Need Advice Passing a Sailing Club

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GAJ52

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As I have mentioned in previous posts I am very new to boating and need some advice please.

During the summer I took my boat past Shepperton Lock and round the longer main channel i.e. not through the Desborough Channel, only to be confronted what seemed to be 3000 small sailing boats at the bend in the river (slight exaggeration but it was a lot).

My question - how do I approach the sailing club buoys (do they effect me) and when confronted with so many sailing boats on a small section of water - what should I do ? My boat is a 37 foot Birchwood so not that manoeuvrable.

Glen
 
Others will be along soon but my reaction is to slow right down to a crawl and hold a direct course,allowing everyone to see exactly what my intentions are.If I do alter course
slightly to aim for where the action is thinnest, will do so without drama.My only concern will be to have sufficient water under me to float at all times.
Relax,the worst that can happen is a mark or two on your hull.

Will always smile and wave no matter what occurs.:)
 
wot ee sez...

Stick close to the bank, minding depth.

Slow, hold course. They are more manoeuverable than you, and if you're nice and predictable they can see what you're doing and race accordingly.
 
Thanks, what about the buoys in the middle of the river, do I need to pass on any particular side or are they just for the benefit of the sailor's ?
 
They will appreciate you taking a slow and clear line through their fleet. If you hesitate and start wavering your course they be quite rightly agitated.

I would also suggest you try and pass astern of them, rather than cut in front of them.

CJL
 
The buoys are course markers and the dinghies have to turn round them.
If the fleet is closely packed it also helps if you can hold back slightly and allow them to turn without also avoiding you. That's not always possible.
If you scuttle along close to the bank anyway - rather than in the middle of the river, you'd be causing less hassle as they will have to put in a tack anyway - so you're not adding an extra course change.
 
It helps greatly if you understand a little about how sailing boats behave and their likely action when racing round racing marks (the buoys) which is also very dependent on wind direction.
For instance, if they are racing a lateral course between two marks and the wind is blowing conveniently up (or down) river their behaviour will be much more predictable on the downwind leg than it will be when they are heading upwind and will need to track frequently from side to side.

I am seeking a simple online explanation and will post it here if I locate something suitable. However, my own approach, as has been said by others, is to stay well to my starb'd bank paying due regard to water depth.
 
Once again many thanks for some great info.

I find the odd sailing boat no problem, as you say keep over to right and adjust speed to pass when they are tacking over to the left bank, my concern is when the river alive with them. It would be interesting to know what the sailing club advices their members on what to do when a powered pleasure craft approaches.
 
Just looked at the tread you raised on the other forum - interesting !!

"Going slowly, steering predictably and not worrying about giving way to sail, is the best bet." This seems to be one of the best answers I came across, let them see you as a predictable obstruction and let them sail accordingly.

Many thanks boatone :)
 
oldgit said:
Others will be along soon but my reaction is to slow right down to a crawl and hold a direct course,allowing everyone to see exactly what my intentions are.If I do alter course
slightly to aim for where the action is thinnest, will do so without drama.My only concern will be to have sufficient water under me to float at all times.
Relax,the worst that can happen is a mark or two on your hull.

Will always smile and wave no matter what occurs.:)
Click to expand...

Surely this just prolongs the angst and requires excessive effort on both sides. I would have though the centre line of the river and max knots would ensure that both groups pass as swiftly as possible and would at least allow us to get back to the tapas and white wine before they've all been consumed??
 
GAJ52 said:
As I have mentioned in previous posts I am very new to boating and need some advice please.

During the summer I took my boat past Shepperton Lock and round the longer main channel i.e. not through the Desborough Channel, only to be confronted what seemed to be 3000 small sailing boats at the bend in the river (slight exaggeration but it was a lot).

My question - how do I approach the sailing club buoys (do they effect me) and when confronted with so many sailing boats on a small section of water - what should I do ? My boat is a 37 foot Birchwood so not that manoeuvrable.

Glen
Click to expand...

Might also be worth making a loud sound signal to warn of your approach.
 
I continue basicaly as others have said, constant speed and course etc... I also find if I avoid eye contact and pretend to not have seen them it ups their concentration a bit, haven't tried a sound signal but that might have a similar effect!!
 
Know the area and dinghy club well... No easy way of getting through there without being chastised. I ignore them now, go wide and keep a steady speed. This thread has reminded me of a conversation I had recently while on a Riva Aquarama on Lake Garda (I decided to spoil myself and charter one for the day). When we came across a bunch (and there really were 100s) of sailing boats I asked the skipper what the rules were. His reply: "the rule is that they should be in the middle of the lake and give us space to go around. They are not. So we open the gas and go through where we want". So we did
 
alant said:
Might also be worth making a loud sound signal to warn of your approach.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. They will be concentrating on each other and may not notice you approaching so give 5 short blasts on the horn as you approach

If you are restricted by the lack depth near the banks hoist the appropriate shape, a cylinder, to indicate that you are "constrained by draught". Try to maintain a constant speed and course through the fleet but if you do have to alter course give the appropriate sound signal to draw attention to your intention, preceded perhaps by 5 short blasts.

Report any who fail to recognise that you are constrained by draught.
 
Push both throttles fully forward, zig zag, or even zag zig violently from side to side to confuse the impudent raggies, and possibly take out a few Rowers as an added bonus...


Patent pending 'Fifty Shades 2013'

P.S. I have not actually tried this, but sounds really good fun.

PPS. Navigators and general ins. co. do not actually exclude this in their usual list of exclusions!!
 
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