Passing trawlers

Nigel_Ward said:
I think the problem is that most leisure sailors do not undertand that there are many different fishing methods and boats can look similar.

This publication by a former colleague of mine explains the common fishing methods.

http://www.seafish.org/media/Publications/Basic_Fishing_Gear_Booklet_May05.pdf

Having done trips on many fishing vessels as a researcher I would advise to keep well clear as fishing vessels, especially trawlers, may change course very suddenly to follow a contour or avoid a seabed obstruction!
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Thanks for that, very useful
 
alant said:
It wasn't an insult, simply an observation.

Few if any, yotties, understand what fishing boats are doing, particularly at night & particularly when in some areas they congregate in fleets, going an a variety of directions without obvious reason. They are working, so particularly at night, their lights are confusing & in the areas they fish, may not be keeping a particularly close watch for the occasional leisure vessel. We, as in the majority being non-commercial, owe those working boats some consideration & keep well clear. They have enough to contend with, without some yottie claiming 'stand on' or getting close to their gear.
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Well I do understand they have to be there and are working and I'm just choosing to be out for fun. My understanding, like a lot of us leisure sailors, is limited in depth and experience. It does seem to be stirring up bothe yoties and fishermen. But the more factual objective moment is helpful.
 
Now and then I come across a fishing boat, trawling and they seem magically magnetically attracted to us whatever we do. This has happened in the middle of the night in the middle of the Bristol Channel, nothing else around, loads of room... has happened too often now. I think they're bored and do it on purpose.
 
I would recommend The Mariner's Handbook NP 100 produced by the Hydrographer.

Excellent piece on Fishing Methods.

Having done Fish Protection at one time, I can say the warps go down very deep, very quick but why take risks?

You are obliged to keep clear so give as much room as you can in a seamanlike manner.
 
I too have been surprised to see trawlers change course towards me when I've turned to avoid them.

Are they not obliged to maintain course as the stand on vessel?
 
RCC on the Medway get on rather well with our local fisherman to the extent that every year we jointly organise a weekend event where we beat the bounds of the Rochester Floating Oyster Fishery over a couple of days followed up at the end of each day with a few pints and and a seafood spread in the clubhouse.There can be up to 80 boats taking part on the Sunday downriver cruise to Sheerness.
We take great pleasure in firing a cannon at every yacht club we pass and they respond in a suitable fashion.:)
 
>may change course very suddenly to follow a contour or avoid a seabed obstruction!

Indeed that is true. A boat we know was passing too close to a trawler off Venezuela, the trawler turned hit the boat and dismasted it. I agree with at least half a mile separation.
 
When we sailed along the Indian coast from Panaji to Sri Lanka, we discovered that most of the fishing boats trawl without showing any lights at all. We had a near miss one night, Rob was on watch, I heard him shout and turns out he could hear engine noises but couldn't work out where the boat was. Suddenly a spot light was shone in his face and boat lights came on dead ahead. From our perspective we could see green, white, red. Rob gybed the boat so we would go port to port and we ended up going straight across the trawl, within 75meters of the boat. It turned out the fishermen had a green light on their bow, white on the cabin top and red on their stern. The main problem we had was we could hear lots of engines, but not one of the fishing boats showed any lights.
 
Tricia said:
When we sailed along the Indian coast from Panaji to Sri Lanka, we discovered that most of the fishing boats trawl without showing any lights at all. We had a near miss one night, Rob was on watch, I heard him shout and turns out he could hear engine noises but couldn't work out where the boat was. Suddenly a spot light was shone in his face and boat lights came on dead ahead. From our perspective we could see green, white, red. Rob gybed the boat so we would go port to port and we ended up going straight across the trawl, within 75meters of the boat. It turned out the fishermen had a green light on their bow, white on the cabin top and red on their stern. The main problem we had was we could hear lots of engines, but not one of the fishing boats showed any lights.
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Lol! That takes me back. I spent six months on a anchor handling supply tug working out of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. The sailing surfboards that were drift netting were the worst. The trawlers were bad too. Worse though was they were all quite happy to turn Pirate when it suited them. Not at sea but if we were at anchor in the bay it was a constant struggle. Sometimes the crew would be at fisticuffs on one side of the ship trying to stop them stealing ropes when a different lot would board the other side and try and make off with fire hoses etc.
 
Having spoken to one or two of the Trawlermen and ex-trawlermen down in Brixham - half mile is good target to achieve.
 
Further than a fisherman can throw a stone is good advice allegedly.

Trying to pass in front, leave tons of room as they can alter course without warning and somehow go faster than you expect.
 
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