sailing in the fog - stories
- Thread starter dylanwinter
- Start date
Modulation
Well-Known Member
20 years ago, pre gps we were making for Oostende - about 2 miles out - in bright May sunshine. Entirely stress free - only problem was no breeze so under engine. It's a busy harbour and there was a ferry a few miles off behind us together with various dredgers, fishing boats, survey vessels and whatever. Suddenly - and I do mean SUDDENLY - we were enveloped in the thickest North Sea fret I have ever seen. We couldn't see the bows of our own boat let alone anything else. It was just awful. We were too far off for contouring.
As we'd seen so many vessels around we surmised that they might be largely Oostende based so we struck a colurse to take us west of the harbour with the idea of waiting and contouring in. We killed the engine every couple of minutes and could hear vessels all around us. We could NOT agree on where the sound was coming from and that was with 3 on board!! I was amazed by that as I'd always thought my directional hearing to be good. We were getting more and more worried when suddenly the fret lifted like someone opening a set of bedroom window shutters to reveal that we were entirely ok - nearest vessel 600 metres away.
The whole thing lasted no more than 20 or 30 minutes.
Not knowing exactly where we were was a bit stressful but the real concern was being run down. As soon as AIS became available I was queuing up at the chandlers. Ok its only mandatory for 300 tonnes + but that covers a lot of vessels in the southern North sea.
As we'd seen so many vessels around we surmised that they might be largely Oostende based so we struck a colurse to take us west of the harbour with the idea of waiting and contouring in. We killed the engine every couple of minutes and could hear vessels all around us. We could NOT agree on where the sound was coming from and that was with 3 on board!! I was amazed by that as I'd always thought my directional hearing to be good. We were getting more and more worried when suddenly the fret lifted like someone opening a set of bedroom window shutters to reveal that we were entirely ok - nearest vessel 600 metres away.
The whole thing lasted no more than 20 or 30 minutes.
Not knowing exactly where we were was a bit stressful but the real concern was being run down. As soon as AIS became available I was queuing up at the chandlers. Ok its only mandatory for 300 tonnes + but that covers a lot of vessels in the southern North sea.
aroona
Well-Known Member
not really sailing - but I was doing a nav course with rnli, the 1st day aloat was thick fog & I was piloting out of Poole (having never been in poole before).
While crawling down the small vessel lane, the guy on the radar announced 2 targets appraoching very fast to the rear. Almost at once two large black ribs (marines or sbs didnt stop them to ask !) came either side of the boat at full chat.
Scared me s**tless
- did wonder what sort of advanced radar they had though !
While crawling down the small vessel lane, the guy on the radar announced 2 targets appraoching very fast to the rear. Almost at once two large black ribs (marines or sbs didnt stop them to ask !) came either side of the boat at full chat.
Scared me s**tless
- did wonder what sort of advanced radar they had though !
bbg
Well-Known Member
At the risk of being flamed ...
While doing my 1000 mile non-stop solo circuit I was rounding Land's End, northbound. I was 3 days into what would turn out to be a 10-day passage. Went past Longships just after sunset (on about 25 June, so it was light until very late) and kept inshore of the TSS, despite having seen very little traffic all evening.
The wind was steady but light, conditions benign with almost no swell and I was making about 3 knots over the ground. Exhausted, I put my head down for 20 minutes (with a VERY loud alarm). After my nap I got up, made sure I was still east of the TSS, that there was no traffic around, that the boat was fine, then had another 20-minute nap. Then another.
After about the third nap, and nearing the northern limit of the TSS, I looked around to make sure there was still no traffic. And there wasn't - no lights anywhere. Perfect.
But wait - what was that? It sounded like an engine? Yes - definitely an engine. A ship's engine. Getting closer! How could that be? I couldn't see any lights.
A quick cast around with the high powered torch revealed that some very thick fog had descended without me realising it. I knew the ship was off to my left, as it should be, but had no idea how close it was. Shining the spotlight towards it just gave me back scatter, so I decided to alternate between pointing at the ship and (predominantly) straight up, hoping they would see it and that it would indicate my position.
Those few seconds of realising what was going on and trying to orient myself to the new reality were somewhat alarming. I certainly didn't sleep for a few hours after that.
While doing my 1000 mile non-stop solo circuit I was rounding Land's End, northbound. I was 3 days into what would turn out to be a 10-day passage. Went past Longships just after sunset (on about 25 June, so it was light until very late) and kept inshore of the TSS, despite having seen very little traffic all evening.
The wind was steady but light, conditions benign with almost no swell and I was making about 3 knots over the ground. Exhausted, I put my head down for 20 minutes (with a VERY loud alarm). After my nap I got up, made sure I was still east of the TSS, that there was no traffic around, that the boat was fine, then had another 20-minute nap. Then another.
After about the third nap, and nearing the northern limit of the TSS, I looked around to make sure there was still no traffic. And there wasn't - no lights anywhere. Perfect.
But wait - what was that? It sounded like an engine? Yes - definitely an engine. A ship's engine. Getting closer! How could that be? I couldn't see any lights.
A quick cast around with the high powered torch revealed that some very thick fog had descended without me realising it. I knew the ship was off to my left, as it should be, but had no idea how close it was. Shining the spotlight towards it just gave me back scatter, so I decided to alternate between pointing at the ship and (predominantly) straight up, hoping they would see it and that it would indicate my position.
Those few seconds of realising what was going on and trying to orient myself to the new reality were somewhat alarming. I certainly didn't sleep for a few hours after that.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
When I was living in Ireland it had always been my ambition when I left, to return and see the whole length of Ireland from the sea.
When that happened many years after I came up the Irish Sea - with about 25mtrs visibility. Didn't see a thing. As well as that, the Dinghy Decca went on the blink and never recovered. In the end I had to navigate by depth because there are a lot of shoals and pot holes off the coast.
At one stage we were straining to see Dalky Island off our port bow. Nobody could pick it up - until my sister asked, "What's that land on the right hand side - about 20m away?"
Instead of being outside Dalky, we were inside it (it's 300m from the coast) and there was a strong tide running with us.
It was only when we were a couple of miles past the Sound when the fog suddenly lifted and we saw all the rocks we had sailed past. We hadn't seen anything on the way through.
On the way back to Brittany on the same trip we again had thick fog mid-channel (and still no GPS or Decca). It was nerve-racking sailing though the traffic lanes because we could hear the boats but couldn't see them. At least they could see us as they sounded their horns when they were close. (Memo for the radar reflector thread : doesn't matter what size your boat - make sure you have one.)
The navigation for the whole trip back was by DR. The following time I went I had two GPS's. Next time it will be at least two plus radar and plotter.
When that happened many years after I came up the Irish Sea - with about 25mtrs visibility. Didn't see a thing. As well as that, the Dinghy Decca went on the blink and never recovered. In the end I had to navigate by depth because there are a lot of shoals and pot holes off the coast.
At one stage we were straining to see Dalky Island off our port bow. Nobody could pick it up - until my sister asked, "What's that land on the right hand side - about 20m away?"
Instead of being outside Dalky, we were inside it (it's 300m from the coast) and there was a strong tide running with us.
It was only when we were a couple of miles past the Sound when the fog suddenly lifted and we saw all the rocks we had sailed past. We hadn't seen anything on the way through.
On the way back to Brittany on the same trip we again had thick fog mid-channel (and still no GPS or Decca). It was nerve-racking sailing though the traffic lanes because we could hear the boats but couldn't see them. At least they could see us as they sounded their horns when they were close. (Memo for the radar reflector thread : doesn't matter what size your boat - make sure you have one.)
The navigation for the whole trip back was by DR. The following time I went I had two GPS's. Next time it will be at least two plus radar and plotter.
Ferrycap
New Member
I don’t go sailing in fog. At least not intentionally. Why there usually not much wind and its not fun, I’d rather stay in the pub. I rarely go sailing until after lunch anyway. I do go out in fog quite regularly because I have to. I thought I would reply to this thread to present an opposite point of view. I thought some of you may find interesting. Or not.
Scary fog stories. What scares me is the very real possibility I may kill somebody one day. I have had several very close calls within the last year. Its all in a days work. Fogs routine. Or it was.
It might have been me on the tug boat in Juan De Fuca. It wasn’t. It might have been me on the ferry which you saw briefly. Could have been the tanker or even the container ship you never actually saw. I sail for fun. I work on those vessels so I can have fun.
About 20 years ago, I had just left a major ferry terminal. Cross a traffic separation scheme avoided a few fish vessels. I did not have the con. I was the CO assisting the Master or Capt.
We had extra look out on focsle, a QM in hand steering, the engines on stand by ready for manoeuvre. Fog signal sounding, Visibility aprox 1 cable. Fog. We were at a slightly reduced speed around 15 knots.
I was using one radar the Capt the other. We had already avoided numerous vessels. My role was as a back up I report what I detect and confirm what Master detects. I give recommendations on actions and confirm orders.
I picked up what I thought was a small vague target moving very fast towards us. To fast for Capt’s (ARPA) to acquire. My radar was the Older steam driven CRT with plotting screen. It was to fast for full plot but my manual was steady relative less than a mile away.
I advised Capt. I think I have a small vessel coming at us fast 2 points to port.
His response “got it” “its birds” “to fast for a boat in fog must be birds“.
I added maybe we should pull back. We saw a flock of birds. Pass by I thought he might be right.
Then I saw the boat fine to port coming out of the fog right at us at what I would guess 25kn.
I yelled hard to Starboard we just started to turn as the QM yelled back “he ‘ll hit midship” I yelled hard Port which he was already doing
I ran out onto the wing and watched as a small 25ft mobo ran down almost under or rubbing strake and of into the fog. He didn’t hit but it was F!@#$%^ close.
We continued the voyage without much comment. Encountered a couple of other small targets for which the Capt slowed to bare minimum way and went way wide around. He was pretty shaken.
The 2nd Mate later asked if we would slow down for birds next time.
I’ve slowed down and stopped for lots of birds over the years. So far I haven’t killed anyone but I very nearly did that day.
Scary fog stories. What scares me is the very real possibility I may kill somebody one day. I have had several very close calls within the last year. Its all in a days work. Fogs routine. Or it was.
It might have been me on the tug boat in Juan De Fuca. It wasn’t. It might have been me on the ferry which you saw briefly. Could have been the tanker or even the container ship you never actually saw. I sail for fun. I work on those vessels so I can have fun.
About 20 years ago, I had just left a major ferry terminal. Cross a traffic separation scheme avoided a few fish vessels. I did not have the con. I was the CO assisting the Master or Capt.
We had extra look out on focsle, a QM in hand steering, the engines on stand by ready for manoeuvre. Fog signal sounding, Visibility aprox 1 cable. Fog. We were at a slightly reduced speed around 15 knots.
I was using one radar the Capt the other. We had already avoided numerous vessels. My role was as a back up I report what I detect and confirm what Master detects. I give recommendations on actions and confirm orders.
I picked up what I thought was a small vague target moving very fast towards us. To fast for Capt’s (ARPA) to acquire. My radar was the Older steam driven CRT with plotting screen. It was to fast for full plot but my manual was steady relative less than a mile away.
I advised Capt. I think I have a small vessel coming at us fast 2 points to port.
His response “got it” “its birds” “to fast for a boat in fog must be birds“.
I added maybe we should pull back. We saw a flock of birds. Pass by I thought he might be right.
Then I saw the boat fine to port coming out of the fog right at us at what I would guess 25kn.
I yelled hard to Starboard we just started to turn as the QM yelled back “he ‘ll hit midship” I yelled hard Port which he was already doing
I ran out onto the wing and watched as a small 25ft mobo ran down almost under or rubbing strake and of into the fog. He didn’t hit but it was F!@#$%^ close.
We continued the voyage without much comment. Encountered a couple of other small targets for which the Capt slowed to bare minimum way and went way wide around. He was pretty shaken.
The 2nd Mate later asked if we would slow down for birds next time.
I’ve slowed down and stopped for lots of birds over the years. So far I haven’t killed anyone but I very nearly did that day.
