I have a confession...

[benjenbav]

The other day I was in Portsmouth Harbour headed for Puerto Solente right at the bottom of a big spring tide.

I saw a Sunsail boat ahead of me, obviously headed for the same destination.

I could have overtaken (even though it seemed to have one speed: WOT).

But an evil plan sprang fully formed into my mind.

There might be some very shallow bits up ahead, thought I, and that yot draws more than I do. So I tucked in about 50 metres behind and waited for him to find the putty, leaving me enough space to take avoiding action if required.

Does this make me a bad person? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DoubleVision]

Done exactly the same at the entrance to the beaulieu river many years ago. Dont beat yourself up over it--I didnt /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[benjenbav]

I was armed with:

chartplotter

sounder

paper charts

previous knowledge

mk 1 eyeball

But he was just there in front of me and it seemed rude not to /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[AdeOlly]

Nope. Sounds like it was a good plan to me.
In fact, following behind in case they did get stuck in the putty very noble, as you'd be there to shout advice to them about the error of their ways and lend moral support
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[whisper]

Could have been embarassing if he'd been one of the new lifting keel boats that Sunsail have /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[benjenbav]

No chance. It was a Sunfast 37.

 

[powerskipper]

er I have done it in a powerboat, followed a yacht in saying he will run aground before I do. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BrendanS]

Errmm, back in my early days of boating in the Solent, the GPS went down, after an evening meal in Cowes, and as I didn't know the waters like the back of my hand then, I followed a ferry from Cowes to Southampton Water in the dark, until I could see the lights for the Hamble.

Never told the passengers as I didn't want to worry them! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[FullCircle]

Watch out. I have a lift keel Sun Odyssey and go very close at about 1.0m Several have fallen foul of a false sense of security. Ask D3B.

 

[photodog]

Ive sat on the anchor at Newtown watching the yachts run aground near the entrance.... one after the other..... they see another yacht "Anchored" and think.. well I can get through there.... and then join the anchored yacht on the putty... watched 5 in a row in 15 minutes once....

Watched a big Nelson go aground in the Yealm after he followed a rib across the bar........

 

[leomagill]

[ QUOTE ]
Nope. Sounds like it was a good plan to me.
In fact, following behind in case they did get stuck in the putty very noble, as you'd be there to shout advice to them about the error of their ways and lend moral support
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that the same as 'look smug and take the p1ss' ?
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[samwestwood]

just think how stupid you would look powering past and getting stuck

 

[Coupe]

I have a confession too..

When I started boating in a Sealine S28 I was advised by others that if I was not sure of the depth of the entrance to Malahide that I should follow a yacht in.

Sure enough the time came when I reached the SWM later than expected si I did just that - followed a beautiful big yacht up the channel.

A few months later I was chatting to the ownerand told him the story. He laughed his t1ts off when he explained the draft of his Cat /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

"I only need damp sand to get in" was the phrase he used if I remember correctly /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

What a plonker Rodney /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[colingr]

Best grounding I've ever seen was in Kimmeridge Bay. Well known for nasty rocks and VERY shallow at low tide.

We'd just launched the dive club RIB when a large raggiie sailed in and proceded to anchor.

We shot over and pointed out that on a falling tide he was asking for trouble. Got told very bluntly to leave the area as they knew what they were doing and had checked the tides.

Later we returned to find them desperately trying to get their tender under the side of the hul to stop the nasty rocks poking holes in the hull as they leant over more and more.

We snorkeled over to offer advice and help and to assist getting the family to shore (3 kids and an aging gent), leaving skipper on board.

The old fella thanked us and said, I can't understand it, those rocks do not appear on the chart. Turns out they thought they were in Lulworth!