Opps ....... I think I upset a Raggie !

Re: As a matter of interest....

Haydn,
I am sure you were the only boat we met in Lyme Bay on the Friday (we were heading for Torquay). What a fantastic crossing. Sea like a sheet of glass.
There was diesel in Torquay as we filled up there.

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Re: Hm

Um, as i think the tone of yr post admits, you could have avoided all this by a big and obvious sweep in another direction much earlier. Passing a sailing boat within 30 m is too close, and although of course they should be able to "take it" it's hardly shows courtesy for others on the water, and it's not really the very best of feelings spending all day having fists/fingers waved at you. If you unavoidable have to choose between two boats, the larger will be less endangered than the smaller. Going astern a sailing boat affects it less than going ahead. Dropping off the plane should easily be achievable within a short distance - supposing you suddenly saw a pot marker for example? Missing other boats by 100m in solent should be your target. Thinking ahead in that very crowded area is good discipline and even fun.

With practice, you may even find raggies waving their thanks - and it is very easy to tell the difference between thanks and no thanks! The "straight line" passages of the solent are those most crowded. For an uninterrupted run, leave a larger gap on the north shore between chich and portsmouth, and in other areas that less speedy raggies will choose - aeround Gunard on the north coast of the IOW for example.


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A little thought provoker! Perhaps if, as seems likely, the EU gets its way and the price of red diesel shoots up to near the current price of marine petrol in 2006 , then much of the "Raggies being upset by Stinkies wash" debate will melt away. Many owners of larger motor boats, faced with a £600 bill for a Channel crossing, or even £100+ to travel from Southampton/Portsmouth to Yarmouth (IOW) and back, may stay in their respective marinas, and this forum will be starved of these lively threads.

Seriously though, as a one time owner of motor cruisers, managing a bit over 1 mpg, I am pleased now to be powered by sail (or by a little 29hp diesel that uses a 'thimblefull' of fuel every hour when there's no wind). Have forumites with diesel powered motor boats thought about what an impact such a move would make to their boating habits. I've discussed this with several motor cruiser owners in our marina, and their view is that they would definitley use them much more "sparingly". What does the forum think?

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