Motor boats and sail boats

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Pagetslady

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Hi could I please request that high speed motor boats could when passing a sailing boat give us more than 100 mtrs clearance the wash after you have gone creates a very dangerous situation, half a mile would be fine and I don't think would take you at 30kts much out of the way, Saturday coming back to St Helier I nearly lost a teenager over board due to excessive wash from a power boat that passed very close at high speed.
Regards Mike
 
Whilst I feel for you on what happened, are you sure half a mile! Why not just ban us from the solent, I always try to avoid sail boats and always try to go to rear, I tell you what, I will give half a mile when I see sailboats with their motoring cones up when they are under motor. Sorry for snarled response but that is a bit OTT on request
 
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I can't see how that's possible somewhere as crowded as the Solent to leave 1/2 mile around every sail boat.
 
Keeping 100m off is not unreasonable, unless it is somewhere crowded, like the Cowes Harbour Entrance.
Half a mile, in the Solent, I would most probably not reach the original destination.
 
I think I can understand the OPs concern - offshore in a calm sea, suddenly an unexpected roller arrives and nearly casts someone overboard.

I have had other Mobo's pass me frightenly close waving their willies as they go, and not giving a hoot about the chaos left literally in their wake. I do think if you actually consider his specific circumstance he had a good point, but of no relevance in the Saturday afternoon Solent bun fight.
 
Some times it is not the wake. Last weekend I had a powerboat pass me about 20 metres away doing an estimated 40+ knots in 20 knots of wind and waves. The way he was bouncing it would have only taken one rogue wave to send him into me. Absolutely frightening.

He was racing his mate who passed about 50 metres away. I fear the only way these people learn is if an accident happens.
 
rwoofer said:
Some times it is not the wake. Last weekend I had a powerboat pass me about 20 metres away doing an estimated 40+ knots in 20 knots of wind and waves. The way he was bouncing it would have only taken one rogue wave to send him into me. Absolutely frightening.

He was racing his mate who passed about 50 metres away. I fear the only way these people learn is if an accident happens.
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Was it really 40+ knots though? Raggie perception of speed is often grossly exaggerated. Not many production motorboats can achieve 40 knots. Proper race boats can, but motorboats are unlikley to cruise at much more than 25 with a top seed of around 30. Rouge waves are also unlikley to veer a motorboat widely and uncontrollably off course. I've done many thousands of hours in all kinds of motorboats, including race boats, and it has never happened to me. I would be more concerned about mech failure which again is unlikely, but could happen. Unfortunately, in places like the Solent (I know you did not say you were the, but taking a guess) it is often difficult to give the kind of room being asked for in this thread. At the weekend I passed within the sort of distances you mention at about 20 knots, purely because there were so many boats in the Solent the only other option was to slow right down. This would have actually made it a bit harder to pick my way through the sailies, as some of them were doing a good turn of speed, and I would have also missed the tide and had to wait until after midnight to get back on my berth.
 
I agree that too many mobos don't take account of their wakes, when it's relatively easy and not too time consuming to pass behind slower boats rather than ahead, leave a much bigger gap, and/or slow down when passing close to other boats or recognised anchorages. We should all think a bit more about our wash imho.
 
We all share the same water and I believe most try to accommodate the others around them but I think some are guilty of either not thinking or simply not knowing the consequence of their actions on others..

As far as wakes are concerned I find the worst offenders in my area of Poole harbour are the motorboats trying to get as close to the 10kn speed limit as they can, they are below planning speed but above displacement speed, so the bow is way up in the air and the wake they are producing is enormous.. When they pass close to me (7m mototboat, so no keel to help stabalise things) I am thrown all over the place as the series of wake peaks and troughs push me from side to side and I have to counter steer to maintain a reasonably straight course and not be pushed into the path of another boat.. Probably the worst of it is at the harbour entrance where the wakes are compounded by everyone making their way in or out trying to get past the ferry..

As far as sail boats go I see so many that either don't look where they are going or simply don't care.. I will try and give lots of space and in preference I will pass behind them but so often they will make unpredictable changes in direction forcing a close passing between the two boats and me having to change direction significantly.. The little dinghy's seem to be the worst..

Its not really about createing a passing distance "rule" but more about people being aware..
 
I agree,
All to often sailing boats do not show adequate consideration to other vessels, tacking infront of you (whilst your aiming to go behind) and then causing a 'close' encounter, even in open water.
Or, not paying attention in the river Hamble for example trying to get the main up, (still a motor vessel at that point) heading straight for another boat without even looking where they are going as they are too busy peering at the windex on the top of the mast!
I've sailed for many years (YM offshore) prior to recently owning my first mobo, I'm afraid it's a case that all sides need to show a bit more consideration....
Regards to opening comment which started this thread, I always used to shout 'wash' to warn my crew of impending bumpiness from a motorboat or larger vessel, keep a lookout and look after your crew!!
 
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Hi Pagetslady
Whilst I totally agree that all Motor Boat Skippers should show consideration to all sail and small boats I would ask for your assistance by bringing up a matter with your fellow sailboat skippers (perhaps through other forums that you may be using).
My boating home port has a narrow channel leading to both marinas and harbour (Conwy). When the half tide barriers drop there is a mass exodus and close proximity of all boats cannot be avoided.
I (as many others) always show consideration to yachts using the channel and if I am passing a yacht as soon as I am ahead of them try to move in front of them to allow them to get into my wake so I can then make the progress that my boat was designed for.
Quite often this is greeted with innapropriate and ignorant gestures. If these Skippers understood what I was trying to do they may assist by turning into my wake.
Please note that this is not a rant as I have many good sailing friends. I would just like your help in educating the ignorant. Thank you.
 
I give all boats as much space as I can but....no wash from any boat should be unexpected. Do you not have people looking behind...do people not keep a good look out what is happening all around them.

While wash can create problems on a yacht no crew should be taken by surprise if they are using their eyes or somebody is watching out for them.

I've been an instructor on sail for many years and the amount times that I observe people sailing who simply do not ever look behind them to see what is happening still does shock me.

Oh and I'm not by any means saying some power boat drives are not the bad guys here...they are and I see it often as well.

But come on people...look around you and take responsibility for what will happen to your boat on the sea and please don't blame others.

Remember it's always the skippers fault no matter what.
 
My two favourite topics. Conwy Channel and raggies not looking behind them. :encouragement: Add that to them taking up the whole channel and not keeping to starboard and I'll be in heaven.
 
Pagetslady said:
Hi could I please request that high speed motor boats could when passing a sailing boat give us more than 100 mtrs clearance the wash after you have gone creates a very dangerous situation, half a mile would be fine and I don't think would take you at 30kts much out of the way, Saturday coming back to St Helier I nearly lost a teenager over board due to excessive wash from a power boat that passed very close at high speed.
Regards Mike
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How predictable. Its summer and the usual hardy perennial thread from a pissed off yottie pontificating about motorboat wakes. As sure as night following day.

I would like to ask the OP whether he would complain about his teenager nearly being lost overboard as a result of the wash from high speed ferries, pilot boats, harbourmasters' launches and myriad other commercial traffic than produces a far greater wash than any private motor boat? Probably not, I would hazard a guess.
 
Deleted User said:
How predictable. Its summer and the usual hardy perennial thread from a pissed off yottie pontificating about motorboat wakes. As sure as night following day.

I would like to ask the OP whether he would complain about his teenager nearly being lost overboard as a result of the wash from high speed ferries, pilot boats, harbourmasters' launches and myriad other commercial traffic than produces a far greater wash than any private motor boat? Probably not, I would hazard a guess.
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:encouragement:

100m is more than enough clearance. Sounds like a lack of competence by the sailor if they really managed to almost lose someone overboard, perhaps they'd be happier and better off sticking to reservoir sailing.
 
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What is needed is an induction day for all raggies on the joys of a good wash. Wonder what the OP would have made of this?



Did I spill my coffee. Hell no, I looked behind and saw it coming :p
 
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