my pride and joy and i dont fancy having a racing dinghy smacking into the hull.
In theory what you say is true but you are having alot of trust in the dingy 'pilot' that the do actually turn at the last minute and dont misjudge it and end up wearing a MOBO.

I know its a race etc but safety should take priority so yes i would generally try and keep as well away from them as possible..

regards,

Nick
 

KCook

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In my view LakeSailor got this right. I would add that his commentary assumes there is a breeze. Also be aware that in a calm the raggies are helpless. To some degree this is also true of a raggy that is "in irons". Which is when it is pointing directly into the wind with its sails flapping madly (and the crew yelling at each other). Ditto capsized of course. A small raggy that is capsized should not be taken as a life threatening emergency. They just do that from time to time, indeed, are designed for the occasion!

Kelly Cook
 
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