Nearly sunk by mad yachtie

[DPH]

Entered Cowes on Saturday, about 3:30PM, heading for the folly.
Obviously very busy, mainly boats coming in, but everyone keeping to starboard and fairly orderly. Opposite Shepherds Wharf, 100 metres in front I see a grey hulled 40 footish racer coming in the opposite direction, on the wrong side of the fairway. I moved out a bit to give him a bit more room, his intension looked like he was keeping close in, perhaps going in to Shepherds. Unfortunately, although I gave him room, there was a wall of yachts behind me which probably weren’t so aware of the situation.

So the situation continues, we are just about to pass starboard to starboard leaving perhaps a 30 foot gap when the skipper throws the wheel hard to starboard. This is while he’s doing maybe 4-5 knots. Bugger I think, he’s going to hit me bang on midships if he doesn’t throw it into reverse pronto. Arghh, I notice he’s also single handed, not only is he the only person onboard but he’s clutching a mobile to his right ear. I shift the throttles forward a bit. He’s still going to hit me, bit more throttle. No response from him, definite collision imminent, full throttle selected.

He passes 2 foot behind me.

Throttles back to tick-over, I turn my attention back to the skipper who raises his hand in thanks and carries on talking on his mobile.

 

[Whitelighter]

It would have been a perfect show of incompetance if YOU had then be given a telling of by the HM for excessive wash.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

You missed a good chance there. You could have given him a broadside if you had had the guns primed and loaded. I think you need to re-train your crew.

But, when it comes to yotties, it will always be your fault, I'm afraid.

 

[Fire99]

Well i wasn't there but it definitely seems the Blokes an idiot..
Don't suppose you will see him anytime soon but a few words are in order i think..

There is definitely an attitude with some people along the lines of 'I rule the roost'

I forgot to ask, did you use your horn??

 

[DPH]

No time to use horn, hands welded to throttles!

Incidentally, coming out of Cowes yesterday about 5PM had to give way to someone sailing up the fairway. It was a huge racing catamaran canted over at 45 degrees. Quite a sight!

 

[Questor]

At least you got a thank you.

 

[adey]

Maybe he was having a sailing lesson by phone?

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
He passes 2 foot behind me.

[/ QUOTE ] A thought. If he's a racer, he'll be very well practiced in making such sharp manouevres, and excellent at judging just where to point (straight at your bridge) in order to just skip clear of your stern.

He'd appreciate your acceleration too; it would enable him to turn even tighter (maintaining that 2ft miss distance), giving him more room to escape those following you. Hence the smile and the wave.

But null points to him for being there in the first place, and null points for not allowing that his manouevre may cause you grief.

 

[Searush]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe he was having a sailing lesson by phone?

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Just as an aside, I often cut across behind MoBos to cross the wake at right angles - but I prefer to be as far as possible behind as the wash fades slowly, & I only have a relatively small boat.

 

[Roger_D]

I think Jimbaerselman may have a point in that racers can normally place their bows very accurately (when concentrating!). I know this from having suffered intimidation from a number of fast port tack boats in the Solent whilst cruising as the stand on vessel in a slow sailing boat. Their favourite trick is to aim just forward of your midships and pretend not to see you to force you to tack. You are then faced with a few anxious seconds deciding whether he is going to take avoiding action at the last second or not. Under this threat, many chicken out and tack. We would scream starboard & hope for the best, but it is very nerve racking as they then bear away just enough to miss your stern by 2 feet, (often without easing the main) so they are skilled at doing this. My tactic now as the stand on boat beating is, as a collision without course alteration becomes inevitable, is to bear away a little, so that I would T bone him, rather than he T bone me, so I then control the situation. Then, he either has to tack or bear away significantly, & if he does not see me, I can give him the 2 foot treatment at the last few seconds.

However, I was not there to see & there is no excuse for the helm's inattention.