nightsailing

[musicman]

Hi!

Could anyone advise on the best formation for nightsailing if you're traveling with up to 5 other boats? would a "flying V" be recomended, or just a pack, or just keep the hell out of each other's way? has anyone nightsailed with other boats before?....what are the do's and don'ts?? thanks in advance! RK

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[tome]

There will be no formation. If 5 boats set off together (day or night), they will all sail at different speeds and wind angles. After the first couple of miles they will be strung out, and the longer the passage the bigger the spread. After about 30 miles they will no longer be in sight of each other.

Simple really!

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[musicman]

i kinda meant it in a way where the boats would stay together in formation. i know they would all have to sail at the speed of the slowest boat, but what formation would they use?

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[tome]

Slowest boat leading, the remainder of the fleet behind in loose formation. It's bad enough keeping your speed down without having to worry about maintaining a pattern.

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[bruce]

think that the first don't would be to assume that all the boats will be going the same speed, unless power boats, sails are harder to trim at night, in dark, without radar you won't be able to keep track of everybody for your 'V'. keep your radios on and have regular checkins, 7x50 glasses or night vision, and everybody is going to want clean air. good luck and fair winds...

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[Nickel]

Oh you'd have to go line of battle - if you've got a couple fo small fast jobbies, they can take up the frigate positions one to each side of the line.

Slowest big jobbie, takes the van of the line. The Admiral the middle, the Rear Admiral, guess where.

Flag etiquette an absolute must, and remember "expects" is easier to put into a flag signal than "confides".

And watch out for the combined fleet, because there'll probably be about nine of them!

<hr width=100% size=1>Nickel

Being paranoid simply means - having all the facts.

 

[BobE]

If you sail solo as a pair of boats. One sets his wind or auto helm and goes off watch. But keeps the VHF on... The other can easily sail close to the off watch guy and keep a good look out by all available means etc. ( In accordance with Col Regs) At the change of watch a call on the VHF alows the two to swap jobs and watch... More than 2 boats you gotta problem!!
(Written with tongue well into cheek but worth a thought)
Cheers Bob E...

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[BrendanS]

We've done this as a night exercise. Difficult enough in powerboats that can maintain constant speed, much more difficult when sailing.

We've tried V's and simple everyone keeps outboard of everyone in a line.. Have to school the person in front to keep sufficient distance from bouys or any other obsruction that tail end charlie won't hit it. It doesn't last long as peeps either do their own thing, or drop behind the leading boat to take advantage of their flattening out the chop.

In honesty, it seems like a good idea in the club house while planning, but doesn't last long at sea.

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[heerenleed]

It has been done

I've actually read the story of two Dutchmen who had to singlehand their boats back to the Netherlands from Sweden I believe. They kept ther VHF on, at maximum volume on an unused channel at sea. The man on watch could wake the other one up because the VHF was on this high volume. It worked well, according to their story.

fair winds


<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.heerenleed.tk>http://www.heerenleed.tk</A>

 

[Guest]

Simple answer in practice ?

We all set off at xx.xx ...... together.

Hour later have got fed up with the VHF chatter and just want a bit 'o peace and quiet.....

2 hours later ..... call on VHF ....... to others : See you all there lads. If I'm first there - will try and keep a berth for you and a pint !


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[jimi]

Much will depend on the point of sail .. if down wind then a line abreast is appropriate , close as possible together, perhaps even tied together. Is upwind then definitely warped togetherforward quarter to rear quarter to maximise the slot effect

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[jamesjermain]

You'll never do it.

In daylight, with semi-professional helmsmen we occasionally try to sail in formation for photo shoots. The formation never lasts more than a few minutes. Your fleet will quickly get bored with the amount of sail trimming and course tweeking that will be necessary to hold even a loose formation. To hold a tight formation at night is to risk a major insurance claim; leave it to the Grey Funnel line.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ