It's a wonder there are not more boating accidents.

[ProDave]

Just outside our harbour is a rock outcrop, exposed at low tide, and marked with a perch. It's marked on the charts and the rock even has a name.

As I was packing our boat away today, two boats. Yes TWO boats sailed between the perch and the shore. It was just after high tide (falling tide), so they got away with it.

One was a local sail boat, from the next harbour (there there can't have been a lot of space under his keel), he should have known better. The other was a small (and I mean small) motor boat, probably not locals as they had launched from the slipway.

You would think they just might have wondered what the perch was marking and kept clear of it, and certainly not gone between it and the shore.

And did I mention not one of the three on the small mobo had a life jacket?

Still, it gave me and another club member something to tut about.

 

[sailorman]

There were 2 parrots on a perch, one parrot said to the other parrot " can you smell fish"

 

[Slow_boat]

Here's something else for you to tut about; I'm going to have a bath and I won't be wearing a lifejacket.

Totally irresponsible given that more people drown in the bath than do falling off boats.

 

[causeway]

More people takes baffs than goes on a boat innit.

apples and oranges.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I haven't had a bath for years.
I don't wear an LJ in the shower either.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

Here's something else for you to tut about; I'm going to have a bath and I won't be wearing a lifejacket.

Totally irresponsible given that more people drown in the bath than do falling off boats.

That's nothing, I've gone *swimming* without a lifejacket! Crazy, I know.

 

[ProDave]

well I was staggered at other boaters stupidity.

But if you want to take the piss out of me then that's fine.

 

[NealB]

That's nothing, I've gone *swimming* without a lifejacket! Crazy, I know.

That's nothing.....I've deliberately sailed over drying rocks and sandbanks when I'm sure there's sufficient rise of tide, and the conditions are suitable.

 

[Boathook]

well I was staggered at other boaters stupidity.

.........

Your view and not mine. I've seen stupid boaters (IMHO) wearing lifejackets and not want to go out with them.

 

[GrahamM376]

well I was staggered at other boaters stupidity.

But if you want to take the piss out of me then that's fine.

Are they stupid or, do they have better local knowledge?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Are they stupid or, do they have better local knowledge?

Exactly my thought.

As someone else has already said, I've sailed over plenty of drying rocks and sandbanks. I do check the state of the tide first though....

 

[Danny_Labrador]

What's a "Perch" please ?

 

[prv]

What's a "Perch" please ?

A stick.

Pete

 

[john_morris_uk]

A stick.

Pete

Or to enlarge:

A stick that marks a channel or hazard. Sometimes charted but quite often not... Often maintained by the locals.

 

[[70521]]

well I was staggered at other boaters stupidity.

Why were they stupid?

Depth sounder, tide tables and a watch is all you need. We all take navigation decisions.

Lifejackets, well they are a personal choice.

 

[Twister_Ken]

What's a "Perch" please ?

Like a withy, but thicker.

 

[agurney]

Just outside our harbour is a rock outcrop, exposed at low tide, and marked with a perch. It's marked on the charts and the rock even has a name.

As I was packing our boat away today, two boats. Yes TWO boats sailed between the perch and the shore. It was just after high tide (falling tide), so they got away with it.

One was a local sail boat, from the next harbour (there there can't have been a lot of space under his keel), he should have known better. The other was a small (and I mean small) motor boat, probably not locals as they had launched from the slipway.

You would think they just might have wondered what the perch was marking and kept clear of it, and certainly not gone between it and the shore.

And did I mention not one of the three on the small mobo had a life jacket?

Still, it gave me and another club member something to tut about.

I regularly cut a corner or two going in to Cuan Sound. There are a couple of shallow but unmarked rocks, but I know where they are to avoid. I save about a mile of sailing, and am amused by the looks I get when I'm being overtaken for the second time by sensible folks who take the long way round.

I don't see that the application of local knowledge is stupid.

 

[DJE]

"It's a wonder there are not more boating accidents."

How many boating accidents do you reckon are prevented by wearing lifejackets then? Only of use after the accident has occured IMHO.

 

[ProDave]

Well whatever you say, I thought it was stupid.

The perch is there to warn you of rocks.

This was not some case of someone taking a calculated short cut with local knowledge to save a mile of sailing. these guys sailed right by the perch but inside it (right where the rocks are) but close enough to reach out and touch it. 10 feet further out the other side of the perch, they would have been clear of any danger.

It was just stupidity imho.

But go ahead and take the piss.

It's okay to come on here and criticise someone's anchor, or criticise their mooring technique, but talk about some serious poor navigation, and you just take the piss.

And the point with the mobo and no life jackets, is had they hit the rocks, they might really wish they had them. It's their choice not to wear them, but if you make that choice, then you really should try hard to avoid dangers like this.

I have to say most of the boating I see is done in a responsible and safe manner. It just astounded me to see 2 boats taking risks within 5 minutes of each other in the same place. (I guess the second boat saw the first one go there and followed him?)

 

[John.edwards]

Well whatever you say, I thought it was stupid.

The perch is there to warn you of rocks.

This was not some case of someone taking a calculated short cut with local knowledge to save a mile of sailing. these guys sailed right by the perch but inside it (right where the rocks are) but close enough to reach out and touch it. 10 feet further out the other side of the perch, they would have been clear of any danger.

It was just stupidity imho.

But go ahead and take the piss.

It's okay to come on here and criticise someone's anchor, or criticise their mooring technique, but talk about some serious poor navigation, and you just take the piss.

And the point with the mobo and no life jackets, is had they hit the rocks, they might really wish they had them. It's their choice not to wear them, but if you make that choice, then you really should try hard to avoid dangers like this.

I have to say most of the boating I see is done in a responsible and safe manner. It just astounded me to see 2 boats taking risks within 5 minutes of each other in the same place. (I guess the second boat saw the first one go there and followed him?)

+1