Thames Raggies

[jaws]

I've just completed a strongly worded letter of complaint to the EA about certain sailing clubs in the Kingston/Teddington area of the river. I was coming down river on Sunday and had several near misses with yachties racing from side to side across the full width of the river.
I did my best to anticipate their tacking and go behind them, 3 boats together decided to tack to the right and so I went to go behind them. They then immediately tacked to the left in front of my bows forcing me to stick the throttles in reverse. Nearly spilled SWMBOs G&T!!
No apology. No marked channel for passing vessels and no safety boats visible. Not the first time either.
One or two I can handle, but when there are 20+ on the river with no regatta boards out it is a danger to navigation. The day hire boats were having a mass panic attack!

Spoke to the Teddington lockie on duty who advised me to complain and gave me an address to write to.

I've found someone I hate more than the rowers!

Anyone else had a run in with the rag and stick brigade?

 

[Hummer]

See my other post!!!

I think I saw you, I actually had the same problem but to be fair my lot were mostly behaved and I hugged the starboard bank (going up) only to be had by the fishermen!!

I think Sunday was slightly unusual due to the amount of breeze, it was champagne sailing for those guys on Sunday, strong breeze, long down wind runs and plenty of tacking making full use of the breeze available.

A nightmare yes but they probably only get that once in a blue moon.

HOWEVER I am not defending them as I saw amongst some very good behavior some very bad stuff as well.

Be interesting to see what response you get, with that breeze there would have been damage had there been a collision.

 

[miket]

Sympathy, but .....

It can be a bit stressful, but bear in mind that it is quite restrictive, dinghy sailing in a relatively narrow river, especially if the wind direction is such that tacking is required.
I have found the best policy is to maintain a straight course close to your side of the river bank at slow speed. Generally, they will then know where you are going and stay out of your way.
There will always be smart arses, as in anything.

 

[jaws]

It can be a bit stressful, but bear in mind that it is quite restrictive, dinghy sailing in a relatively narrow river, especially if the wind direction is such that tacking is required.
I have found the best policy is to maintain a straight course close to your side of the river bank at slow speed. Generally, they will then know where you are going and stay out of your way.
There will always be smart arses, as in anything.

Tried the straight course also. You then get the genius who heads straight for you hoping to miss you by a c0ck hair. When it inevitably goes wrong it's up to me to speed up, or slow down, or go in reverse.
A lot of them take risks because they are trying to win the race round the buoys at the expense of boat safety.

 

[apollo]

My Dad had a collision with one in the Bourne End area years ago.

The yacht did the same tried to double back across the bows and clouted the hull and punctured it.

My dad claimed and the yacht had to settle the bill.

The rule "Power Gives way to Sail" is a Myth on the Upper Thames, the instructions should be "Five short rapid blasts: Please declare your intentions (also used to say, 'what are you doing?, or get out of the way'"

Whenever I have done that - they tend to scatter albeit grumpily...

 

[apollo]

P.S. I think this posting entitles you to sit at the same table as BoatOne, NoRegrets and myself at the Laying Up ie the table for "Mild Mannered folks"...

 

[Cliveshep]

Five or more short and rapid blasts
"I do not consider you are taking sufficient action to keep clear of me"
Source - PLA

or: "Your intentions are not clear"
Source Environment Agency

 

[Ramage]

P.S. I think this posting entitles you to sit at the same table as BoatOne, NoRegrets and myself at the Laying Up ie the table for "Mild Mannered folks"...

More like Grumpy Old Men!!

Rebellion's ROBO club has a hate/hate relationship with those yotties too...

 

[apollo]

Not so much of the "old", the other two maybe....

 

[No Regrets]

Hear Hear!

Well somebody has to put things right....