Mobo wash - oh I wish I had torpedo tubes !

[dunedin]

Twas a fantastic weekend for boating up and down the country. And we were out and about on the Clyde, with beautiful sunshine and flat water

The only thing that spoiled it was many inconsiderate large powerboats roaring past, looking straight forward enjoying the scenery - and creating huge washes causing consternation behind them for everybody else. West Kyle and Kyles of Bute were particularly badly affected.

There were some considerate boats making efforts to reduce wash, and some small boats that were more efficient. But in the minority.

So do these mobo drivers
(a) never look behind to see the wash created and the boats being tossed around behind the; or
(b) not care.

Left me wishing for some torpedo tubes, which might have attracted their attention.

 

[oldgit]

Almost makes you wish there was some sort of training demanded before people are allowed to go boating

 

[No Regrets]

I can empathise with both parties.

1/ The Raggies want to wibble along as fast as the wind carries them, and gets offended by the wash of the faster Mobo's.

2/ The Mobo's want to go as fast as their engines/ fuel budget allows, and gets hacked off having to slow down for the Raggies.


Tricky one, either Raggies have to man up, or Mobo's have to either slow down or give a wide berth, or a bit of both. Perhaps even hours favours one, while off numbered hours favour the other!?

No win until the oil runs out eh?

 

[Bav32]

It's worse than that; the mobo owner's can;t read (or choose to ignore).
The Clydeport guide CLEARLY points out the NO WASH zone.
http://www.clydeport.co.uk/cms_uploaded/Clydeport_Leisure_3rd_Ed_web_(2).pdf
This has been in operation for several years .
Not a low wash or reduced speed zone . No wash!

 

[lisilou]

I try my best to give a wide berth but sometimes it's not possible when there are sailboats at every conceivable safe exit route. Personally I think the majority of moboers go out of their way to reduce the impact on our windpowered brethren. There is inconsiderate behaviour on both sides for sure.
L

 

[LittleSister]

The only thing that spoiled it was many inconsiderate large powerboats roaring past, looking straight forward enjoying the scenery - and creating huge washes causing consternation behind them for everybody else.

There were some considerate boats making efforts to reduce wash, and some small boats that were more efficient. But in the minority.

So do these mobo drivers
(a) never look behind to see the wash created and the boats being tossed around behind the; or
(b) not care.

Anyone care to answer the question asked?

 

[rafiki_]

I try my best to give a wide berth but sometimes it's not possible when there are sailboats at every conceivable safe exit route. Personally I think the majority of moboers go out of their way to reduce the impact on our windpowered brethren. There is inconsiderate behaviour on both sides for sure.
L

+1. We always try to be considerate to all on the water. As an occasional sailer, I understand the need to be considerate.

 

[henryf]

As Lisilou says we try our best to avoid unnecessary disruption but ultimately there will be some wake from a planing boat. In somewhere like the Solent the wake won't be any worse than might reasonably expected from natural phenomena.

How do you propose we operate ? 6 knots everywhere on the water? No go corridors for sailing boats where motor boats operate? Should we ban yacht racing on the grounds it presents an impenetrable barrier for those not involved in the race?

The answer of course is there is no right answer. It would be great to have motor boaters on board a sailing yacht from time to time and visa versa yachtists on board a motor boat to give each some perspective on the others plight. We had a load of sailors on board Emily Jo last year (having disinfected them first of course ) and I think they enjoyed their experience.

In answer to your questions Yes, and Yes.

Henry

 

[l'escargot]

As Lisilou says we try our best to avoid unnecessary disruption but ultimately there will be some wake from a planing boat. In somewhere like the Solent the wake won't be any worse than might reasonably expected from natural phenomena.

How do you propose we operate ? 6 knots everywhere on the water? No go corridors for sailing boats where motor boats operate? Should we ban yacht racing on the grounds it presents an impenetrable barrier for those not involved in the race?

The answer of course is there is no right answer. It would be great to have motor boaters on board a sailing yacht from time to time and visa versa yachtists on board a motor boat to give each some perspective on the others plight. We had a load of sailors on board Emily Jo last year (having disinfected them first of course ) and I think they enjoyed their experience.

In answer to your questions Yes, and Yes.

Henry

As someone who sails and motors, just one little request and nothing to do with wash (although I don't know what natural phenomena throw up 3 foot waves on an otherwise calm day ). Rather than head directly towards a sailing boat in the distance, could you just aim a degree or two to one side or turn away just a little bit sooner. It can be a bit disconcerting to see someone bearing down on you at 30 knots when you can't see the whites of their eyes - SWMBO will often say "That boat's coming straight at us" and I will say "It's alright they'll go round us" but there is always that little thought "Which way should I turn at the last minute if they are not looking and have got the auto helm on...?" In return, I will always wait until you go past before I tack (as long as I've got enough water beneath my keel)

 

[lisilou]

Anyone care to answer the question asked?

If an answer is really required then for me...a) yes I consider it all the time b) I care. Here's one for the other side... Is it the norm for yachties to just pull out into a fairway without looking? Not all do it but they seem to be in the minority. Hey ho...that's life.
L

 

[dodfisher]

Well...I was out on the Clyde at the weekend and did happen through West Kyle and the narrows. To answer your questions:

(a) yes - of course we look behind but, in the most part try to avoid the wash by slowing down or taking a wide berth which would negate the need;
(b) seems like a rhetorical question but, if (a) is correct then of course we care!

As a few other respondents have suggested (and many may not know 'the Kyles' as well) we met 6-8 sailing boats coming through the Kyles E to W Sunday morning (we were heading back to Largs from Tarbert) and they all seemed to want to tack at the strangest times (I am a sailor and couldn't fathom some of their 'moves')! Either that or they were motor/sailing and seemed to think they could maneuver on a whim and without any consideration for anyone else. Having two quite large yachts anchored well offshore on the N side of Bute made life even more difficult. Add in the various lobster pots etc in the area we also had to try to avoid it made for an interesting zig-zag course!

We know there are some mobo users who are belligerent and care little for other water users but there are also a lot of very considerate ones. And, if you are honest with yourself, you will recognise that there are those of the haughty yachting variety that believe they are never in the wrong. I started off sailing so have seen from both sides and no-one holds the moral high ground - despite what you suggest!

 

[epervier]

It's that old perennial yet again, it is what it is, some people don't understand how their wash affects others, and others don't care,but I'd like to believe these two types are in the minority.
In over populated areas we are always going to suffer this, I found moaning doesn't help, I just shout out WASH so everybody on board hangs on to something. plus being based in the Solent area you have to live with it, 'cause it ain't going to change, we've found a sort of compromise, don't go out at busy weekends, RTIR,Cowes week,old gaffers,CTC,bank holidays, there's just too many grockles out there, and to stand on the Spit on a Friday evening and watch The Hamble open it's "sluice gates" and the race to get out of the river is for some great entertainment.

 

[oGaryo]

my only wish is for the sun to come out again so pent up boaty frustrations hopefully don't exist and in turn, lame threads like this don't get started. sorry OP but this topic has been done a MILLION times zzzzzzzz

 

[oldgit]

The folks resposible for the wash are probably not doing it deliberately...they are simply totally unaware of the problem it can cause other water users to either side of them.They will not see the results simply because they will be well over the horizon.
The difficult bit is to make the people whos boats create this problem realise there is even a problem.
If,once you have made them aware,they still carry on as normal,there is very little can be done about it.
This thread merely reminds some of the difficulties that wash causes and suspect those on the receiving end of wash would dearly like to see every single post on the forum to end with a Wash Warning Alert banner .

 

[awol]

No need for torpedoes - just take a picture and shop the perpetrators

• BOTH channels between Rhubodach and
Buttock Point (shown ) must be
treated as a “NO WASH ZONE”.
• In the interests of safety, boatowners
should report details of instances of excessive
speed causing hazardous wash to Clydeport,
HM Coastguard or the Police.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Anyone care to answer the question asked?

Surely only those responsible can answer those questions, and as they're unlikely to be forum contributors, the questions are likely to remain unanswered.

 

[blueglass]

Ah the old ones are always the best.
its all been said before, including this - remember mobos are affected by wash from other mobos just as much as yachts, often more so at displacement speeds.
As a slow moboer with hardly any wash I just get on with my day usually. Its just another wave - get over it (literally)

 

[Cardo]

We had a load of sailors on board Emily Jo last year (having disinfected them first of course ) and I think they enjoyed their experience.

I still have the shakes!

 

[gjgm]

As someone who sails and motors, just one little request and nothing to do with wash (although I don't know what natural phenomena throw up 3 foot waves on an otherwise calm day ). Rather than head directly towards a sailing boat in the distance, could you just aim a degree or two to one side or turn away just a little bit sooner. It can be a bit disconcerting to see someone bearing down on you at 30 knots when you can't see the whites of their eyes - SWMBO will often say "That boat's coming straight at us" and I will say "It's alright they'll go round us" but there is always that little thought "Which way should I turn at the last minute if they are not looking and have got the auto helm on...?" In return, I will always wait until you go past before I tack (as long as I've got enough water beneath my keel)

Interesting comment. For myself, this depends on what the sailing boat is doing and just how many other craft are about.In my mind is always the thought that the sailing boat might just tack (with god given right, of course ), so I dont want to get into some zig zag as to where the hell I am going, confusing all. Second, I am assessing quite where to go between the boats-this is a non-stop exercise in fast boat. If I cant see where to pass then I will slow down or take a wide circle, but I may know the way through whereas you would not be considering my route beyond your own boat. You might think I am aiming for you, but I know I am going to turn when I have closed the gap enough that the next turn clears the next boat.

 

[DAKA]

As someone who sails and motors, just one little request and nothing to do with wash (although I don't know what natural phenomena throw up 3 foot waves on an otherwise calm day ). Rather than head directly towards a sailing boat in the distance, could you just aim a degree or two to one side or turn away just a little bit sooner. It can be a bit disconcerting to see someone bearing down on you at 30 knots when you can't see the whites of their eyes - SWMBO will often say "That boat's coming straight at us" and I will say "It's alright they'll go round us" but there is always that little thought "Which way should I turn at the last minute if they are not looking and have got the auto helm on...?" In return, I will always wait until you go past before I tack (as long as I've got enough water beneath my keel)

seeing as your polite request is being taken seriously here is another thought for the day ............

We are talking about wash here not col regs.

A mobo isnt under any duty to avoid another boat of what ever type by 1/2 a mile or two.

I often ask myself why a sailing boat maintains a course into my wash ??

Why dont they tack out the way ??

Its not col regs, where risk of collision exists, this is a pure comfort issue .
My wife doesnt like tidal race chop so I go 1-2nm around headlands in order to obtain a comfortable ride.

If you spot gjgm heading at your bow , why dont you change course to avoid the wash, there is no need to carry on into the wash.

It costs you nothing where it costs a stinker the price of a pint to miss you by 1/2 mile.