Edward_Hughes
New member
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?
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?