Rule 17 -- Vid of a close encounter....

[AMOREST]

Just to disprove my earlier comment. Here she is at the top of the East Kyle - performing a beautiful handbrake turn at full crack. (VHF listeners would have heard her declare her requests to keep clear)

It was a grand day

 

[wonkywinch]

It was because it was the Waverley that I was so astonished. Not the sort of unfriendly behaviour you would expect from her.

Is she manned by the sort of bearded weirdos I see running little historic steam trains around the country?

 

[Mark-1]

Is she manned by the sort of bearded weirdos I see running little historic steam trains around the country?

Based soley on the few radio transmissions I've heard, no. Young, competent, UK merchant seamen.

 

[ylop]

Surely with her paddles so far apart there must be some form of remedial action that can be taken. Unless it’s a brand new skipper each incident, they must learn how she handles.

If you mean can she steer with her paddles - no they are mechanically connected so when one moves the other one does. She is quite manageable AT SPEED as they frequently show coming into piers BUT she doesn’t handle well at low speeds.

Is she manned by the sort of bearded weirdos I see running little historic steam trains around the country?

Professional mariners. They may or may not have facial hair. They may of may not be considered weirdos.

I obviously didn’t see the original problem but five blasts doesn’t actually mean get out the way - it means “your intentions are unclear”. If the sailing vessels were racing, it can be difficult to someone who doesn’t know what course they are racing (or even that they are racing) to try and understand what they are doing, all the more so if they tack/gybe. In her home waters on the Clyde and significant regatta would have an associated NTM so the skipper of the Waverley would be aware and likely the course setter would have been aware of her schedule and likely course in advance.

 

[penberth3]

Is she manned by the sort of bearded weirdos I see running little historic steam trains around the country?

I think Waverley crashes more often than steam trains, if that's any help.

 

[Dellquay13]

I'm a great fan of the Waverley but I once saw her charge through a racing fleet which was just emerging from Cowes pre-race. She was travelling at her usual speed of 14-15 knots and gave five loud blasts on her siren for good measure. It's something that's always puzzled me as I could see no reason at all why she couldn't alter course to clearer water of which there was plenty. Her course to avoid them would have taken her into deeper water so there were no depth constraints to consider. I found it astonishing and though it was a few years ago I've never forgotten the incident.

The Waverley has paddles linked in sync, they rotate together so turning must be difficult. Like a car with a fixed axle and no differential.

 

[john_morris_uk]

The Waverley has paddles linked in sync, they rotate together so turning must be difficult. Like a car with a fixed axle and no differential.

Dunno about her turning ability but a naval architect friend once told me it’s a requirement under Lloyd’s (or law or some regulatory body) that paddles of steamships MUST be linked. They have an inclination to turn turtle if you reverse the one side….

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Dunno about her turning ability but a naval architect friend once told me it’s a requirement under Lloyd’s (or law or some regulatory body) that paddles of steamships MuST be linked. They have an inclination to turn turtle if you reverse the one side….

That is considerably worse than banging into the odd pier. I’ll bear that in mind in September, when she's down our way.

 

[wombat88]

The Waverley has paddles linked in sync, they rotate together so turning must be difficult. Like a car with a fixed axle and no differential.

Just like a Trojan (to refer to a thread elsewhere...)

 

[ylop]

I think Waverley crashes more often than steam trains, if that's any help.

Although if they put her on rails and fenced it off to keep other stuff out they might solve that problem ;-)

 

[Stemar]

I accept all the comments about manoeuverability or lack thereof, but that's no excuse for ploughing through a bunch of vessels under sail. She draws no more than plenty of weekend racers, so she can't claim to be constrained by her draught. Restricted in ability to manoeuvre? I'm no expert, but surely that means restricted because she's doing something that makes it difficult, not just hard to steer.

I'd still put in the CHIRP report.

 

[winch2]

Sailed IOW/Solent/Weymouth for 50 years with this tried and tested old fashioned philosophy. "Whats that over there"? "An orrible great big ship going left" "Ok we're going behind but keep a sharp eye on the transit, he might be slowly turning. and lets have the radio to hand just in case".

Regarding Waverley. She is probably about the most un-manouverable boat on the water. they set the course fix the throttle and thats it and its up to us to get out the way, hence all the hootin and tootin. As for AIS and whatnot. Fraid I dont have any of that on my boat....Ye olde Mark1 eyeball has served us very well.

 

[Muddy32]

The paddle steamer on the Dart still turns around, just above my old mooring always interesting and initially a few anxious moments. Large rudder rudder presumed.

 

[Daedelus]

I was moderately mauled by some for suggesting that the entire western Solent was not a narrow channel to a 200ft ship. So on that basis the entire English channel is narrow to s cruise ship.

I was once around that area when I heard a fairly foreign accented and definitely concerned call on the VHF, "All stations, all stations, all stations, this is Motor vessel Worried, I am coming from Needles towards Southampton in Western Solent", this was repeated a few minutes later and a kindly Solent Coastguard said "Do you have a problem Sir?" A slightly relieved operator came back with "We are coming up the Western Solent and .....there are thousands of yachts!".

Solent Coastguard (a little optimistically I felt) replied in reassuring tones, "Don't you worry sir, just keep coming and they'll get out of your way." There were no more unhappy or worried calls so I assume everybody kept clear.

 

[Dellquay13]

Regarding Waverley. She is probably about the most un-manouverable boat on the water. they set the course fix the throttle and thats it and its up to us to get out the way, hence all the hootin and tootin.

The vast majority of us see the Waverley when she is touring the UK coast, outside of her home waters. The crew are professional, but they are unlikely to have extensive experience of regular or routine yacht racing courses in every region they visit, so 5 on the horn seems a suitable indication that they aren’t sure of a racing fleets intentions.

 

[DJE]

The paddle steamer on the Dart still turns around, just above my old mooring always interesting and initially a few anxious moments. Large rudder rudder presumed.

Kingswear Castle? I think you'll find that she has a bow thruster. Beats me why they don't fit one to Waverley.

 

[creeks]

The vast majority of us see the Waverley when she is touring the UK coast, outside of her home waters. The crew are professional, but they are unlikely to have extensive experience of regular or routine yacht racing courses in every region they visit, so 5 on the horn seems a suitable indication that they aren’t sure of a racing fleets intentions.

The fleet wasn't racing, it was just coming out of Cowes harbour prior to the race and was in effect a gaggle of boats pointing in many different directions as they prepared for the start, some maybe still hoisting sails. Not surprising that Waverley had no idea of their intentions. She was heading east and was as close inshore to Cowes Green as she could be, no doubt to give the passengers a good view of Cowes. Being that close in and given the speed she was going she hadn't left herself many options but even if the crew were not local it should have come as no surprise to them that a fleet of yachts emerged from Cowes of all places!

 

[capnsensible]

I was once around that area when I heard a fairly foreign accented and definitely concerned call on the VHF, "All stations, all stations, all stations, this is Motor vessel Worried, I am coming from Needles towards Southampton in Western Solent", this was repeated a few minutes later and a kindly Solent Coastguard said "Do you have a problem Sir?" A slightly relieved operator came back with "We are coming up the Western Solent and .....there are thousands of yachts!".

Solent Coastguard (a little optimistically I felt) replied in reassuring tones, "Don't you worry sir, just keep coming and they'll get out of your way." There were no more unhappy or worried calls so I assume everybody kept clear.

One of my fave vhf calls was on the channel for Southampton vessel reporting. Ive often found it useful to dual watch a harbour station for vessel movements in advance.

We heard a vessel calling in called Matthew. The operator asked what type of vessel she was. 'A 15th century replica barque' was the reply. Followed by 'ummm.....roger'.

 

[LittleSister]

. . . Much later, lottery winners, contributed to a significant refit. . .

You mean lottery losers !

 

[Chiara’s slave]

One of my fave vhf calls was on the channel for Southampton vessel reporting. Ive often found it useful to dual watch a harbour station for vessel movements in advance.

We heard a vessel calling in called Matthew. The operator asked what type of vessel she was. 'A 15th century replica barque' was the reply. Followed by 'ummm.....roger'.

I met a guy a year or so ago who’d made the same call for his longship. He said there was a good 15 second pause before a reply.