Racing in a narrow fairway channel ?

[vyv_cox]

Many years ago I was racing in the Dart Nationals in the Solent. The fleet of 190 boats was close-hauled on starboard tack in light winds. A cruiser broad reached through the fleet, a lady crew hanging over the side bellowing 'starboard' repeatedly and annoyingly. Most surprisingly, all the Darts gave way to her without any of the abuse that might have been expected.

 

[dslittle]

Last Sunday I was with my brother in law sailing his Salder 32 up towards Emsworth when we encountered a club race of about 40-50 Laser-type dinghies. The course was set on a fairly wide area of water but almost entirely within/across the narrow fairway channel (we which had to keep to bacause of draft) up to the town and marina. The tide was on the ebb and anyone who knows Emsworth will know that the sailing window is pretty tight because of water over the marina sill so we were on a fairly tight time schedule to get back in.

You're lucky!!! Last September I was sailing through the Needles Channel on a spring tide when a 'safety boat' came alongside to shout that there was a powerboat race coming through shortly and tell me to keep out of their way...

Luckily I managed to dodge them as they sped through at about 50 knots. They did look good though (what I saw of them).

 

[prv]

You're lucky!!! Last September I was sailing through the Needles Channel on a spring tide when a 'safety boat' came alongside to shout that there was a powerboat race coming through shortly and tell me to keep out of their way...

Bloody cheek

Even when I was off Poole and the Marines wanted to drop several RIBs on parachutes into the bit of sea I was in, the guard boat that came over asked if I would mind moving, rather than ordering me out of the way.

Pete

 

[Seajet]

I'd call that b****y cheek too !

My Dad was sailing along the coast off Lulworth one day, and the Range safety boat asked him to take the miles long detour, knowing he had a right to sail straight on, he did so; a huge fountain of water like the WWII films of depth charges appeared a few hundred yards in front, it seems either some gunner had a sense of humour, or they didn't know he was there !

When I was working for BAe we had a trials Sea Harrier firing rockets into Lyme Bay range, one has to do a 'dry run' first to get alignments and check for anyone in the danger area before coming 'in hot',

The pilot and the range people had failed to spot a fishing boat, the pilot only saw it just as he'd fired the 32 tank-busting Matra rockets - they got away with it but I've sometimes wondered if he got a round of applause for the display.

I had a racing power boat, the type with 2 bods in tandem wearing crash helmets, circle my boat then pull alongside; being an insecure type I was worried we'd strayed into a race area ( this was mid Solent off Ryde, I hope I know better now ) - when we both shut down engines to talk, the 'navigator' in the back asked " s'cuse me, where's Gurnard buoy ?! " I pointed and said 'there', at which he yelled 'thanks !' and the thing shot off like a rocket...

 

[Angele]

Bloody cheek

Similar experience with a powerboat race.

I was also on the receiving end of a request/order to get out of the way. (Can't recall if it was last year or the one before). Frankly, I was happy to comply, as I could make out several dots on the horizon approaching rapidly. I was glad I was out to one side of the Western Solent by the time they drew level.

Can't remember whether it was a polite request or an order - I was too busy turning 90 degrees and trimming my sails for maximum avoidance speed.

It is all very well to say that power gives way to sail, but I really wouldn't have fancied playing chicken with that lot.

 

[fireball]

I was also on the receiving end of a request/order to get out of the way.

We've been on the receiving end of an order to get out of the way ... of a load of Flying Fifteens - unfortunately they hadn't left a clear gap for the cruisers to pass through and the RO had set the course right on the most popular path between Chichester and the Solent ...
SWMBO wound them (the rib crew) up by asking if it meant it was 50 points for each one sunk ...

 

[BarryH]

Reading all this I'm wondering if getting a mooring in Chichester was the right thing to do. I want the boat so I can relax, not get wound up by having to dodge all and sundry on a nice weekend!

Poole was never like this you know, a hell of a lot more civilised........

 

[Seajet]

Reading all this I'm wondering if getting a mooring in Chichester was the right thing to do. I want the boat so I can relax, not get wound up by having to dodge all and sundry on a nice weekend!

Poole was never like this you know, a hell of a lot more civilised........

BarryH,

relax ! The racing lot are not usually a problem, more usually they provide entertainment, and the channels are not as narrow as some suggest; also no red hot dinghy type is going to want the rather expensive and slowing effect of a collision - I'd say 9 times out of 10 a cruiser can keep on her course, simply adjust sheets or throttle to go in front or behind of the racer.

In Poole I've had my rubbing strake smashed by a fishing boat while I wasn't there, and been threatened in a big way by speedboat people at Wareham.

One of my ( understandably ! ) favourite experiences at Chichester entrance was in my Scorpion dinghy; as we closed in on a yacht we couldn't work out why the skipper kept putting the engine on whenever we got close; then we spotted his rather nice ladyfriend sunbathing topless; the Scorpion had never known such speeds as we then coaxed out of her !

 

[affinite]

It wasnt a moan

The topper just clipped us. There was no damage to our boat and no one was hurt.

I dont want this thread to turn into a moan about club racers. I think watching a racing fleet go by is one of sailings great pleasures. Its just a bit nerve-racking if you happen to be in the middle of it.

 

[A1Sailor]

The topper just clipped us. There was no damage to our boat and no one was hurt.

I dont want this thread to turn into a moan about club racers. I think watching a racing fleet go by is one of sailings great pleasures. Its just a bit nerve-racking if you happen to be in the middle of it.

Agreed! The rescue boat driver shouldn't have had a go at you, though... What was said?

 

[mcframe]

If you were sailing and on starboard, you were probably the stand-on vessel, unless you were the windward boat. However, being overtaken overrules all that and makes you definitely the stand-on vessel. You were in the right and the laser was wrong. Your only obligation was not to alter your course or speed.

Send the crew below, stick the autohelm on and sit at the bow doing some Montessier-style yoga.

OK, maybe keep the remote for the autohelm in your pocket so you can comply with Rule 17 (b) ;->

 

[Seajet]

Agreed! The rescue boat driver shouldn't have had a go at you, though... What was said?

While some rescue boat crews are gold plated diamonds, it should be borne in mind that ' those who can't, shout ! '

 

[onesea]

Reading all this I'm wondering if getting a mooring in Chichester was the right thing to do. I want the boat so I can relax, not get wound up by having to dodge all and sundry on a nice weekend!

Poole was never like this you know, a hell of a lot more civilised........

No different to Poole,or any where else on South Coast allot of boats using the water you get the occasional conflict...

You just need to try and relax and enjoy.

Not all Rescue Boats, harbour masters or there assistants get it right all the time...

Its like Mobo's and washes you can see sometimes they make a mistake some are just ignorant.

But if you did not have ignorant ones you would not appreciate the rest of the good ones

 

[affinite]

A note of apology to the safety boat driver

Spoke to my brother in law this morning and it appears that I jumped to the wrong conclusion about his conversation with the safety boat.

Apparently the safety boat driver said words to the effect of "he was suprised that the start wasnt abandoned when it bacame clear that there was a yacht caught up in the middle of the course". Im afraid I misheard that and thought he'd suggested that WE should have abandoned our sail through.

So - to the gentleman in the safety boat - my apologies

BTW As a result of this thread Ive had a communication from the sailing club who were running the race.
I didnt really intend this thread to be anything more than a discusson on what to do if you find yourself in the middle of a racing fleet but the club have taken note are looking into the "incident" in a very responsible way so thanks ESSC

 

[fireball]

There is a fine balance between the "cruisers" and the "racers" in the harbour - so any altercation between the two needs checking into to ensure the one party are not unduly inconveniencing the other.
Sometimes ROs cannot avoid sending dinghies somewhere others will find inconvenient - our own (fixed) start line is right across the channel - if it wasn't there couldn't be a start line!
Hopefully ESSC's investigation will result in a "no action required" - but it is good to ensure ROs and their team are aware of other users in the harbour - and may be advisable to include something in the brief to the racers - especially when they're from outside the harbour.

 

[Sans Bateau]

There is though a massive difference between the volume of traffic up and down the Thorney channel compared to Emsworth channel, I dont suppose anyone has ever been inconvenienced by your start line!

 

[fireball]

I dont suppose anyone has ever been inconvenienced by your start line!

Well - I made sure I avoided it last thursday evening ... !!

 

[Iain C]

I had a very similar situation on Sunday, a little further down the Emsworth channel at HISC. They had over 100 various dinghies in one race! They stretched from the HISC moorings right across to Fishery. I was under motor and observing the IRPCS had to stop, there was no way through, solid dinghies. I had to motor up through the HISC moorings and even then dinghies were flying out from behind moored boats blind to what or who might have been coming up between.

I have sent an email of complaint to the commodore, and if I do not get a satisfactory response I shall lodge a complaint with the Chi Harbour Authority.

I have no problem with dinghy racing in Chichester harbour, but this was a clear case of selfish use of the harbour with no consideration for anyone else. The same race could have been planned over Stocker lake and Pilsey sands.

Outrageous. That'll be the Glyn Charles memorial pursuit race then, a once a year charity event in the dinghy saling calendar with all proceeds going to the John Merricks sailing trust. Sorry you had to alter course and might be worth writing to Boris about the highly inconvenient London Marathon whilst you're at it!

 

[Sans Bateau]

Outrageous. That'll be the Glyn Charles memorial pursuit race then, a once a year charity event in the dinghy saling calendar with all proceeds going to the John Merricks sailing trust. Sorry you had to alter course and might be worth writing to Boris about the highly inconvenient London Marathon whilst you're at it!

It wasnt a case of having to alter course, I could not proceed! If the sailing club had had a RIB out which had come along side and apologized and said that the area would be clear in a few minutes then I'd have been happy. I've sailed in the harbour for 15 years and its the first time I've ever heard of this event. It wrong for HISC or anyone else to assume that EVERYONE knows what they are up to.

 

[fireball]

Outrageous. That'll be the Glyn Charles memorial pursuit race then, a once a year charity event in the dinghy saling calendar with all proceeds going to the John Merricks sailing trust. Sorry you had to alter course and might be worth writing to Boris about the highly inconvenient London Marathon whilst you're at it!

Ah - is that what they were up to - I wondered why they had a committee boat buzzing around over stocker lake pretty close to the speed limit ...

Charity event or not - a bunch of dinghies that effectively block the main - no -ONLY channel to Emsworth is not a good move at any time.
Pursuit races are normally around an hour or two - I appreciate that with a Northerly it can be a struggle to get a decent beat in - but even going from South West Pilsey to Channel they can stick off the western side of the channel - and it would be easy enough to have the HISC trots as an exclusion zone for racers ..
The race was taking place just after high water - there was plenty of water over the sands ... just needed the right course setting!