Speed limit in Chi Harbour 8 knots for everyone?

SEAJET... tell me all about the Osprey

Seajet. You're an interesting chap. This time yesterday, I was ready to pray that your plumbing might fail, your drinks locker might run out, and your vessel's mass might displace more O2 than its buoyancy allowed for. But, I find that I was quite wrong. You have sense, and sense of humour, and good-ish manners, and you're literate, and by Christ, you're active! Don't you do anything except post messages here? 2100 entries in six months? I hope you're on 20p per word, sir!

But much more importantly...OSPREY dinghy... "I cannot pretend to any such heights of course, but I sigh for an Osprey Mk II and a willing ( preferably hot tottie ) crew"...

I'm looking for one of these classic not-so-little boats, many of which seem to be available for next to no money. My tottie isn't so hot on the idea, but (don't quote me) she's replaceable. So, any advice on what to avoid/go for amongst these handsome 17'6"ers?
 
not quite tom - just between april and september. fine is a whopping £20. applies to both sail and power it seems.
 
But much more importantly...OSPREY dinghy... "I cannot pretend to any such heights of course, but I sigh for an Osprey Mk II and a willing ( preferably hot tottie ) crew"...

I'm looking for one of these classic not-so-little boats, many of which seem to be available for next to no money. My tottie isn't so hot on the idea, but (don't quote me) she's replaceable. So, any advice on what to avoid/go for amongst these handsome 17'6"ers?

Dancrane,

to quote my favourite Captain, " This is damned peculiar - raise defence fields ! "

If really asking about Osprey's, the Mk II is the one to go for, a lovely boat, fast, seaworthy and beautifully responsive on the helm with just the right feedback.

My MkII was no. 902, beautifully built by Westerlys ( no relation to the cruiser manufacturers ) of Cornwall - girls seemed keen to come for a sail on her, maybe that's a rose tinted view of the past but I don't think so, this was 1989-94 ish).

The aft deck keeps waves away to an extent and gives a buoyancy chamber which if treated sensibly also allows stowage of light gear like sleeping bags in waterproof bags, and the odd snack and drink can ( dare I mention a beer, in moderation ! ) and even that much under-rated instrument, binoculars, for the trip.

The big snag with the design is that on capsizing it can tend to invert completely, 'turning turtle'; if cruising along the coastline ( which the boat is ideal for ) I'd have masthead buoyancy in the form of either a float or filling the upper mast with foam - at least, or an external halliard allowing one to pul a float to the then underwater masthead, I've tried this and it works but is not an option on a rocky lee shore !

I took a crew who'd never sailed before in his life, let alone trapezed, from Chichester to Cowes, where we stayed ashore for the night - buoyancy aids used as fenders alongside a chum's boat - then sailed back the next day after warming our wetsuits, sitting in boxer shorts, in a launderette...

This chap was not your average crew however, I wouldn't have attempted that little trip if he was - even tiny waves between the forts look a hell of a lot bigger when one has a few inches freeboard - he was experienced in UK surfing & went on to sail around the world in a 33' steel boat.

I have made it a point in life to sail any design I can get hold of; high points are the Falmouth Working Boat - sheer power harnessed in a traditional way with great spirit- , Anderson 22 - the best helm feedback I've ever found, full rudder authority in surf but not overbalanced - and Osprey, a true lady in the dinghy world, can tack on a sixpence or sail all day in big waves ( I wouldn't pee on a Wayfarer if it was on fire ! ).

I have the feeling I've been suckered by responding to this question on this forum, but hey ho, I'm not going to die over it and was asked; and I did include the Fairey Swordsman / Huntsman among my lottery fleet, on reflection I might add a lifeboat - Dutch steel, American or RNLI ? and a Peniche for the canals may be an idea but having worked on one in Burgundy I might think of electric propulsion for that...if this was a genuine question in the first place I feel we could open a decent conversation here !
 
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Searush said:
If any moBo'ers really want to exceed the speed limit, there's nowt stopping them buying, hmm, say a Sydney Harbour Skiff & sailing that with a few pals.



Only a small clip, at around 40 secs in, but it illustrates the style.

Sorry, I can't remember the code for embedding videos - and will probably never use it again, so don't worry about trying to tell me! :D
Click to expand...
as above :D
 
Tom Price said:
In the Tightwad Sailor 'Out to Lunch' vignettes you'll find references to several close encounters in Chichester Harbour resulting from ignorance of Col Regs. "Power gives way to sail" is the prime example, for it's NOT true in a restricted channel nor, most important, when overtaking.
Racing dinghies choose to ignore that, small MoBo's don't understand it, and as for canoeists, board-sailors and kite-surfers . . . .
Click to expand...

IRPCS don't apply to canoes!
 
[QUOTE=yesod:" hope his ego can cope."

You're missing the point: professional instructors should know it all, fast MoBos should be aware of speed limits.
I'm in neither category.

Do dig out those local byelaws covering Hayling AND Bracklesham Bays and print here for all to see.
 
Thanks Seajet.

Sorry if I've distracted or diverted the original theme here. But my question was genuine - and your reply was so comprehensive, I've printed it for later reference. Exactly what I wanted to know.

I used to sail Bosham to Seaview with a pal of zero experience, in my overladen Topper. That was a hairy trip occasionally - losing sight of the shore out by Dean Elbow, and practically paddling across to St Helen's Road when the wind dropped.

Actually, I don't think we ever got in the way of any shipping - there's nothing like the reflection that 'might is right', to keep dinghies out of other vessels' way. Oh, look at that...we're back on subject again.
 
Originally Posted by Searush
If any moBo'ers really want to exceed the speed limit, there's nowt stopping them buying, hmm, say a Sydney Harbour Skiff & sailing that with a few pals.


Well thats the point, MOBO owners are responsible and are happy to exit a busy harbour @ 7-8 knots.

We dont have to use a sailing boat to do 20 knots, we can just push the throttles forward as we please but we dont as none of us feel it is a safe practice !

Its nothing to do with the speed restriction, I used to be based in Chichester and would frequently leave @ first light to catch a tide, there is no one around at that time in the morning and there was no chance of getting caught but I didnt open up...........just in case there is a canoe about to exit a side creek etc *

As to opening up on a busy day..................the mind boggles at what sort of moron would be so selfish :eek:

Thanks for inviting me back Ricky ;)






* speaking after a very close incident , been posted before so I dont feel the need to digress.
 
Talulah said:
I'm specifically refering to East Head. Not a case of 'envy' at all but 'disbelief' in what I was seeing. Kids/dogs swimming between boat and shore with boats in 'very' near misses. I'll try and capture some video this summer.
Whilst PWC and motor boats might be 'discourteous' I've not seen anything dangerous.
Click to expand...

Talulah, you're quite right. Sailing dinghies do sail in and around anchored boats at East Head and I've witnessed it many times. I think its just showing off: I expect the dinghy sailors think we should be admiring their skill. Perhaps if they knew that most people just thought of them as prats they wouldn't do it. I have also seen a swimmer hit by a dinghy just off the beach at East Head. Luckily, he wasn't seriously hurt but he could have been. I dont see any reason why dinghies should be sailing in and around moored boats and I think it would be a perfectly reasonable step for the HM to ban them from popular anchorages and mooring areas in Chi harbour. There's plenty of room to do their thing elsewhere
 
Deleted User,

No experienced or competent dinghy sailor will go around beaches at dangerous speeds, I suspect the characters you saw were probably novices, or setting off from the beach ?

It should be borne in mind that a dinghy setting off downwind from a beach ( you cannot spill wind if facing to leeward from the mainsail in normal dinghies, and even if you did the windage would pull one swiftly downwind ) cannot fit / use the rudder until in deep water, say 2'.

At East Head with a steeply shelving beach, deep enough water is within a few seconds reach, but as I remember an idiot helmsman trying on a Fireball, those seconds at some speed without control may be a lot longer than one has !

If adopting a seamanlike approach and 'steering the boat by the sails' this is easily overcome, the dinghy will naturally round up into the waves if the mainsail sheet ( in - out primary control ) is pulled in judiciously.

Old gits like me might even suggest an anchor to deploy and then head to wind; it doesn't have to be large or heavy, but I can imagine people like Itchenor's International 14 ( and even keelboat ) sailors dropping dead on hearing that !

Again, it comes down to seamanship; if possible film something which upsets you, then a hopefully experienced team can judge if the subjects are idiots or you are complaining about something you don't understand.
 
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Hi Seajet,
I think you need to go and anchor there a few times.

It would appear there is a race/rally that takes place on a regular basis , first the X boats come through the anchorage, alright they cant get too close inshore but there are crews swimming to and from anchored boats.
then a whole squadron of I14 ? rs700 rs400 types come through followed by a batch of assorted dinghies.

they are racing event if it is a rally it appears competitive ,and they are taking risks.

Its not safe.
 
DAKA,

I've been sailing in Chichester harbour since 1972, so unless in non-racing sailing dinghies out to impress girls with a picnic on a beach ( I suspect those days are sadly gone ! ) I wouldn't dream of anchoring at East Head apart from maybe the beginning or end of the summer season.

A much better anchoring spot is the the West side of Emsworth Channel, say just South of Marker Point, but please don't tell everyone on this forum. :)

From what you describe, all the boats involved are from Itchenor Sailing Club; repeat what you've said here, and feel free to mention comments re. race organisers, with a CC to the harbourmaster ( 01243 512301 if that's any help ) beware ISC consider themselves above mortals so one try will probably be insufficient, it may require some persistence! :rolleyes:
 
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DAKA said:
Hi Seajet,
I think you need to go and anchor there a few times.

It would appear there is a race/rally that takes place on a regular basis , first the X boats come through the anchorage, alright they cant get too close inshore but there are crews swimming to and from anchored boats.
then a whole squadron of I14 ? rs700 rs400 types come through followed by a batch of assorted dinghies.

they are racing event if it is a rally it appears competitive ,and they are taking risks.

Its not safe.
Click to expand...

I've anchored there a few times, never seen that. I'm hardly a local though, so prepared to believe that it does happen.

If it's a problem to you, and you want it changed, then I suggest the following.

1. Get some video.
2. Go to the clubs and explain why it is an issue - it's entirely possible that they hadn't even thought of it
3. Suggest that they put in marks to their races that take the course away from the area.

If you go to them and/or the harbour master and say "Ban them!" you'll meet a bunch of objections, get no where and only serve to increase meaningless tensions between water users.

The marine environment is probably unique in the variety of activity that takes place. We have commercial, fishing, leisure and competitive racing, including large international events taking place in the same area. And the Solent and Chichester are probably the most conflicting places in the UK.

And frankly it causes inconviniences to all. Large ships coming up the Solent have to be escorted. Fishing vessels lay gear that fouls propellors, they lose their gear. Racing boats have to alter course from their ideal to avoid commercial traffic and some leisure traffic, and complain about MOBO wash stopping them dead in light winds. Cruising boats have to keep clear of commercial traffic, complain of MOBO wash and close passing racing boats. MOBOs have most of the above, plus more manouverable dinghies causing confusion in harbours/ rivers.

The answer isn't regulation, it isn't byelaws, it's understanding.

What are the issues facing the other water users?

Should races be set that take high performance dingies through popular anchorages? Probably not if there's likely to be swimmers.

Should fishermen mark their pots in a way that others can see them? Well yes...

Should MOBOs slow down when passing near becalmed racing fleets, so that their wash doesn't effect the outcome of the race? Yes please.

Every single water user, by the simple act of being on the water, has the potential to annoy another class of water user.
 
Every single water user, by the simple act of being on the water, has the potential to annoy another class of water user.

Thanks for the tip !

Seriously, I think understanding is the key...
 
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