Top tip re towing your dinghy

[Refueler]

I was OOW on a 320,000 ton fully loaded tanker coming into the TSS scheme English Channel ...

We were called up by a yacht - who 'required' us to alter course because he was 'racing' ....

I think you can guess my reply .... at which he got even more insistent on my altering course for him ... I just pointed out that with my draft of over 70ft - I wasn't going anywhere out of the TSS for him or any other idiot !

UK CG came on the VHF and told the yacht to get out of the way ... and I was 'ticked off' for swearing !!

I would have no problem to alter according to ColRegs in open waters .... but TSS ?? You have to be kidding !!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I was OOW on a 320,000 ton fully loaded tanker coming into the TSS scheme English Channel ...

We were called up by a yacht - who 'required' us to alter course because he was 'racing' ....

I think you can guess my reply .... at which he got even more insistent on my altering course for him ... I just pointed out that with my draft of over 70ft - I wasn't going anywhere out of the TSS for him or any other idiot !

UK CG came on the VHF and told the yacht to get out of the way ... and I was 'ticked off' for swearing !!

I would have no problem to alter according to ColRegs in open waters .... but TSS ?? You have to be kidding !!

The mayhem would be amazing from a spectator point of view. And isn’t the TSS a special case? I thought us play boats were supposed to cross at 90deg without interfering. Stricter than the Solent channels, I guess due to the amount of traffic. Crossing at 3kn towing a tender would be quite hard, in my experience. We feel quite intimidated at 12 odd knots. You need to pick your space.

 

[johnalison]

The mayhem would be amazing from a spectator point of view. And isn’t the TSS a special case? I thought us play boats were supposed to cross at 90deg without interfering. Stricter than the Solent channels, I guess due to the amount of traffic. Crossing at 3kn towing a tender would be quite hard, in my experience. We feel quite intimidated at 12 odd knots. You need to pick your space.

I don’t think the Channel swimmers go as fast as that.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I don’t think the Channel swimmers go as fast as that.

No. But they do issue a notice to mariners for that.

 

[lustyd]

I would have no problem to alter according to ColRegs in open waters .... but TSS ?? You have to be kidding !!

I assume you’re referring to my post? If so I was required to maintain course and didn’t ask them to change theirs, I asked their intentions. They were very professional and didn’t swear, they took the action colregs suggested and told me that was their intention even though that hadn’t been clear. With a CPA of 100m or so it’s worth a quick call rather than breaking the law out of fear just because they’re bigger. Most pro seamen are professionals.

 

[Muddy32]

I find in TSS and approaching TSS, if close I adjust course early enough by 20-30degress and tell the bigger SHIP what i have done and pass behind, They are working , we are out on the oggin for fun.

 

[lustyd]

I find in TSS and approaching TSS, if close I adjust course early enough by 20-30degress and tell the bigger SHIP what i have done and pass behind, They are working , we are out on the oggin for fun.

In TSS you’re specifically required to not change course when crossing. It can take a long time to cross both lanes, during which ships you didn’t see when you entered will come and go. We would have happily changed course and I told the ship as much, however there were three other ships approaching which would have become collision potentials had we (illegally) changed course.

Breaking the colregs isn’t a sensible course of action at all and could very well end with action against you as the skipper.

 

[Refueler]

I assume you’re referring to my post? If so I was required to maintain course and didn’t ask them to change theirs, I asked their intentions. They were very professional and didn’t swear, they took the action colregs suggested and told me that was their intention even though that hadn’t been clear. With a CPA of 100m or so it’s worth a quick call rather than breaking the law out of fear just because they’re bigger. Most pro seamen are professionals.

Your post prompted ny post - but was not aimed at yours.

Generally I would agree with you that ships will alter as required - in suitable waters ... but sadly - my work brings me into contact with ships that some are not so well manned.

 

[doug748]

Lots of interesting views. I have a 27ft longkeel yacht and need at times to tow my inflatable. The inflatible is 2.3M long with transom back for an outboard, The yacht has a transon hung runner. I wiould like to tow it close to the transom but the rudder stock mske this difficult. If I tow it close up on one tack it will be nearly in the water and on the othertack it woiuld be well clear of the water, What would the forum suggest. Towing is only on coastall day sails
David MH

If you bring the dinghy up short, right under the lee quarter, you will find it will sit there happily bobbing like a duck - especially upwind, perhaps in unexpected lively conditions. You need to tack the dingy but not a dreadful hardship in open water.

One couple circumnavigated with a fendered, hard dinghy secured like this.

.

 

[ylop]

In TSS you’re specifically required to not change course when crossing. It can take a long time to cross both lanes, during which ships you didn’t see when you entered will come and go. We would have happily changed course and I told the ship as much, however there were three other ships approaching which would have become collision potentials had we (illegally) changed course.

You (<20m or sailing) are explicitly prohibited from impeding the passage of a vessel following the TSS. Your heading only needs to be “as nearly as practical” to perpendicular to the flow of traffic and of course (but people always forget) you can adjust speed to change CPA.

Breaking the colregs isn’t a sensible course of action at all and could very well end with action against you as the skipper.

Although radioing people to agree intentions isn’t actually in the COLREGs! (That doesn’t mean I’ve never done it - but from memory only if I was about to do something that might be unexpected).

 

[Refueler]

In TSS you’re specifically required to not change course when crossing. It can take a long time to cross both lanes, during which ships you didn’t see when you entered will come and go. We would have happily changed course and I told the ship as much, however there were three other ships approaching which would have become collision potentials had we (illegally) changed course.

Breaking the colregs isn’t a sensible course of action at all and could very well end with action against you as the skipper.

mmmmm sorry but I disagree with you ..

The ColRegs state to cross at or near as practicable perpendicular to the TSS lanes. This is to make the crossing of lanes as short as possible. The ColRegs do not state "In TSS you’re specifically required to not change course when crossing." .....
What they do say - is you should not impede the passage of a vessel that can only safely navigate within such TSS lanes ..... which means - YOU would consider change of heading and or speed so as to not impede such vessel.

Final comment : The ColRegs are actually not cast in stone ... they are serious guidelines to be followed as far as possible based on circumstances of location and sea-room etc. They state clearly "if the actions of the give way vessel are deemed insufficient - then the stand on vessel shall take such action as to reduce the risk of collision".

The matter of blame : It is significant that Maritime Investigations and conclusions of collisions do not apportion 100% bnlame on one party. Basically because of the clause saying stand on vessel shall take such action etc.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

So technically, you could tack through the TSS. That would be fairly dicey, even in a fast boat. What I’ve done when the wind is too tight to sail at a sensible angle is roll the jib and motorsail. We can then change course if required, and get the maximum speed possible, at about 20-25 deg true. What do do if the angle was more difficult than that, I guess we’d have to beat. We can’t make much headway in the open sea unless it’s dead flat. Fortunately, those directions, due north and south, are quite rare.

 

[lustyd]

The ColRegs state to cross at or near as practicable perpendicular to the TSS lanes. This is to make the crossing of lanes as short as possible.

This is actually to make the boat movement predictable for shipping within the tides. Ships have several miles of leeway to move side to side as it’s expected they’ll need to overtake and avoid things.
If they want yachts to cross as fast as possible the rule would be written entirely differently.

 

[Refueler]

This is actually to make the boat movement predictable for shipping within the tides. Ships have several miles of leeway to move side to side as it’s expected they’ll need to overtake and avoid things.
If they want yachts to cross as fast as possible the rule would be written entirely differently.

That post doesn't even warrant a reply .... you already have my post frrom before ... but here goes ..

Do you not think that as a Qualified Professional Ships Officer - my original profession - that during training and subsequent examinations for each Ticket held - that the maenings and interpretations of ColRegs were not an important part ??
It was even more important in the time that trained for my first Ticket (2nd Mates FG) - because in 1973 - the Colregs were changing to the later which included radar and its use in reduced visibility etc. Long hours were spent discussing and interpreting ColRegs .....

 

[benjenbav]

That’s quite a strange attitude. Many many small sailing craft have no engines. Did you not learn to sail in one? If not, there’s your problem. I’m not going to spill your coffee tacking a Dragonfly 920 up the Beaulieu river, that, I agree, would inconsiderate, and madness in fact. But as I say, I have a boat with no engine. Would you tow me in if I asked you? That would prevent the inconvenience of obeying the colregs. Though if there's a river finish, we’d be sailing in anyway.

Hmm, isn’t your non-engined boat an XOD?

When requesting a tow, you’ll be wanting someone who hasn’t already been run down by the XOD fleet in full cry.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Hmm, isn’t your non-engined boat an XOD?

When requesting a tow, you’ll be wanting someone who hasn’t already been run down by the XOD fleet in full cry.

There’s often a pipe smoking, breton cap wearing old codger who doesn’t know it’s Cowes Week meandering across our start line at the wrong time. If his hair wasn’t white before, it will be afterwards.

 

[lustyd]

Although radioing people to agree intentions isn’t actually in the COLREGs! (That doesn’t mean I’ve never done it - but from memory only if I was about to do something that might be unexpected).

Because colregs doesn’t apply when there isn’t a collision situation, obviously. It’s prudent to do anything to avoid one happening including talking to other humans. Not popular these days but communication can achieve all sorts of wonders.

 

[lustyd]

Do you not think that as a Qualified Professional Ships Officer - my original profession - that during training and subsequent examinations for each Ticket held - that the maenings and interpretations of ColRegs were not an important part ??

At the time I assume yes. Given what you incorrectly said before I assume you’re rusty. You obviously were more focused on the ship part than the yacht part at that time, but the wording clearly is intended to ensure when crossing that boat speed is consistent and tide affects everyone the same way.
If you’re unaware, yachts will usually cross faster on a non-perpendicular heading.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The TSS used to be way more frightening, but ships have been emasculated and now only do 15knots. 25 was not uncommon 20 years ago.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

When crossing a TSS in a sailing yacht or less than 20m, and there is a power vessel within the TSS transiting in the correct direction, and there is a risk of collision, the correct action by the sailing yacht or vessel less than 20m, is to turn in the direction of the TSS transit direction and let the larger and faster vessel go by, then turn again behind it and continue to cross at right angles. This has been done to death on this forum and on courses, in videos et cetera.

Also as a sailing vessel, the MCA has made it clear that when sailing using wind power, you have to use your auxiliary engine when crossing a TSS if there is a risk of collision within the TSS.

MGN 364 (M+F) Amendment 2 Navigation Safety: Traffic Separation Schemes – Application of Rule 10 and Navigation in the Dover Strait

2.17 If a sailing vessel cannot follow the routeing measures under sail because of light or adverse winds, then she should make use of her engines in order to do so, show the appropriate lights, shapes, and if required, make sound signals for a power-driven vessel and comply with the actions required of a power-driven vessel. Whilst there is no clear definition within Rule 10 on impeding the safe passage, the UK interpret this as causing the vessel for which the safe passage should not be impeded, to be forced into deviating from its course or speed.