Sailboat collides with aircraft carrier

[Roberto]

A sailboat collided with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier near Toulon
https://www.premar-mediterranee.gou...n-voilier-au-large-des-approches-toulonnaises
the sailboat was dismasted, onboard a single crew member.
Polish flag, though not sure of the link to Poland as recently Poland flag is increasingly used as substitute for the Belgian flag, after the latter hanged their regulations.
The skipper was rescued, the boat towed into port.

Something tells me someone of the CdG bridge is being kept still while his face is being smashed with dead fishes.

 

[Slowboat35]

Is the above post intended to make any sense beyond informing us that some pillock in a sailboat (sic) got too close to an aircraft carrier?
What of it?

 

[penberth3]

Is the above post intended to make any sense beyond informing us that some pillock in a sailboat (sic) got too close to an aircraft carrier?
What of it?

There is more entertaining coverage of this in the Motor Boat section.

 

[jdjp]

It'll be interesting to find out how much blame gets apportioned in the inquiry... It was 40 miles off shore, but still if I was single haniding I like to think I'd be keeping a good enough watch to see an aircraft carrier appearing over the horizon. Perhaps it didn't help it being just at sunrise.

Even so, I do like the idea that a French Navy punishment could be being repeatedly slapped round the face with a wet fish. Monty Python would be proud of you, Ricardo.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Even so, I do like the idea that a French Navy punishment could be being repeatedly slapped round the face with a wet fish. Monty Python would be proud of you, Ricardo.

It would be interesting to know how the mast went. I'm sure many of us have wondered what it might be like to get too near a ship. Does the wake and wash actually push you away ? Could that big prop walk drag you closer ? It may be the case that just sudden inertia did for the mast and there was no actual contact..

 

[Bouba]

An aircraft carrier has huge overhangs so it’s possible that the mast hit the ship long before the hulls collided

 

[Stemar]

le Charles de Gaulle a détecté tardivement un voilier d’une dizaine des mètres (battant pavillon polonais) à très faible distance ... Malgré une manœuvre d’urgence pour éviter ce voilier et en l’absence de réaction de celui-ci, une collision s’est produite

Loose translation: The CdG didn't see the yacht until it was too late, and ran it down.

OK, the yacht didn't do the bit about stand-on vessels taking avoiding action when the give way vessel doesn't, but it's hard to see how someone on the bridge - several someones, probably - weren't keeping a proper lookout. I don't see the officer of the watch getting a promotion any time soon.

 

[Bouba]

le Charles de Gaulle a détecté tardivement un voilier d’une dizaine des mètres (battant pavillon polonais) à très faible distance ... Malgré une manœuvre d’urgence pour éviter ce voilier et en l’absence de réaction de celui-ci, une collision s’est produite

Loose translation: The CdG didn't see the yacht until it was too late, and ran it down.

OK, the yacht didn't do the bit about stand-on vessels taking avoiding action when the give way vessel doesn't, but it's hard to see how someone on the bridge - several someones, probably - weren't keeping a proper lookout. I don't see the officer of the watch getting a promotion any time soon.

That is a strange one. They should have all the radars in the world onboard and 2000 personnel to notice something out of the ordinary. Small boat attacks are something that they probably drill for

 

[Stemar]

That is a strange one. They should have all the radars in the world onboard and 2000 personnel to notice something out of the ordinary. Small boat attacks are something that they probably drill for

I thought much the same thing. Of course, it's one thing to have all the radars in the world, it's quite another to be looking at them, though you'd expect some sort of alarm to be going off.

Maybe they don't expect Muslim terrorists (example because France has had problems with them) to have access to yachts, but what a coup that would be. A ton of C4 going off a few feet from the bow of the pride of the French navy.

 

[Poignard]

Remember the USS Cole?

 

[dunedin]

Remember the USS Cole?

Yes, that was what I was thinking. A sailing boat getting too close to a US warship might get some damage long before the mast hit the side.

(On the other hand, two US warships managed to collide with innocent merchant vessels in recent years, killing a number of off watch crew on the warships. The accident reports were staggering due to the elementary mistakes made. And a UK submarine recently failed to assess course and speed of a ferry in the Irish Sea, avoiding collision only by the alert Stena watch keeper spotting the conning tower and taking avoiding action (another very scary accident report). Oh and a UK submarine going aground off Skye. Maybe the armed forces aren’t keeping as good watch as we assume.)

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I collided with the aircraft carrier Enterprise in Greece in a 420 or Flying Dutchman (cant remember) dinghy while racing at the age of 12ish; as a dare. You would not be able to get close to an aircraft carrier nowadays. The American sailors were cheering!!!!

 

[Bouba]

I collided with the aircraft carrier Enterprise in Greece in a 420 or Flying Dutchman (cant remember) dinghy while racing at the age of 12ish; as a dare. You would not be able to get close to an aircraft carrier nowadays. The American sailors were cheering!!!!

That must have been a sight looking up at it

 

[Wansworth]

Things happen at sea and rada is not the best close up with “clutter”.If the warship was hidden behind the Genoa whilst the crew had a few noggins or were discussing brexit

 

[Poignard]

Things happen at sea and rada is not the best close up with “clutter”.If the warship was hidden behind the Genoa whilst the crew had a few noggins or were discussing brexit

Wasn't the yacht being single-handed? If so, maybe the skipper had noddded off.

 

[Poignard]

It would be interesting to know how the mast went. I'm sure many of us have wondered what it might be like to get too near a ship. Does the wake and wash actually push you away ? Could that big prop walk drag you closer ? It may be the case that just sudden inertia did for the mast and there was no actual contact..

There was case in the Solent a few years ago when somebody racing cut it a bit fine and collided with a merchant ship.

 

[MADRIGAL]

That is a strange one. They should have all the radars in the world onboard and 2000 personnel to notice something out of the ordinary. Small boat attacks are something that they probably drill for

Are not aircraft carriers usually escorted by frigates or patrol boats? I’m surprised that a yacht was able to get that close to CdG. Perhaps someone familiar with naval operations will comment.

 

[Bouba]

Are not aircraft carriers usually escorted by frigates or patrol boats? I’m surprised that a yacht was able to get that close to CdG. Perhaps someone familiar with naval operations will comment.

So close to her home port that most of her strike group probably hasn’t formed yet

 

[Blueboatman]

Is ok , was friendly fire, bump crash oops
Free tow too . I bet that was exciting -how slow can a carrier go??

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Are not aircraft carriers usually escorted by frigates or patrol boats? I’m surprised that a yacht was able to get that close to CdG. Perhaps someone familiar with naval operations will comment.

In my case, the whole of the Mediterranean fleet was there, so I had plenty of choice,