Stand on, or give way ?

PaulGooch

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Feb 2009
Messages
4,511
Location
Home = Norfolk, Boat = The Wash
www.boat-fishing.co.cc
Saturday, approx 1500hrs, entering Harwich from seaward, we thought that someone had built a new marina in the harbour and all the berths were full lol. Never seen so many boats in the harbour, they seemed to be going in all directions, actually, they were going in all directions. Methinks it might not be a good idea to try to find a way through at 16 knots :)

The pictures below don't truly do the scene justice, there were many more boats than there appears to be in the picss and we'd already weaved through a lot of them. As we approached the harbour there were a lot of boats tacking back and forth across the harbour. Easiest solution seemed to be to give way to them all and just zig-zag in, passing across their sterns. As we approached the lot in the first picture, there wasn't a clear route through, so we stopped. The small blue and white mobo in that pic actually gave up and in the pic he is in the process of turning around, dunno where he went.









 
Hard to say exactly without being there in the first pic but, with my MOBO head on, If I had plenty of pace in my boat i'd aim for the gap to infront of the bow of the blue motorboat (obviously depending on what that was doing) and nip through.

I can't honestly see any way of getting through that lot otherwise.
 
Breathes there the man with soul so dead
who never to himself hath said
"What a beautiful sight"

I thought it was a privilege to witness so many classic yachts being handled so skilfully.
The start line was between the anchored motorboat flying an orange flag and a yellow buoy about 200 metre off the breakwater. Sailing instructions prevented competitors from entering the main channel, so there should have been room to pass either side of the start line.
If I'd known it was you I'd have waved, but we were fairly busy.

Nice pictures, thanks for that.
Dan
 
Saturday, approx 1500hrs, entering Harwich from seaward, we thought that someone had built a new marina in the harbour and all the berths were full lol. Never seen so many boats in the harbour, they seemed to be going in all directions, actually, they were going in all directions. Methinks it might not be a good idea to try to find a way through at 16 knots :)

The pictures below don't truly do the scene justice, there were many more boats than there appears to be in the picss and we'd already weaved through a lot of them. As we approached the harbour there were a lot of boats tacking back and forth across the harbour. Easiest solution seemed to be to give way to them all and just zig-zag in, passing across their sterns. As we approached the lot in the first picture, there wasn't a clear route through, so we stopped. The small blue and white mobo in that pic actually gave up and in the pic he is in the process of turning around, dunno where he went.










Stand On ;)
& get photos :D
 
As these boats were sailing across from Felixstowe up to Levington we were heading the opposite direction! Was a nightmare!
 
Classic boats eh? I bet they all drink real ale and sing sea shanties. Won't be safe round here for those of us who sail plastic boats, drink lager and think the Eagles the epitome of cool.
 
Last edited:
We had the same problem last year, on starboard tack, crossing the fleet all on port tack, at 90 degrees, just a continuous stream of yachts nose to tail.

However we did have an advantage being sailing and technicaly the stand on craft, however it was still a worrying moment as we didn't want to spoil anyone's race!

I can only applaud your patience by just waiting for them to pass - but it is an impressive sight.
 
Easy Paul - stick the autopilot on, open the throttle up, then mooch off to the cabin to put the kettle on. It's the way they do it with raggie, flappy things too. Nearly get mown down by raggie, holler in their general direction, head pops up from down below "I say old chap, jolly sorry to have nearly dinked your evil smelling mobo" .... when in Rome. CD (LOL!)
 
Top