Mad idiots on Southhampton water

mad_boater

mad_boater

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Anyone around the enterance to Southampton water last Sunday around 12 o'clock. I was by the lifeboat outward bound doing around 13 knots when behind me there were four 35ft - 45 ft gin palaces overtook me at 25knots+ around 50 mtrs away. My boat is 35ft semi displacement never the less the wash was unbelievable even for my size of boat to contend with , my guests suffered cuts and bruises and I am sure will think twice about accecpting my hospitality again. I was more lucky I managed to hold on like grim death to the wheel . These sort of people give us motor boaters a bad name. What does the forum think?
 
My view is 50mts is enough space for a MOBO to pass another, it is bad enough to have to worry about your own helming when at sea, so to think of what the wash of 3 other MOBO's might cause with your own is too much to expect.

I would think you were just unlucky that day, and your passangers should not let the fun of boating be spoiled by that 1 unfortunate instance.
 
Ironic that you call yourself MAD /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Anyway, you were skipper and should have been keeping a lookout, you had responsibility for your crew and should have warned them or taken avoiding action, sorry but it's down to you /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
think we saw you heading up towards the lifeboat before the incident ( we were inbound), also remember passing a group of largish power boats, they did not cause us a problem but passing is never that bad. 50 meters is quite close I guess but at the point you are talking Southampton water is not that wide and there were a lot of sailing boats about on saturday. I know I was not able to give everybody as wide a berth as I would like even with making some pretty drastic course changes.

I imagine at the speed you were doing you were just beyond/on the 'hump' getting on the plain which is the worst speed possible for crossing the wake of an overtaking boat I find, throws the boat all over the place. If I spotted em I think I would have slowed down or turned into the wake as they passed to ride it out with the sharp end rather than beam on.

On a posative note we both commented on how well your boat looked and went !
 
Names perhaps.

Had a similar incident when in transit round to St Kats dock earlier in the year a largish Fairline showing very little seamanship came past a group of us passing thru the barrier.At a distance of maybe 20 meters away,doing around 15 or so knots,we all fell into the the resulting hole in the water.Calls from Barrier control for the boat to slow down proved fruitless.Suspect the lack of appreciation for the problems that small craft can have with wash could be due to some owners of bigger boats not having had any experence with small boats.
 
Whatever the relative merits of different boats on or off the plane and the responsibility for being aware of other boats.Isn't it just plain pig ignorant selfishness to continue, speed unabated when passing other craft in crowded water.
The often voiced argument that you're entitled and others should deal with it doesn't wash (not a pun).
 
Southampton Water is a busy stretch of water especially on a weekend and especially on a sunny summer Sunday but what I always say to people like you complaining about wash in busy areas is that if you are not prepared for the wash from passing motor boats, then how are you going to deal with the much larger wash from passing commercial vessels? The wash from fast ferries, tugs, pilot boats and even the Harbourmaster's launch is far worse than a 45ft motor boat. The other issue is that once you get out into the Solent, a stiff breeze can cause a chop with waves steeper than any mobo wake
As the skipper of your boat, you failed in your duty to adequately warn and protect your crew and if your boat is so unstable or has inadequate handholds or seating such that your guests are going to be injured by a mobo wake then you should'nt have been out there
 
I would like to think I never cause anyone a problem with my wash *

BUT

I travel by car several hours a week to take part in the Solent atmosphere each week.

If you dont like the atmosphere why dont you drive several hours in the opposite direction and keep your boat in less crowded waters ?












* Idiots fishing in the middle of channels, Yachts tacking out against tide excluded.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The wash from fast ferries, tugs, pilot boats and even the Harbourmaster's launch is far worse than a 45ft motor boat.

[/ QUOTE ]
Depends on the distance from the vessel and speed of the wash creator

[ QUOTE ]
The other issue is that once you get out into the Solent, a stiff breeze can cause a chop with waves steeper than any mobo wake
As the skipper of your boat, you failed in your duty to adequately warn and protect your crew and if your boat is so unstable or has inadequate handholds or seating such that your guests are going to be injured by a mobo wake then you should'nt have been out there

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm - not that I have experienced, and it is not continuous waves that are the problem - it is the transition from relatively flat to a sudden chop and back again - ie wash! - as crew are often not prepared for it - the helm may have seen it, but crew haven't.
There is a regular call of "Wash - Hold On" on our boat as we make our way around the solent ...
Only the more inconsiderate wash makers get muttered at - usually in the entrance to Chi Harbour - but not exclusively!
 
Thanks for those words of encouregment, obviously it seems one or two of the replies have coped with 6ft high wash and think it its ok my boat is not large but there were many much smaller boats in the area. I think everybody with a fast large motor boat has a duty to behave in a sensible manner, once out in the Solent there is a lot more water to go as fast as you can safely.
 
I'm in danger of becoming schizo about MOBO-knocking, but agree with those who reckon you should take it on the chin - hang on, turn into it, whatever. If anyone gets hurt that does show lack of anticipation. After all, sailing out over Chi bar with wind against tide (would I be so daft?) a cautionary "this is going to be wet 'n o'rrible - better get ready for it" is good seamanship. Those pilot boats out of Pompey don't slow down, and a Nelson at speed don't care for anyone! No, get a grip (ouch) and don't winge.
BUT having said that, we must take special steps to minimise upsetting the small sailing boat, particularly in light airs. For those struggling mariners 500 metres is too close!
 
Quite.
I wasn't convinced by Daka's proposition that because he drove a long way to get there it's OK to behave with no regard for anyone else's comfort or safety because he wants to enjoy himself from the word go.
Does that mean if you live in Poole or Lymington you're less entitled to speed around regardless?
 
To all the gin palace owners who think they have the right to damage other people's craft and other people..........

Just back off the throttle. It is not regarded as good seamanship and generally regarded that "the sun may be over the yard arm" a bit early when other craft are thrown in the air by these idiots!.

We all have a right to be on the water no matter what size of craft we may have.

If you want to burn gallons of diesel and act like idiots, clear off into the Atlantic and give us all a chance to enjoy our waters.


Oops! I think I have been and gawn and dunnit again!........ Tin helmet at the ready!


Alan.
 
I wouldn't want to create bad feeling amongst fellow Solent boaters, but I do think it is "if you can't stand the heat..."

I had 7 guests on the boat in the Solent on Sunday, all on the flybridge and when running at displacement speeds we were chucked all over the place when other mobos, cruise ships, container ships went past very close - I made sure everyone knew there was wash coming and told them to hang on -all but one of them loved it, and all but one were free bus pass holders! I think it is only fair to complain about excessive wash if you are in an anchorage, in a marina, or on a river.
(BTW, Mobos & raggies cutting each other up in crowded water is a different story /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif)
 
To all the raggies that expect MOBO's to get out of there way because the are under sail B**ocks, the solent is a big place and MOBOS are not stelth machines and can be seen on hot sunny day's from a fair way off.

It is not a shock that if you choose to sail in the Solent you will have to share the space with boats that cruise at 25 knots and create wakes, as well as Hover crafts, Fast Cats, tankers etc...

If this is a shock then you are in the wrong area..
 
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