Pwllheli dismasting

[Heckler]

About 3 this afternoon, sitting on boat on the piles watching the traffic go by and notice a biggish inboard powerboat going out of the harbour, he has a donut on the bow with three seatback thingies moulded into it. the driver is poking his head from side to side cause i presume he cant see thro the seats. about half an hour later coast guard is on 16 asking whether any one can assist just off pwllheli, anyway maroon and lifeboat goes out. about another 20 minutes or so and in comes a speed boat towing a dismasted 26 footish dismasted yacht.
police ambulance etc in marina and the story unfolds, said donut speedboat has only hit and DRIVEN OVER the yacht just forward of the mast, dismasted it and chewed bloody big chunks out of starboard side, looks like 2 men on board are OK.
stu


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk</A>

 

[Neraida]

Why am I not suprised?
Yesterday we were VERY nearly hit from behind, while motoring, by a 30ish foot "inboard" rib doing 40 odd knots.
They were so close, (about 2m to stbd) one of the passengers on the rib was able to lip read what "the mate" said about the drivers parentage.

Before I get flamed by some, answer me this question.. Would you drive a ferrari through a shopping centre at full chat without really paying attention?
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Neraida on 31/05/2004 21:45 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[whisper]

No and your rib helming "friend" must be an idiot or else the skipper was for not ensuring a good look out was kept. I presume you saw him approaching from aft though if he was doing 40 knts he could go from say 200 yards off, to collision, in only a couple of minutes.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[plombier]

More like 10 secs at that speed. Not a lot of thinking time is it.

As a rib driver myself, people like that do get me wound up. No regard for other's safety or comfort. If I'm travelling at that speed I will give any other boat the biggest possible clearance. I would like to bet that they didn't have lifejackets on either.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[cameronke]

Hello Sonsy lass

I am very much against legislation but wouldn't licencing possibly push these morons off the water or at least make it a requirement that they learn to "drive" their boats in a safe and considerate manner?

Yes my blood is up after being buzzed by a gin palace between Toward and Rothesay on Saturday. Bunch of cretins came across my bow at about 30 feet and 20+kts. All grinning inanely at the funny little saily boat bobbing about in their wake. It was quite clear that their intention had been to buzz me, not another boat within half a mile so little requirement to come so close. If their "driver" took the time to become a seaman, as in the case at Pwllheli, maybe these incidents would become rarer.

regards

Cameron

<hr width=100% size=1>Work to live, live to sail

 

[Stemar]

Is there any legislation that could allow prosecution of the aforementioned morons? If they were driving a car it would be dangerous or inconsiderate driving, so if not, maybe we need the same thing for boats. No need for licencing - a £500 fine would soon get their attention.

Vaguely related rant - my peaceful lunch at anchor in Osbourne Bay was not enhanced by PCWs from a big stinkpot blasting around. They weren't dangerous, but surely they could have kept away from the boats at anchor?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Jetskis

Of course they could/should have kept away. but for that to happen you'd need PWC drivers who had IQs that reached double figures. Unlikely.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Solitaire]

What colour James? I had an "interesting" conversation with a rib "driver" yesterday! Yellow scorpion??

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[BrendanS]

In which case, same idiot who was tearing up Lymington in the 6knt limit late Sun pm

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[Mike21]

Must agree, that licensing would make sure ALL water users would conduct their boats in a safe and considerate manner.

Of interest maybe that the last time I saw a mobo doing what you complained off, was a raggie at the helm, when queried about it said he always passed that close when sailing and couldn't see what why we dissaproved

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Neraida]

naaah, was a blue one... but do tell!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Bergman]

"Must agree, that licensing would make sure ALL water users would conduct their boats in a safe and considerate manner."

Just like it does on the roads!


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[whisper]

I'm afraid I think you're in "cloud cuckoo land" if you think that licensing would make people "drive" more safely. Just look at the situation on the roads where a lot of vehicles have either no tax or no insurance or both. Even those that comply in this regard are not guaranteed to be able to drive properly - just watch the lane discipline at most roundabouts/forums/images/icons/mad.gif.
If it could be arranged then I think that some form of compulsory training should be insisted on before people are allowed to skipper any boat - yes, even a sailing dinghy and motorised yacht tender./forums/images/icons/shocked.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Joe_Cole]

Surely the same arguement can be used about compulsory training? Road users go through compulsory training.........just watch the lane discipline at most roundabouts.

I'm all for training but I think that it's best on a voluntary basis.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Neraida]

I agree. Licencing is all coblers.
All we are doing is pandering to Mr Blairs nanny state. While the majority of the people on europes roads have driving licences, accidents still happen, people still die. Its not right, but it happens.
Training is good, and maybe if it was abit less expensive more people would take it up. I'm going to read in a min that 200 quid isnt alot for training. Well, it might not be to me, and it may not be to my friend with the rib, but if it gets a few more people trained, maybe it might reduce the amount of accidents.
I am not sure I enjoy sailing in the Solent, its too busy, and its not relaxing like most of my western channel sailing used to be, but sest lavvy. (sic)
I am sure that there are some people around who selfishly want licencing to reduce the amount of people in the solent etc, and to those people I say, "Wake up!" If it did happen, the crossover would be so long (3 years ) that it wouldn't make a jot of a difference.
Bimble Bimble, blah blah blah. Oh I dunno. I'm moving to Wimlalooland where its always blowing a 3 with no sea state, no shallow water, Marina's are free and so is the booze. Oh yeah, and Mobo's all do 100knots and make no wash.

Anyone for another drink?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mike21]

Sorry, was being slightly sarcastic/forums/images/icons/blush.gif
The people who bother to get some training are probably pretty sensible anyway, if it became compulsory would probably make some others better, then that leaves the rest who no amount of training would do any good/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mike21]

Difficult problem isn't it.
Agree training is good, get a bit miffed with comments about mobos deliberately intimidating yotties. Would suspect it's more out of ignorance rather than deliberate.
This would be the same for some raggie behavour
Don,t know how you solve this problem, unless you can for example persuade brokers and dealers to include it when you buy your first boat.
Wouldn,t stop everything,but might help reduce the incidents.
Find Solents fine, as long as you go after 5pm between June and end of August/forums/images/icons/wink.gif


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Neraida]

Re: Pwllheli dismasting *DELETED*

Post deleted by Neraida

 

[Neraida]

You know what I think the problem is? We all do it. When we post we say, "this mobo did this" or "that raggie did that"

The people we refer to when we whinge are just "malakes" in boats, how they are powered is an elephant.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

same goes for PWC's - not all bad, just tarred with brush by a few idiots

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.