TSS and 90 degree angles

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Mings74

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Hi all,
Just a question about the TSS in the english channel. I'm looking at sailing Eastbourne to Boulougne later in the year (if the current force 10 eases to a 9 maybe!). Do you have to be really strict with crossing it at 90 degrees?. That would obviously stop me from doing a straight line between the two. So presumbably I could sail down towards Dungeness before cutting sharply at 90 degrees then when I hit the middle seperation zone sail along again before cutting straight across to Boulougne?. Or is it acceptable to shave a bit off the angle?.
This is what the Eastbourne coast looked like today!. Cheers Ming
DSCF1316-1.jpg
 
90 degrees is 90 degrees. It's a very busy channel and you could get fined for not obeying the TSS to the letter.

I read recently that a boat owner was traced and fined £2k or so after he went along the "central reservation", I think whilst waiting for a boat to cross ahead of him in the TSS. Ouch.
 
You should stick to the 90 degrees if you want to avoid any fines. You should also be aware it is your heading that should be 90 degrees, so unless you cross at slack water the tidal set will mean that your COG will not be at 90 degrees.
All the best and good sailing.
 
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I read recently that a boat owner was traced and fined £2k or so after he went along the "central reservation", I think whilst waiting for a boat to cross ahead of him in the TSS.

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Ouch indeed. I remember doing ... actually I don't. I wasn't even sailing on that day.
 
Mings74 - heading/course steered at 90% to TSS as earlier replies say. An added point is that is the fastest way to get across anyway as you will not be trying to stem the tide to hold a ground course. Also if you enter the TSS uptide of Boulogne the tide will carry you towards your destination. Maybe you know this already; but what else is there to do on a wet/windy/non-sailing day except talk about it? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Yup, as CBT says.... work your tides out so that despite setting a course at 90deg to the TSS, the tide gives you a COG towards your destination.... just a matter of timing... and a real pleasure when you get it right! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
All of which answers your question - since radars cant detect heading and only course, you can probably (no guarantee) get away with a course made good up to 45 deg off perpendicular (more in a Bav /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) to the TSS, depending on wind direction and how obnoxious the French radar operator is feeling that day.

That said, its a bit like crossing the M25 on foot. The best way is at 90 deg and going like the clappers!
 
The skipper fined 2k was a French racing yacht, a cat I think ( possibly trimaran ? ), which caused several vessels in the TSS to take avoiding action. I doubt that a slow yacht would cause as much havoc and would be unlikely to gain the attention of the authorities.
 
Yup, as CBT says.... work your tides out so that despite setting a course at 90deg to the TSS, the tide gives you a COG towards your destination.... just a matter of timing... and a real pleasure when you get it right!

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Watched a ferry making landfall at Newcastle doing this with a strong southerly coastal current. I think there were smiles all round on the bridge and maybe a case of beer on the smoke room table when she slipped into the Tyne entrance BETWEEN the piers with hardly any tinkering in the previous hour.

We had slipped about ten miles down the coast in the time I stood and watched , but then he does it every second day /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
so getting the Tyne entrance on the nose at the right moment is just part of the job.
 
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Watched a ferry making landfall at Newcastle doing this with a strong southerly coastal current. I think there were smiles all round on the bridge and maybe a case of beer on the smoke room table when she slipped into the Tyne entrance BETWEEN the piers with hardly any tinkering in the previous hour.


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I find sticking a waypoint into the GPS and setting the tiller pilot produces this effect without any effort.
 
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I find sticking a waypoint into the GPS and setting the tiller pilot produces this effect without any effort.

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How do you figure that one out? The 'waypoint' needs to be upstream because of tidal flow / current / leeway if your heading is to be at 90 degrees to the TSS. No? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

You should forget the 'waypoint' and just set a CTS that is @ 90 to the TSS.
 
Think of it this way: the regulations want you to cross the TSS as fast as possible to reduce the chance of an encounter with a commercial, which, as you know, has right of way.

But it is recognised that pursuing a literal 90 degrees crossing is impractical in sailing boats in most conditions - you are allowed to slew off pt or stbd as you endeavour to make the fastest possible crossing. So saying, you are not required to motor or take other action to achieve this, but in return you are required to present the best cross section to oncoming vessels - hence the injunction to present at 90 degress to the TSS. Practical eh?

Folks only get stung by the authorities when their egos oblige them to self-declare their sailing craft to be (just for today) a commercial and trip off down the TSS like they were a container vessel without the containers!

PWG
 
Here are the correct details:-

SKIPPER OF RACING YACHT FINED

Defendant: Dirk De RIDDER, Folkstone Magistrates Court on 02nd July 2007.

Date of offence: 13 May 2007.

Offence: Breach of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, Rule 10(b)(1)

Details: On 13th May 2007 the racing yacht MEAN MACHINE was on a positioning voyage from Portsmouth, UK to Scheveningen, Netherlands prior to taking part in a race. At about 1850 the MEAN MACHINE was detected slowly entering the South West lane on a heading of 055°t. She then proceeded for 6.5 miles in the wrong direction in the South West lane, contrary to Rule 10(b)(i) of the Colregs.

The yacht’s plan had been to follow the separation line/zone between the South West lane and Inshore traffic Zone very closely. De Ridder failed to realise that wind shifts would cause him problem which they ultimately did. Soon after gybing it should have become apparent to De Ridder that his course was taking him into the South West lane. MEAN MACHINE passed close ahead of a crossing vessel before passing between two South West bound vessels.

The MEAN MACHINE was identified by a passing merchantman. Dover CNIS contacted the MEAN MACHINE by radio. The yacht then altered course and crossed the South West lane at right angles as required by rule 10 of the Colregs.

Penalty: Fine £6,000 and Costs of £4,200.
 
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