Playing chicken? Col Regs again.

[StugeronSteve]

The sea breeze kicked in on Saturday afternoon and we enjoyed a short, but brisk, Solent sail.

Heading south on a starboard tack, under full main and genny, we were on a converging course with a pair of yachts heading west on a port tack. The furthest away was clearly going to pass ahead and was of no concern, however, the nearer of the two was on a direct collision course. We stood on until it was apparent that the helm had not seen us and avoiding action was necessary. I luffed up, spilled wind and returned their embarrassed wave with a friendly smile.

A little later and still on the same leg a similar situation arose, this time I was sure I had made eye contact with the helm and felt confident in standing on. Instead of bearing away he too stood on. As I lost sight of the helm behind his genoa I was unsure of his intentions, if we both held our course we would collide, if I tacked or luffed he might bear away and hit us. I held course and gave a clear and polite hail to emphasize my presence and intention. He passed within a metre or two of our transom clearly offended and upset that I had doubted his competence.

To my mind his actions were dangerous, the situation upset my solitary crewman and had me questioning my judgement, whilst seemingly caught between a rock and a hard place. I feel that such close quarters sailing (other than between two members of a racing fleet) creates a pointless risk and is totally irresponsible.

This all took place mid Solent in open water, I have no idea whether he was trying to bully me into submission, or felt that I should have had absolute confidence in his ability and intentions. Am I a wuss, or right in being concerned by this sort of behaviour?

<hr width=100% size=1>God only made so many perfect heads. The rest got covered in hair.

 

[sailorman]

when racing we used to shout STARBOARD loudly & still do when the occasion arrises.
we had a chap sailing up the Orwell on Sunday c/w anchor ball strung-up in stbd rigging he was asked " r u anchored" answer "forgot to take it down".
well atleast he had fenders "stowed"

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[pugwash]

Why not give him five toots?

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[Joe_Cole]

I think that you are right to be concerned. If he is close enough for you to feel vulnerable then he's too close IMHO. He's also daft, he must be vulnerable too: how does he know how good your boat handling is?

Joe

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[Talbot]

That sort of stupidity should be reserved for the racing gentlemen, and has no business being carried out on people who are not racing. I am going to sit a bit on the fence on this, and merely call it inconsiderate, bad manners, and wrong. They should be sent back to the classroom /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[Col]

Quote
"He passed within a metre or two of our transom "

Bludy hell!!! And you lot moan when a stinkie comes within 500 yds of you!!/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[duncan]

agreed - although I probably upset a few of those in Poole on Sunday morning.

heading across the shallows towards the Wytch (?) channel at a pleasant 7 knots with a good tide behind I found myself faced with a line of yachts all the way back to the Barfleur! As the situation developed there seemed to be a decent gap between the 2nd and 3rd boats so I continued aiming close behind No2 etc at 90 degrees. Then ****er me if No 5 suddenly seemed to have an auxillary running! In less than 200meters he filled the gap completely and whist still trying to wrk out how he had done that in what looked like a 1 design class I had to 'use a little throttle'. No one had to change course etc but I felt like a rank amatur and wished I had opened up fully 2 mins earlier and skirted round the front by 100 yds instead of trying to stay slow and easy.

It happens!

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[StugeronSteve]

Yeah, but even a metre or two from our transom he wouldn't have spilt the tea!

<hr width=100% size=1>God only made so many perfect heads. The rest got covered in hair.

 

[StugeronSteve]

I was sorely tempted to give him two fingers!

<hr width=100% size=1>God only made so many perfect heads. The rest got covered in hair.

 

[jimi]

Once is forgiveable .. twice and the guy's a w@nker .. err I mean a tosseur ... I'd have given him more than two fingers!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[Robin]

I had to bellow STAAAARBOOAARD at one of the JSSC Victoria 34s week before last, they did the same very last minute dip under the transom having had me put down my lunch, get behind the wheel and switch the autopilot to standby. In the middle of Poole Bay and not racing that is somewhat unnecessary.

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[alec]

I have come to realize that there are some people that are just ‘too important’ to have rules that are applicable to them. Mostly racing types who are obviously ‘too important’ but the ‘ I didn’t get where I was without being aggressive ‘ types believe that getting their own way is what life is all about.

With some regret, I find that many wooden gaffers are the worst offenders in my kneck of the woods ( plus non waving) but size generally does not seem to come into it ( except for racers’). On second thoughts, the lack of scope in their exterior plumbing/fertilizing apparatus is probably a deep rooted reason for their behavior.

Feel sorry for them.


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[Sybarite]

I would not feel embarassed in the slightest at calling starboard. Better that than an accident. And eye contact isn't enough. If I am on port tack, I give a significant wave through sign so that he knows that I have seen him and that I am not intending to try to pass in front. Then you can go pretty close and give a cheery wave. For me it's simply a question of common sense.

John

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[qsiv]

I wouldn't waste my whisk(e)y on him - keep it for yourself!

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[Robin]

I'm not embarassed by having to call starboard, but I might be embarassed if the other boat felt they had to shout starboard to me except if we we were racing! I agree entirely with you, outside of a race scenario a polite waved acknowledgement that you have right of way and everyone can relax.

Robin

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[Birdseye]

Since people who post on this forum never make such mistakes / cock ups, should we make forum membership compulsory and do away with sailing accidents? /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[Peppermint]

Re: HMMM!

I will also pass close to yachts I give way to, for sure if I'm butting a tide, but you will know I've seen you from quite early on.

My tactic has always been to bear away early and then follow the stand on boats transom with my bow. Most skippers see the early adjustment and can retain control of the cup of tea or whatever.

If in doubt ask the question. Anyone who takes offence at a hail to clarify a right of way issue is a lightweight anyway.

I have been told, quite firmly, on hailing a port tack boat, that he was on starboard. So expect the unexpected.

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[jimi]

Re: HMMM!

"My tactic has always been to bear away early and then follow the stand on boats transom with my bow. Most skippers see the early adjustment and can retain control of the cup of tea or whatever"

My tactic as well .. allows you to pass close so that no ground is lost and at the same time leaves no ambiguity as to your intentions whilst leaving plenty of room for manouevre in case of the unexpected .. also have had boats on port tack shout starboard on me ... never mind windward or overtaking boats who actually were on starboard but were still giveway boats .. just a fact of life in the Solent I fear!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[Robin]

Like most people I do make mistakes - don't ask/forums/images/icons/blush.gif, that's why I said I would be embarassed to have someone call starboard on me in a cruising rather than racing scenario, it probably means that I was nodding off dreaming of faraway places again or ....

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[AlexL]

Re: HMMM!

This is what I do - and what I was taught on my day skipper course - make a very obivious movement in the intended direction - you can then come back on to the wind - but the guy knows my intensions, and that you've seen him, and which way i'm intending to pass him

"Rant Mode On"

On the subject of some people being "too important to have rules" We had an incident at the weekend were we were waiting in a queue on the orwell / stour for shotley lock - the procedure is that you radio the lock keeper on Ch80 (says it in the almanac, and in a bloody great sign on one of the poles on the approach channel) and on a busy sunday afternoon, if low water is mid / late afternoon a queue tends to develop, the lockkeeper gives a position in the queue and a boat name to follow. So there we are merrily waiting - maybe 1/2 hour 40 mins and just as our turn comes (3 yachts and a mobo) a prima (?) 38 full of racing crew barrels up goes straight down the channel, ignores the lock keepers hails on ch80 and goes straight in the lock. once in the lock - No apologies. Its people like this that give us all a bad name.

"Rant mode off"

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