Powerboat wash in the Solent & Southampton Water

Edward_Hughes

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For the past 3 years I have sailed my small (16ft) sailboat in Southampton Water and the Solent, venturing twice round the I.O.W, East to Chichester and West to Christchurch. Setting aside the constant swarm of noisy, pounding, RIBS and PWCs I would like to present a view from my lowly craft of the high speed washmakers that charge around these waters with no apparent consideration or concern for other users in more environmentally friendly craft.

Holding place of honour in the washmaker category are the Red Jets about which I have had a protracted but futile discussion with Red Funnel’s Captain Ferrier. Apparently as long as their commanders “are exceptional seafarers and execute good seamanship at all times” the effects of the Red Jets on small craft, the shore and the environment generally are of no concern to Red Funnel. Even to the extent of obtaining dispensation to continue at high speed North of Hythe Pier. I have logged numerous incidents where these craft have passed within 50 meters of my boat without reducing speed, on one occasion I had a Red Jet on each side going in opposite directions. I recently witnessed a Red Jet passing close to a 30ft yacht with a crew member up the mast. The effect was horrific to watch – “good seamanship” indeed.

Probably not driven by exceptional seafarers are the next category of washmakers which range from the foreshortened, top-hampered, stern heavy pod-like creations to the giant flat-sterned monsters that emerge from the safety of their rivers for the regular weekend lunchtime dash to Cowes. Most of them can barely contain the urge to open up as they approach the mouths of the rivers where they lurk all week turning the banks into huge expensive waterborne caravan parks. The havoc wreaked by these craft is exacerbated by the fact that they only come out to play when the water is calm and the effects of their wash turns the waters into a maelstrom of confusion. From my experience of being ‘buzzed’ by high speed power boats, often by 2 or 3 in rapid succession and clearly racing to reach the bar first, their drivers do not even turn to acknowledge the presence of other craft in their vicinity.

What can be done? Probably nothing in view of the short-termism and commercial interests locked into powerboat production, maintenance, marinas, local employment etc. Just think of the impact on all of these that a 10 knot power boat speed limit in the Solent would have. I was encouraged to read that a powerboat driver has been fined for proceeding “without due care and attention” and causing wash in the Thames. If one considers that a power boat has behaved in a like fashion in Southampton Water or the Solent, what action can one take? Report it to the police, coastguard, Port Authority or the vessel’s yacht club? I would be interested to know if anyone has tried and with what result.

I cannot believe that I am the only one out on the water who is affected by this lack of consideration and therefore poor seamanship. From my observations the adverse effects of wash extends to much larger craft than mine, the shoreline, rod fishermen, sailing dinghy races and bathers. Why has the situation been allowed to continue for so long?
 

ParaHandy

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Welcome, Ed, to the funny farm .... you have a point although, making it from the vantage point of a 16' yacht where the force of such wash is magnified, might not gain much sympathy ... i sailed a 16' cat for most of 90's out of netley and we kept away, not a battle i'd likely win ...
 

tcm

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Bit selfish: alternative view

The red jet carries dozens of pasengers across the water, often for somewhat more important purposes than the jolly day aimed for by most small leisure craft. The solent is an obstacle for some, altho a recreational area for others including you.

It is surely poor seamanship to go up the mast of a boat located near the path of the red jet - it's not as though it's too much of a surprise that they turn up every 20minutes or whatever, is it? Wasn't he clipped on - of course he was. He was just somewhat frightened by the motion.

And, it's also arguably fairly poor seamnaship to use a boat in areas that that can't handle the conditions - i mean, in a 16 footer, if it can't take the conditions - you shouldn't be out, should you? "The conditions" include the effects of wind and tide but in this case the conditions caused by a multitude of other boats in a small area - you certainly need decent manoevrability, and may need greater freeboard and/or displacement too.

Consider, frexample, if the red jet and others slow down to make less wash for you ....but then you buy an EVEN SMALLER boat - does the red jet or whoever have to slow down even more as a result? I don't think so. You've (hoepefully accidentally) engineered a situation where you are especially affected by others, but have read lots of books about giving way, rules of the road and blah blah.

Notwithstanding this, i wd always attempt to keep 100yds off any other boat in a powerboat - tho i am simply not at all sure this is possible for a red jet on thir soton-cowes journeys all the time.

Another point - all tthe PWC's acctually LIKEE the fact that i make a lot of wasah so they can jump over it. So there mite be lots more complaints if big powerboats slowed down, praps hm?
 

Evadne

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I suppose you\'ll just have to get used to it...

My boat is a little bigger, but wash from the red jets will stop us just the same. The answer to your last question is, most likely because the only people who care about it are powerless to do anything about it.

I sail from Chichester harbour and our most common destinations are in the Solent. I notice only two areas where wash from powered vessels ever borders on the intolerable, and that is off Portsmouth harbour and, less often, in the vicinity of Cowes or Bramble bank. We rarely go up Southampton water: it's not pretty and it is overcrowded at weekends. Especially the river Hamble. The rest of the Solent, especially to the west, is usually fairly peaceful. I would suggest that your chosen sailing area is one of the busiest stretches of water in the UK for both ferries and pleasure vessels, so it is not surprising that their wash is a feature. If you crave peace then maybe you could consider going further afield. Both Stokes bay and the area between Egypt point and Lepe are quiet by comparison. The Solent is also quiet from Monday to Friday, generally, although that's not an option for those of us who have to go to work.

Regarding the red jets, two years ago I went on one for the first time, on the last day of Cowes week. Looking out of the front window was something of an eye-opener, there were millions of yachts from canoes to gin palaces, all going in all directions, all at once at speeds from 0-40 knots. Threading a ferry through that lot is not something I could do at all, let alone on a daily basis, and I think that they are indeed driven by exceptional seafarers. Even if they do make an excessive and antisocial amount of wash.
 

duncan

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Re: Boat wakes in the Solent & Southampton Water

Dear Sir,

You make a number of good points, and I would never suggest that safety should be compromised at all, but in response to the underlying point could I suggest that you make use of the significant number of areas where planning craft are not permitted in the UK (for example travel up to the Lake District to enjoy the environment) and leave those who have to travel significant distances the one remaining area of sheltered water that does permit craft to exceed 10 knots.
Commercial vessels have been the lifeblood of this country for hundreds of years and it remains reasonable for other craft using 'their routes' to accept their passage and the conditions it creates.
In waters as conjested as the Solent at times 50m is often going to be the only available clearance.

However, despite taking a clearly contrary view on this to yourself, I totally agree on the commercial's extending their areas of high speed operation outwith the bylaws (you have a reasonable right to expect conditions in those areas), powered pleasure craft travelling at SOG at, or just below, the limit in force regardless of the wake they are creating 'just because they can' (Hamble and Poole & Chichester Harbour entrances are examples) and sailing craft being 'bloody minded' in these same areas (plus Cowes entrance) again just because they feel they can.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable season where ever you sail .
 

DJE

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I spent many years cruising the Solent in a 16 ft Wayfarer dinghy. Never had much trouble with wash from other vessels. The Western Solent with wind against tide was usually worse than the occasional passing ferry or motor boat.
 

BlueChip

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The worst wash I ever experienced in the Solent was caused by one of the Fawley tugs going east past Osbourne in the deap channel, it didn't look to be going exceptionally fast but the wash was worse than I have ever seen before. We are a heavy 37' westerly and we rolled so much we took waves in the cockpit - for dinghies and anything smaller it would have been dangerous
 

DJE

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Thats the thing with tugs; they can get right up to maximum displacement speed and still have loads of power to spare.
 

KevB

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[ QUOTE ]
I have sailed my small (16ft) sailboat in Southampton Water and the Solent

[/ QUOTE ]

Equals = Sinclair C5 on the M25 /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 

Sans Bateau

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So Kev, are you suggesting that if you only have a 16 ft boat you should not take to the Southhampton Water or the Solent, so you can have a clear run in you gas guzzling power boat?

Surely not?
 

[2574]

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Re: Powerboat wash in the Solent & Southampton Water

God forbid that we start excluding people because they can't afford a Porsche...........
 

KevB

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No, but it's horses for courses. If some one or something isn't up to the conditions then maybe they shouldn't be there. Where do you draw there line, should I expect not to get wet in the Solent on a £12.99 li-lo from argos? Who should I complain to if my sons 12" radio controlled boat got swamped by the wash of a passing yacht? The Solent is a busy place full of big boats, if your chosen craft is put in danger by others going about their law abiding hobby or business then maybe go elsewhere as you are a danger to yourself.
Would he contemplate crossing the atlantic in his boat? Where is the line???
 

KevB

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Re: Powerboat wash in the Solent & Southampton Water

I'm not implying that it has anything to do with money.

Here is a list, where would you find it acceptable to use a 16' boat.

1. Inland sheltered lake.
2. Inland water (loch maybe)
3. Inland water (river or harbour)
4. Coastal waters (pleasant day)
5. Coastal waters (F8)
6. Crossing the channel
7. Crossing the bay of Biscay
8. Crossing the Atlantic
9. Circumnavigating the world

There is obviously a line somewhere where a boat of this type has it's place, all I am saying is that out in the Solent on a weekend may not be one of them.
 

Sans Bateau

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Kev

Its a big sea out there, plenty of room for all of us, a 16ft boat would not be my choosen craft. However he has as much right as the rest of us to enjoy the water. It just needs a little consideration, it doesnt take long for you mobo guys (and I fully respect your right to use the water) to get out into clear water for a blast.

Would you do the Atlantic in your boat?

One other point are li-los realy as much as £12.99 now?
 

dralex

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Just from a personal point of view, I would prefer planing ( unlike Duncan's Planning craft) craft came past me at high speeds on the plane, rather than displacing tons of water and making loads of wash at low and medium displacement speeds.

THere are definately areas that will be nice and not nice for all our boats- the trick is to find the nice areas and avoid the ones that make you swear.

Welcome to the forum.
 

Evadne

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Re: Powerboat wash in the Solent & Southampton Water

I would hope that any boat putting out onto the water will be able to stand up to the wind and waves that it will meet, including wash. To that extent I agree that if a small dinghy can't cope with the ferry wash then it makes sense not to sail near the ferries' tracks.
But size is less important than ability. I've seen all sorts of boats from canoes to planing dinghies that look too small from the safety of my boat, but which are more than capable of coping with the conditions.

And I wouldn't tell my friend who races International 14s and skiffs in Chichester harbour and the Solent, dodging the slow-moving powerboats and cruisers alike that his boat is anything like a C5...
 

KevB

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Not disagreeing about giving plenty of room but you should go out expecting the worse. If your craft isn't designed for the worst conditions you are likely to experience then surely you must question whether it's right for the location.
I'm sure if you were planning a cruise across the channel you'd plan for the worse conditions you are likely to expect within reason given the current weather forecast, no?

I'm not saying in any way that he should not be there only that what he is experiencing is "The Solent", that is what it's like.

"Would you do the Atlantic in your boat?"

No, because it's past the line of acceptable usage. And I couldn't afford the diesel /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

KevB

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Re: Powerboat wash in the Solent & Southampton Water

I didn't mean C5 in a derogatory way, just that if the craft isn't up to the Solent then maybe not go there. The same as you wouldn't take a C5 on the M25.
 

tome

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Expect the worst and hope for the best...

Many moons ago my brother in law owned a silhouette (18ft sailing boat) which i used to borrow and sail out of the Hamble. I'd only sailed dinghies before, but I soon learned to keep clear of the wash of ships and motor boats in southampton water, and to keep a wary eye on the seas around calshot. It wasn't a big problem really and I never had much grief. Maybe it's a matter of adjusting ones attitude slightly?

Over the years I've progresively owned larger boats and wash isn't a problem except on the rare occasions when we have a crew on deck hoisting or lowering sail and someone gets a bit close. Probably our own fault for doing it in a narrow channel, but sometimes there's not much choice.

Really don't see a problem with this.
 
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