Kayaks in the solent and inshore

[DAKA]

So the choice is to run them down or try to spot them & go round them then?

Problems are almost always caused by inexperienced plonkers (eg taking overloaded & underpowered boats across busy shipping lanes in another thread) not much you can do about them really if they don't do basic research or listen to advice - or are you jumping on the silly "license them" bandwagon?

My bits done

My crusade was to bring to the attention of fast mobo skippers the new danger of camouflaged Kayaks in areas where you would not expect them.

Many other skippers have also noticed the dangers and have added valuable input.
Out of the ? 200 ? other readers / skippers who may be venturing out of harbour for the first time for a while, if just one takes an extra watch and notices a black dot from 200 meters which turns out to be a kayak on closing then my efforts will have been well worth while

Even better if a Kayaker stumbles across this and decides to add a flag to his rod or carry a tube radar reflector

 

[ricky_s]

So the choice is to run them down or try to spot them & go round them then?

Problems are almost always caused by inexperienced plonkers (eg taking overloaded & underpowered boats across busy shipping lanes in another thread) not much you can do about them really if they don't do basic research or listen to advice - or are you jumping on the silly "license them" bandwagon?

If we do run them down are they likely to get wrapped around the prop? That could be an issue!

 

[DAKA]

With apologies to just about everyone:

Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
On the good ship Felix under Captain Dak.
Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
Always going forward 'cos we can’t go back.

Lt. Uhura, report.
There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Dak.

Analysis, Mr. Spock.
It's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Dak.

Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
On the good ship Felix under Captain Dak.
Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
Always going forward, still we can’t go back.

Medical update, Dr. McCoy.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Dak, dead, Dak, dead, Dak;
it's worse than that, he's dead, Dak, dead, Dak, dead.

It's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Dak.

Mobo Captain, James T. Dak:
Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, men.

There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, scrape 'em off, Dak.

Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
On the good ship Felix under Captain Dak.
Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
Only going forward, now we really can’t go back!

Engineer, Mr. Scott:
Ye cannot change the laws of physics, laws of physics, laws of physics;
ye cannot change the laws of physics, laws of physics, Dak.

Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill; Scotty, beam me up!

Outstanding

 

[colingr]

not really. the M25 was designed for fast cars. the solent was not designed for mobos. those who want to whizz about superfast in pleasure craft should do so where there is less risk to other water users.

This rates as the most funny post I've seen in ages. Can you really mean it?

It's like saying that Hampshire was not designed to have horses riding on it.

I'll have a word with god to see what his/her plans really were for the Solent.

 

[ricky_s]

This rates as the most funny post I've seen in ages. Can you really mean it?

It's like saying that Hampshire was not designed to have horses riding on it.

I'll have a word with god to see what his/her plans really were for the Solent.

Perhaps we should be allowed to go fast in harbours/rivers instead.

 

[colingr]

I'll check the design specification for the Hamble and let you know

 

[colingr]

With apologies to just about everyone:

Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
On the good ship Felix under Captain Dak.
Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
Always going forward 'cos we can’t go back.

Lt. Uhura, report.
There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Dak.

Analysis, Mr. Spock.
It's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Dak.

Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
On the good ship Felix under Captain Dak.
Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
Always going forward, still we can’t go back.

Medical update, Dr. McCoy.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Dak, dead, Dak, dead, Dak;
it's worse than that, he's dead, Dak, dead, Dak, dead.

It's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Dak, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Dak.

Mobo Captain, James T. Dak:
Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, men.

There's kayaks on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's kayaks on the starboard bow, scrape 'em off, Dak.

Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
On the good ship Felix under Captain Dak.
Mobo-ing along the Solent coast,
Only going forward, now we really can’t go back!

Engineer, Mr. Scott:
Ye cannot change the laws of physics, laws of physics, laws of physics;
ye cannot change the laws of physics, laws of physics, Dak.

Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill; Scotty, beam me up!

Absolutely top notch. Mage my day

 

[ninky]

If a risk of collision exists and you are unable to keep a good enough look out for the kind of vessels you are likely to encounter then you are not travelling at a safe speed.

the best sentence on this thread.

 

[ninky]

If i was to run down a cyclist, in the dark, with no lights and wearing dark clothing, i doubt i'd be prosecuted.

I don't have to drive my car around at 6 miles an hour in a 50 MPH zone just in case some nob is riding his bike with no lights, or someones black labradour is out after dark.

what about a pedestrian out walking their dog on a dark winter's evening on a country lane? tbh likening a road and the sea is not really comparing like with like. a closer comparison is riding a quad bike fast through fields with no headlights and wacking into a couple of people out for a night time stroll. the shipping lanes in the solent are for shipping (not mobos). the ships in them can be seen from a distance and keep fairly regular, predictable routes.

 

[ricky_s]

the best sentence on this thread.

Are you just referring to motor boats though or does this include fast sailboats or even large sail boats that struggle to turn?

 

[ninky]

Are you just referring to motor boats though or does this include fast sailboats or even large sail boats that struggle to turn?

everyone should limit their speed to a level of safety to avoid collision or danger to others in a busy area.

 

[ricky_s]

everyone should limit their speed to a level of safety to avoid collision or danger to others in a busy area.

You could argue that sailboats don't travel at safe speeds when crossing shipping lanes. Should that be stopped too?

 

[DAKA]

the shipping lanes in the solent are for shipping (not mobos). the ships in them can be seen from a distance and keep fairly regular, predictable routes.

I suspect that you havent actually seen the kayaks in the solent in F4-5 and dont really understand the issue because your arguments dont really bring much to solve the problem.

The kayaks are less visible than many lobster pots.
Let me explain

lobster pots are anchored and have a small bow wave, wake pattern and bob up and down.

The kayaks are drifting with the tide and dont have any water signature .
They are so low all that is visible is half a torso dressed in khaki or black .

Now if we fail to see a lobster pot and miss it by a few feet it doesnt really matter, but if we fail to see the kayaker then he has a wash issue to deal with or 15 ton of fibreglass, I dont really see that slowing down is going to help, there is still a fair amount of wash at 10 knots, chances are look outs would become less frequent as they are when sailing, why bother looking forwards all the time when nothing is changing for 1/4 hour !

 

[fireball]

Now if we fail to see a lobster pot and miss it by a few feet it doesnt really matter, but if we fail to see the kayaker then he has a wash issue to deal with or 15 ton of fibreglass,

Most water users are visible ...

Ships ... can't miss them (well - hopefully you will)
Mobos ... big enough to see and have a radar signature
Yachts ... big enough and usually carry at least one sail and have a radar signature (usually)
Sailing Dinghies ... you can see their sails
Wind Surfers ... you can see their sail
Kite Surfers ... you can see their kite

All the above travel at a reasonable speed most of the time - if not moving they are still visible ...

Kayakers and Swimmers are easy lost in any swell and are difficult to spot, to add to that they travel slowly and are therefore less able to get themselves out of trouble should it occur.

 

[ricky_s]

Kayakers and Swimmers are easy lost in any swell and are difficult to spot, to add to that they travel slowly and are therefore less able to get themselves out of trouble should it occur.

Good reason for them not to be there then!

 

[colingr]

Good reason for them not to be there then!

Can't argue with that

 

[Searush]

Some of the statements on here do worry me.

chances are look outs would become less frequent as they are when sailing, why bother looking forwards all the time when nothing is changing for 1/4 hour

I know your boats are badly designed so rearward visibility is poor and that you don't believe anything could possiblly go faster than you, but a lookout needs to be kept all around. Also, in 1/4 hr, Sea Rush will travel a n-mile even at under 2k revs - and almost 2 miles at "speed" D). Plenty of distance even for me to run down a small boat if a proper lookout is not kept.

I understand that you are teasing & making fun, but others reading some of this aggressive nonsense may think it is the "proper way for MoBo's to behave". We need to encourage proper lookouts & safe speeds for the circumstances - whatever those circumstances happen to be.

 

[Little Rascal]

Some of the statements on here do worry me.



I know your boats are badly designed so rearward visibility is poor and that you don't believe anything could possiblly go faster than you, but a lookout needs to be kept all around. Also, in 1/4 hr, Sea Rush will travel a n-mile even at under 2k revs - and almost 2 miles at "speed" D). Plenty of distance even for me to run down a small boat if a proper lookout is not kept.

I understand that you are teasing & making fun, but others reading some of this aggressive nonsense may think it is the "proper way for MoBo's to behave". We need to encourage proper lookouts & safe speeds for the circumstances - whatever those circumstances happen to be.

Well said. Many (not all) of the views expressed here reveal a pretty troubling view of a skippers responsibilities. If the kayaks are there then deal with it. If a load of containers had fallen off a ship in the solent I don't think there would be many mobos creaming around at 30 knots.

The thread has been valid IMO if it has brought the risk to peoples attention. It has been a waste of time if all it has done is reinforce a 'stuff them, they shouldn't be there anyway' attitude.

 

[Little Rascal]

If i was to run down a cyclist, in the dark, with no lights and wearing dark clothing, i doubt i'd be prosecuted.

I don't have to drive my car around at 6 miles an hour in a 50 MPH zone just in case some nob is riding his bike with no lights, or someones black labradour is out after dark.

Just to be clear.

The colregs state with regard to vessel powered by oars under 7m:

"A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision."

A cyclist in the dark without lights is breaking the law.

A kayaker not showing lights is not.

 

[PaulGooch]

Just to be clear.

The colregs state with regard to vessel powered by oars under 7m:

"A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision."

A cyclist in the dark without lights is breaking the law.

A kayaker not showing lights is not.

Makes no difference if he's just been mown down by a 20 knot Windcat if he's breaking the law or not, he's dead.