Towing

[DepSol]

Got a call from a mate at 10.30 the other morning whilst I was at work.....Help my boats sinking I am pumping it out as we speak can you tow me to the QEII so I can then get lifted out. Ok be there at 12 I said so started boat up at 10 past 12 and got everything ready to tow my mates boat, pulled alongside his pontonn to find the SE5 pushing me on to the pontoon hmmm this is not going to be fun me thinks.

Any way ties his line to my prepared sling between the back cleats and proceeds to tr to get him off his mooring however the wind is too strong in such a narrow channel and they cant get the boat out of the mooring quick enough before I am being pushed on to the boats and one boats bow roller kisses my gel coat (goodbye) before I manage to get them moving and down the to the end of the pontoons where we have another tight manouvre between an Azimut and a big Sunseeker.

Missed the Az and pulled up enough power to stop them missing the Sunseeker by about 1 inch then towed them around to the QEII with a nasty following sea.

Got into the QEII and the wind was starting to blow us off course so I did a quick mnouvre to bring me broadside to my mates Maxum and tied up really quickly then drove him down to bring him alongside an Aquastar which he could tie onto before the trailer came to get him.

Then had a nice, cold wet, run back to the Albert. Its amazing what you can do in a lunch hour!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[robind]

Good man!
Regards and happy Christmas
Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[BrendanS]

That sounds like fun. Why was he sinking?

Towed a boat all the way from outside the forts east of Portsmouth to Mercury on the Hamble a coupla months ago. Sea state fine, but even though quite small, couldn't get the thing on the plane. So, 3000 revs all the way for two hours, at about 6knts. On a long tow, and planned to put him on an alongside tow when we go to the lifeboat dropping station.

When we got there, it was bedlam. Probably about 50 boats of different types all entering at once - dinghies, yachts, ribs, powerboats. Pushing up against a dropping tide, V strong current, and very little control other than keep motoring into the current.

A yacht was sailing in, off my starboard, out of channel, and suddenly tacked to go straight across my stern,. What would have happened if they went over the tow rope I really have no idea, othere than it would have been a hell of a prang. Luckily there were about 8 aboard, and a young lass on the bow. Starting yellling 'Towing, towing' at here and pointing aft. She got the message, and yelled at skipper who crash tacked back up parallel to the channel. Got on the radio, and had a rib station itself in between me and tow to protect the tow rope. Next time I think I'll get alongside before entering the Hamble. The reason I was going for the testing station is that there are a bunch of bouys you can pick up to get yourself sorted.

As it happened, current was so strong we put a rib alongside the tow, and I cut the tow rope off the bridle, as there was too much pressure to bring it in without a winch (extreme spring tide), then the rip whipped the rope out of the water before it tangled anyone,. Recovered my tow rope back at Mercury, minus a few inches and about 120 litres of petrol. Thirsty work towing hard at low speed!

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[petem]

Good work fella!

DepSol the 8645th emergency service.

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[ArthurWood]

Boating over there seems like one long nightmare. You're a tough, very skilled lot, I have to admit./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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