Wake from larger boats... non issue or safety concern?

[duncan99210]

The wash the fast twin hull ferries kick up is truly nasty. Steep and very fast moving. We were returning in RIB for a dive in Belfast Lough when the SeaCat ferry departed. It was constrained by the harbour byelaws to a moderate pace until it cleared the old power station, when it opened up, getting to 30 knots or so almost immediately. We met the wash bows on but we still nearly vertical as we crested the wash, despite having next to no way on at all: the following waves were smaller but equally steep. We ended up with a boat full of water but thankfully no injuries or damaged dive gear, which for once we'd actually stowed properly before leaving the dive site.

 

[Wansworth]

So called professionals who ought to know better are unfortunately culprits of unseamenlike behaviour near other vessels, instead of taking pride in there competence they seem to ignore other water users......... in reference to Spanish ferry on the use of Cies

 

[Highland Bear]

I have never been anywhere like the Solent for arses in big mobos

not generally dangerous but bloody inconsiderate

The plonker factor is particularly evident in the approach to the Hamble, as mobos leave it to the last second to drop speed to 6 kts, despite passing close to yachts with crews working on deck to stow sails and get lines and fenders out. And is my log reading fast or some mobos reading slow (ie they go past me in the river at a kt or two quicker than me?)

 

[thecommander]

I think some boaters take their car driving attitudes to the water.

 

[Stork_III]

I'm not sure whether that is true. I have taken some serious pounding from the wash of other boats, the worst being a fishing boat of maybe 15 metres length. He was quite close to us, going quickly, so I suspect something to do with the steepness of the wash compared with a natural wave. I recall that deaths occurred when fast cat ferries first began to appear, wash penetrating into some anchorages (around Ipswich I think?) seemed to be amplified to massive proportions.

Correct, Stena Line Cat returning from Hook of Holland. https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/547c7177e5274a4290000137/purdy.pdf

Subsequently the Cat slowed on approach much further out at sea.

 

[BERT T]

You haven't been thought the Kyles of Bute, then? Most motorboats there, it has to be said, are courteous and friendly, but there are a significant minority who ignore the speed limit and good manners to blast through the Burnt Isles narrow as fast, and as near to other vessels, as they can.

A spare 2lb hammer can generally deal with the significant minority.

 

[prv]

We've had one or two hairy moments on our motorboat...

I don't have vast experience of motorboats, but the handful of small ones I've been in have been far, far more sensitive to waves than a small sailing boat. It's the combination of greater speed and not having a dirty great lump of iron underneath to anchor you in the water.

Pete

 

[marktrigg]

Ok, so not really a major safety issue as such (apart from remembering to hang on) ...

Sunny warm summer's day, calm conditions, light breeze, sailing just to the east of Cowes, stood at the bow / in the pulpit (of friends' Sweden Yacht 36) watching one of those ridiculously huuuuge cruise ships (much, much bigger than one of these ? ), making its way out from Southampton ... you know the ones : cinema-screen on the top deck, music blaring, looking so top-heavy that I can barely believe they are actually sea-worthy.

Anyway, by this time it had completed its turn & was about to pass us, so I hung on to the fore-stay and (much to their amusement) shouted a warning about the approaching wash to my friends ? in the cockpit.

The wash arrived (almost head-on) and to my amazement the bow decided to 'completely bury itself' in (at least) one of the waves and I was stood there with sea up to my knees .

Hadn't expected that to happen .... ? !!

 

[Cloona]

as a small boat sailor in the Solent I do find the large fast leisure motorboats dangerous -

I think this is mostly because I have little confidence in the seamanship of their owners/skippers - they are frequently approach on a collision course and alter late.

If you are motoring in confined waters = e.g. entrance to Pompey - the effect of their wake can result in a drowned outboard, cavitation resulting in the loss power, it can throw you off line and across the track of following vessels, and generally affect directional stability just when you need it ....

the fast RIBs are another thing - and really scary when driven through anchorages where you might be swimming off the boat or rowing ashore in an avon......

I have actually seen an "instructor" drive a RIB at speed at children in the water to give them a bit of "excitement" -

I know their have been some terrible and fatal accidents with these fast and powerful craft in the hands of inexperienced skippers.

 

[jwilson]

I have never been anywhere like the Solent for arses in big mobos

not generally dangerous but bloody inconsiderate

I once reported a very big mobo (it had a helicopter on the aft deck) for not-quite-planing past a quiet anchorage, and kicking up a truly monstrous wash. A few weeks earlier there had been a bad accident (burns from cooker on moored boat) from similar wash in same place. Said glossy white mobo spent some time with 76 ft police launch with rubber tyre fenders alongside shorty afterwards. Deepwater Bay in Hong Kong.

 

[chrishscorp]

I am surprised you specifically mention military ribs.
In my recent experience there are very few military ribs out on the Solent these days. Perhaps because we have so few military now.
There are however lots of ribs that have a para military look about them (including the police).

Hants Police have 2 high powered black ribs, but these will very clearly be labeled POLICE in black and white.

If it has no markings then Marines or SBS, my understanding is they are no longer based in the solent area

 

[alahol2]

The only boat that worries me particularly is the Pilot boat entering or leaving Portsmouth harbour. They sometimes kick up a hell of a wash that can have serious consequences if the small boat channel is busy.

 

[thecommander]

The Hants police boats kick up a hell of a wash aswell. I often seem them speeding up Soton' water with zero f*cks given.

I know the HM is now enforcing a 40knt speed limit in Soton' water after the motorboat crash at the Hamble cardinal, but even 40knts seems far too fast in this stretch of water, particularly in the summer months. 25 knots seems far more appropriate IMO

 

[Blue Sunray]

I have never been anywhere like the Solent for arses in big mobos

not generally dangerous but bloody inconsiderate

:sleeping:

 

[Blue Sunray]

Certainly my first thought on seeing such behaviour would be that it's a bunch of coppers having fun playing with their new "don't we look 'ard" toys. I guess in the absence of information we each fall back on our prejudices

Pete

:encouragement:

 

[Blue Sunray]

Hants Police have 2 high powered black ribs, but these will very clearly be labeled POLICE in black and white.

If it has no markings then Marines or SBS, my understanding is they are no longer based in the solent area

I'm afraid you're incorrect on virtually everything there.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Correct, Stena Line Cat returning from Hook of Holland. https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/547c7177e5274a4290000137/purdy.pdf

And two fatalities from fast cats belting up and down Loch Ryan, both in 2003: https://assets.digital.cabinet-offi...f0b602410000cb/Loch_Ryan-Open_Sports_Boat.pdf and https://assets.digital.cabinet-offi...3ed915d4c0d0000d5/Loch_Ryan-cabin_cruiser.pdf

They had to restrict their speeds in the loch after that, which is one reason Stena moved from Stranraer to Cairnryan.

 

[onesea]

The wash arrived (almost head-on) and to my amazement the bow decided to 'completely bury itself' in (at least) one of the waves and I was stood there with sea up to my knees .

Hadn't expected that to happen .... �� !!

When I had my little 19 footer I had similar experience on her when putting the headsail up. Its just the boat took quite a sharp bow down attitude and from the outside it looked quite serious.

I then learned to nip up to the bow if I got an offensive wake and shout things like hold on or "oh F&*k" in a strained voice.... It was a bit of a flaff but the reaction from the motorboat (IF they heard noticed the pantomime) and passers by was often quite humorous... Boat pointing bow down guy on front with water upwards of his knees, other half holding on.

We even managed 1 or 2 to come back and check we where OK, passers buy frequently took small diversions to check.....

Then on that and my 24' washes ending up in the cockpit was quite common occurrence..

 

[michael_w]

If your boat can't cope with a bit of wake, it shouldn't be at sea. Better stay at home and mow the lawn.

Try handling the wake kicked up by the spectator fleet after the start of the Whitbread Race in a Merlin-Rocket. Excellent for improving one's boat handling skills.

 

[rwoofer]

If you are in a Merlin then you are basically ready for anything. The issue with wakes is their unexpected natured whilst hoisting sails etc.

I once nearly got killed when I was thrown off the boat whilst tying up the mainsail, but managed to hang onto the boom. My boat was being towed at it's side due to an engine problem and hanging over the side from the boom, I only just managed to do a lift up (3 times) to stop my legs and body getting crushed by two 7 tons boats. The offender was the RedJet in Soton Water. My crew members could do nothing but hang on themselves.

If I wasn't so young and fit, I would have definitely been crushed.