Unmarked buoy virgin

[winsbury]

So, there we were, nipping along nicely out to the NAB on Saturday when there was a sudden 'bang bang' from underneath and the boat came to a dead halt all sails still in full flow and the cockpit now surging horribly from what had effectively become an aft anchor. We quickly realised that we had got caught up on an unmarked buoy; we had in fact sighted it shortly before and steered some 15-20 meters off to starboard but it must have had a very shallow angled line that caught round our skeg and held us fast against the tide. Attempts at pulling the wire taught nylon line up with the boat hook to cut it from on deck proved impossible so it was down with the sails and reluctantly over the side to free everything up using my feet and then clamber back on to sail away looking like a drowned rat. On the layline from the NAB back to Langstone (a frequented route for local races ) there were at least another 5 similar blue buoys which we naturally gave a considerably wider berth to.

lessons learned ( in no particular order ):
1. give unmarked buoys a very wide berth ... dont expect the line to go down vertically
2. don't expect a lobster pot at the end that will pull up easily, I reckon ours had a submarine sized object attached as it would not budge.
3. get a dry change of clothes ready before jumping in.
4. make sure you're tethered to the boat ( I was ) as it drifts off at a pace while left holding the freed buoy otherwise.
5. consider whether issuing a pan pan is worthwhile to alert others that a) you might need assistance, b) alert others that your boat is not anchored and might break free any moment c) be ready to upgrade to a mayday in the event of injury etc etc
6. use goggles ( and possible a snorkel ) to help see whats going on.
7. make sure you have a safety knife at hand ( I managed to free this one without having to cut the line but cutting it was on the agenda )
8. don't try the engine to break free in case of making things much worse.

On reflection I find it very concerning that these hazards appear un-owned ( no name or number on the buoy) , unlit, unflagged, unmarked and non-radar reflective so at night or in worse conditions than we had could cause a much more serious event.

 

[Giblets]

Have you reported them to QHM Portsmouth as they request if you come across such beasts?

 

[sailorman]

It could have been much worse had you navigation been 100% as this chaps was last week

 

[winsbury]

No, I believe its well outside the relevant QHM area - there are rules for marking buoys inside the port of Portsmouth area but we were almost at the NAB outside main shipping channel.

 

[Giblets]

Fairy nuff.

 

[penfold]

No name and no tag means it gets the breadknife on a broom handle; if the owner cares so little for it why should you or I care either(at least not enough to go for a dip unless absolutely necessary)?

 

[prv]

Glad it all ended well.

Touch wood, I haven't needed to do the same at sea yet, nearest we came was when an inexperienced skipper hooked us up on the long pickup pendant of the mooring we'd just left. We found the same issue as you with a taut line, but since there was a buoy we could swim a warp across to it and winch in on that to remove the tension on the fouled part. I would try to do the same with any line, using a rolling hitch, but may not be possible if the angle downward is steep.

I carry on board a drysuit, a weightbelt, mask and snorkel, a plain harness and carabiner for a lifeline, a plastic helmet, a serrated knife that's also strong enough for serious prying and levering, a hacksaw, and kevlar cut-proof gloves (don't really believe the tales of hook and razor-blade booby-traps, but there could be strands of wire or sharp marine growth, and I don't want to be shy about grabbing things). Even with a lifeline, I'd also stream a fender on a long warp downtide just in case someone (may not even be me, perhaps a helper falling in) gets separated from the boat. MOB is a hell of a lot scarier when the boat is anchored by the prop and can't follow.

I know some people would advocate never getting in the water under any circumstances. As is clear from the kit I carry, I don't subscribe to that view, but I'm also realistic as to the conditions (of current or sea-state) in which it's sensible to attempt self-help. The RNLI are not going to look down on you if you decide to call them instead.

Thanks for posting, so we can all learn from your experience.

Pete

 

[winsbury]

Some good ideas there...a knife of some sort on a stick might well have worked and saved a dip but the surging would have made it very difficult to do. For much the same reason I tried to free us rather than cut the line when I was in the water though frankly I very much wanted to cut this and every other one I subsequenty spotted. In the heat of the moment I didnt think to try the winch but the angles wouldnt have been ideal and suspect chafe might have caused more damage to have tried. Mob of the crew assisting would have been very frightening and indeed made a bad situation far worse, awful thought.

 

[onesea]

I keep meaning to but one of these:

http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/commando-wire-saw-269-p.asp

and or one of these:

http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/survival-chain-saw-270-p.asp

I figured that you could use a water bottle as float and boat hook as prodder to get under the rope. Then with a little bit of sawing you could be free...

Thoughts experiences appreciated, would I be wasting my money..

 

[sailorman]

I keep meaning to but one of these:

http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/commando-wire-saw-269-p.asp

and or one of these:

http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/survival-chain-saw-270-p.asp

I figured that you could use a water bottle as float and boat hook as prodder to get under the rope. Then with a little bit of sawing you could be free...

Thoughts experiences appreciated, would I be wasting my money..

do they cut GRP transoms as well as the rope

 

[prv]

a knife of some sort on a stick might well have worked

Good point, I was thinking of the swimming gear and forgot to mention I also have a pruning saw designed to clamp onto a pole (the boathook).

Pete

 

[winsbury]

Cutting rope isnt particulary easy imho, it tends to take several goes at the same spot before it cuts through, I wonder if theres a more efficient method, like using rigging cutters for example.

 

[TQA]

do they cut GRP transoms as well as the rope

Yup they cut through GRP like a knive thru butter.

 

[[70521]]

lessons learned ( in no particular order ):
1. give unmarked buoys a very wide berth ... dont expect the line to go down vertically

Am I missing something?

 

[l'escargot]

I'd give marked buoys a very wide berth too...

 

[winsbury]

Am I missing something?

I thought I had left enough space based on sailing past many of these without incident previously but in this case the rope was excessively long meaning the angle to the buoy was very shallow so still managed to foul up on it.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I use one of these in the garden. Slices through smaller branches like knife/butter. Has stayed sharp for years despite absolutely no care. Would it work in this situation?

http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-a...-Saws/Pruning-Stik-Tree-Pruner-5#.Uh366BacMk0

 

[prv]

I use one of these in the garden. Slices through smaller branches like knife/butter. Has stayed sharp for years despite absolutely no care. Would it work in this situation?

http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-a...-Saws/Pruning-Stik-Tree-Pruner-5#.Uh366BacMk0

Yep, I was going to suggest something similar, but couldn't find a decent picture. The one I was thinking of (which hangs along most of the length of the wall in my dad's garage) has a hook-shaped anvil, so it would be much easier to catch and engage the rope. It's also longer than the one in your link.

Trouble is, it would be a bugger to stow so you'd have to be unusually paranoid to bother carrying one around. My anti-pot kit fits into a small locker right in the bow which I want to keep free of heavier stuff anyway.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

I thought I had left enough space based on sailing past many of these without incident previously but in this case the rope was excessively long meaning the angle to the buoy was very shallow so still managed to foul up on it.

Thanks, now I understand.