Seen on the Crouch yesterday

[AliM]

We had a lovely calm sail on the Crouch yesterday. When we were returning, just passing Essex marina, we saw a strange aircraft with what looked like its engine mounted on top of its fuselage. We were just debating this, when it circled around us, and came in to touch down on the river, slowed, and then took off again. A few minutes later it did the same again, before heading off, presumably to land on another river - where, does anyone know?

 

[Tam Lin]

Saw it on the Blackwater and posted a thread on it, it was a bit unusual!

 

[AliM]

I saw your post after I had posted mine.

here is our photo...

 

[Tam Lin]

I may have posted first but you got a much better photo than me! It does look like it is coming straight for you though!

 

[Tam Lin]

BTW does anyone know the rules and regulations for seaplanes? Can they land anywhere? What about the Crouch Harbour Authority, can they collect dues?

 

[Triassic]

Just another trimaran that flies.....

 

[Tomahawk]

They have probably broken every conservos rule. The Crouch is now a designated theme park for nature conservation and anything thqt may affect any wildlife is noe prohibited.

I should not be surprised if they get fined.

 

[MoodySabre]

A few years ago I was on a small boat in Victoria harbour, Vancouver Island, when we had to give way to a seaplane taking off. They do at least have defined landing areas. Landing on a narrow river like the Crouch can't be right surely.

 

[AliM]

Watchful, the harbourmaster's launch, was around, but round the corner towards Fambridge when the seaplane came over - they might have known about it, but we rather doubted it. We were the only yacht on that bit of the river when they touched down, and they were reasonably far away from us - that photo was taken with a telephoto lens!

 

[Sheff]

AFAIK they have to comply with col regs same as any other power driven vessel. I flew on one of the old Beaver seaplanes out of Vancouver Harbour and they don't get any preferential treatment over other vessels.

 

[MoodySabre]

The speed limit might be a problem!

 

[photodog]

Geek alert!

It's a Lake Bucaneer. Built since the early 60's..... And first developed as the Colonial Skimmer in the 40's.

Quite a few were built... 4 passengers. Popular back in Canada...

 

[Triassic]

AFAIK they have to comply with col regs same as any other power driven vessel.

If they were gliding in to land would that be classified as "sailing" then?

 

[photodog]

That depends I supose if it's a dead stick landing or not...

 

[Athene V30]

Rule 18
(e) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. In circumstances, however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of this Part.

The word 'impeding' crops up from time to time and can be an interesting Colreg anorak discussion ;-)

 

[Gargleblaster]

Some countries are civilised enough to have designated take off and landing places for flying boats and seaplanes. When I was a kid we used to fly from the North Coast of New South Wales to Sydney in a scheduled Shorts Sunderland. Nicely buoyed take off and landing place on the Clarence River at Grafton and a similar set up in Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour. In the sixties it was replaced by a schedule service that took off from a hard surface airport at Coffs Harbour, just never felt the same after that flying to Sydney.
I sailed into Pittwater just north of Sydney a few years ago to be buzzed by a seaplane that was landing in a buoyed landing place just west of Whale Beach on the Pittwater. Really lovely at dawn.