Near miss in Milford on Saturday?

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Alcyone

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We were sailing under genoa from Dale up river to Llangwm last Saturday on a warm sunny day when we heard an irate tanker skipper shouting at harbour control to try and control those yachts. Harbour control then replied that they had no control over the yachts and asked what happened. Either a pilot boat or a tug then replied that (I think) a yacht had indeed had a near miss with a tanker trying to berth.

On the way back down the river, we were cut off by a pilot boat who then called us on channel 12 and asked would we mind crossing to the other side of the river whilst some tugs berthed another tanker. We did so happily.

I believe that they had an SSR or sail number of the offending yacht, and appeared to be looking for it.

Does anyone know the full story? It sounds quite scary, and may have knock on effects for many of us.
 
Didn't see it, but there were a couple of tankers arriving & departing on Saturday.
Haven was busier than i've seen for a long time.
Wind got up a bit towards the evening and on Sunday the place was deserted. We had Longoar to ourselves.
 
tico said:
Didn't see it, but there were a couple of tankers arriving & departing on Saturday.
Haven was busier than i've seen for a long time.
Wind got up a bit towards the evening and on Sunday the place was deserted. We had Longoar to ourselves.
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Yeah, it wasn't a pleasant trip back to Dale on Saturday. We stayed Sunday night and we were the only ones sitting outside the Griffin. Very quiet.
 
Don't know why you should think there'd be knock-on effects for all of us. Tankers and yachts have operated in the Haven for years with the occasional incident. If the miscreant is found he'll probably get a ticking off but that's about all (mores the pity).
 
Davegriff said:
Don't know why you should think there'd be knock-on effects for all of us. Tankers and yachts have operated in the Haven for years with the occasional incident. If the miscreant is found he'll probably get a ticking off but that's about all (mores the pity).
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Only that, after the 'near miss' we were asked to change course for the first time ever on Saturday. It could, of course, have just been coincidence.
 
I assumed you were asked to change course 'cos you'd have been in the way of operations! Not unusual and no problem with that - its sometimes difficult to work out just what they're doing when berthing/turning ships in the river. They probably just get a bit nervous of the crazy 'holiday traffic' here in summer months.http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif
 
Davegriff said:
I assumed you were asked to change course 'cos you'd have been in the way of operations! Not unusual and no problem with that - its sometimes difficult to work out just what they're doing when berthing/turning ships in the river. They probably just get a bit nervous of the crazy 'holiday traffic' here in summer months.http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif
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I probably didn't make myself clear in that case.

I've always seen it as best to give commercial shipping a wide berth. I stay out of the channels as much as possible, and always monitor Ch12. I never really allow myself to get into a situation (well, not any more, anyhow......:o) whereby my intentions are in doubt. This is as much to do with not getting squashed as it is any adherence to the colregs. :D

In my limited opinion, asking me to change course in this case was demonstrating an increase in caution, certainly when compared to my previous four years in the Haven.

As I say, it could be coincidence. Anyway, I'm probably over emphasising now.

Cheers. :)
 
Alcyone said:
Only that, after the 'near miss' we were asked to change course for the first time ever on Saturday. It could, of course, have just been coincidence.
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I heard the shout as we were beating down river. looked back and saw something like the bro deliverer, which was slowly moving up river as we went down, was turning in the pool by MH entrance. Then saw a biggish blue hull yot coming down river with L at the end of his sail number coming down river. Assumed it was him. Was that you next to us in Castlebeach Bay on Sunday?
Stu
PS I presume they were nervous later on because there was a gas boat coming in.
 
skipper_stu said:
I heard the shout as we were beating down river. looked back and saw something like the bro deliverer, which was slowly moving up river as we went down, was turning in the pool by MH entrance. Then saw a biggish blue hull yot coming down river with L at the end of his sail number coming down river. Assumed it was him. Was that you next to us in Castlebeach Bay on Sunday?
Stu
PS I presume they were nervous later on because there was a gas boat coming in.
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Right, thanks for that, Stu. I had a feeling they got the sail number.

We were at Castlebeach a number of times over the weekend. I usually anchor close in. Bald guy, black dog, blonde missis, green dinghy?

I think we did meet once. Didn't you come and say hello wghen we were on the moorings at Dale?

:)

Edit, was this you?
d47.jpg
 
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Alcyone said:
Right, thanks for that, Stu. I had a feeling they got the sail number.

We were at Castlebeach a number of times over the weekend. I usually anchor close in. Bald guy, black dog, blonde missis, green dinghy?

I think we did meet once. Didn't you come and say hello wghen we were on the moorings at Dale?

:)

Edit, was this you?
d47.jpg
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Yup
that is moi!
Stu
 
Ah, pity. I think we were there a couple of hours together. I would have aksed you over for a coffee or something.

Catch you next time.
 
By all accounts the reason for the rant by the master/pilot directed at the yacht was because the tanker was pushing up to the berth at valero when the yacht took a route between the tanker and the berth so the tanker had to abort its approach. I would imagine its a bit of a chore having to stop a tanker mid manouvre!!!
 
may_west said:
By all accounts the reason for the rant by the master/pilot directed at the yacht was because the tanker was pushing up to the berth at valero when the yacht took a route between the tanker and the berth so the tanker had to abort its approach. I would imagine its a bit of a chore having to stop a tanker mid manouvre!!!
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Yes, that's the way I interpreted it. Not a brilliant idea. I'd be interested to know if the yacht was ever identified and, if so, what they did to him/her.
 
I would have thought so. definately close enough to get a name or sail number off anyway. Not sure what the port authority might have done if anything. mind you i did hear rumour that they prosecuted a yachtsman early on in the year who cut up a tanker whichhad to crash stop in the channel in not to favourable conditions. How true it is i dont know.:confused:
 
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