Weymouth Rowing Ferry - Death Wish?

[global_odyssey]

Last time we entered Weymouth after a brisk sail round the Bill from Devon, we'd just passed the fast ferry dock and I was sorting out some warps when my wife (at the helm and already warned to keep a lookout for a crossing ferry as per the almanac) shouts "what's that rowing boat doing?"
With boats all around and coming the other way I look round in horror to see an 'old fart' (imho) in a wooden rowing boat obliviously intent on getting directly in front of me risking his 4 souls on board as if I was going to miraculously stop from 3-4 knots at 10 yards.

With nowhere to turn, I jumped back to the helm and, with full revs astern, managed to stop just in time - our dolphin-striker almost in impaler mode - but with no harm done. A few seconds more and a different story would have unfolded!

I'm not proud of this incident, (apart from the fact that I managed to retrieve the situation with no harm done). I also know the rowing ferry is supposed to have right-of-way - there's a one-liner in the Almanac. However, there was no sign of the crossing ferry until it was too late.
Common sense tells me that even if I had right-of-way as a drably-presented rowing-ferry, I'd at least make sure I wasn't about to be mown down by a passing boat before risking myself and my passengers, especially if the channel was busy.
Has anyone else met this kamikaze ferryman?

<hr width=100% size=1>I've got wind......................
...............................in my sails!

 

[jimi]

Yup .. I take my hat off to the chap, he's got nerves of steel!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[bigmart]

Yeah. He's a pretty good rower too!

Martin

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[BarryH]

I've used the ferry a number of times, spoken with "the old fart" and even had a beer with him. The old fart has probably more sea miles to more places than the membership of this forum.
Ok so its a rowing boat, a 60 year old one at that, and its a working boat and he has right of way. Like it or not, and I can see your point, you've got to give way to him. Its even worse at the hight of summer when theres 4 of them plying back and forth. Now you know how some motoerboaters feel when faced with a dinghy merrily ignoring us and crossing in front without so much as a glance.

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[global_odyssey]

Nice chap I'm sure the ferryman - I'd just would appreciate (espacially at dusk) some illumination / retro-reflective material aboard or even just a fluorescent band round his hat.
I thought the leisure boating scene was being taken-over by bureacracy - why not apply some good old-fashioned common sense to hazards like this! Surely in the 21st Century, the Weymouth rowing ferry (with it's fare-paying dolphin-stiker-fodder) is in need of some HSE legislation!

To be fair, we'd come into Weymouth underneath a spectacular display courtesy of Biggles & Co (Red-Arrows) and left it a little late to take our sails down near the top entrance to Portland Harbour. While I was at the mast my wife was steering to wind towards a warship which she assured me was anchored! Actually it wasn't - but that's another story. (Her excuse - sitting next to me now- is that big boats don't have big balls!) (anchor balls!)


<hr width=100% size=1>I've got wind......................
...............................in my sails!

 

[LadyInBed]

One of "the old farts" that takes a turn at rowing the ferry also mans the Weymouth lifeboat.
Interesting what you say about a one line entry in your Almanac, I've just looked at an old copy of Macmillan’s and they make no mention of the ferry. Whichever way you cut it, ferry or not, the rowboat had right of way and a proper lookout should be kept by boats entering or leaving. It’s even more hazardous when the dingy racing fleet are tacking across the harbour on their way in or out.


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[longjohnsilver]

Well I say thank goodness one of the old traditions still remains relatively untouched by modern interference and legislation. Long may it continue.

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[pheran]

Short-sighted?

I know this ferry very well and wonder how your helmsman failed to spot it or take avoidance action until your boat was 10 yards away?. I bet that 'old fart' has endless tales to tell about the behaviour of small pleasure craft entering Weymouth.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue>A convert to steel boats and displacement cruising - the only way to go</font color=blue>

 

[doris]

Right of way Ferry

On what basis do you say that the row boat had automatic right of way. I can't think of any all embracing rule.

<hr width=100% size=1>Real men do it 2handed.

 

[Little_Russel]

Perhaps you should keep a better look out and go slower. He has been plying his trade quite happily for many years. There is no advantage in roaring up that very short stretch of water.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sail the Se7en seas...

 

[global_odyssey]

Hardly roaring up at 3kts! - actually possibly less - hence being able to stop - I remember being overtaken by several boats at the time.
My point is that the rowing boat came out of nowhere and not every unsuspecting boat heading up the channel might be as fortunate, especially short-handed or tired at the end of a long passage.
I'm not a fan of legislation - just common-sense!


<hr width=100% size=1>I've got wind......................
...............................in my sails!

 

[jimi]

Think everyone has a duty of care, no matter their physical state. If you have a car crash its hardly an acceptable justification "Ah I was tired cos I'd just driven 600 miles!" in fact that would probably be taken as an admission of culpability. On entering any harbour especially an unfamiliar one I'd expect you to be on a high state of awareness, not blythely packing your sails away unaware of what's happening around you cos you'd been watching some planes .. all IMHO of course.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[Ric]

It amazes and impresses me that there is still such a thing as a rowing ferry. How has it managed to escape motorisation?

It never ceases to amaze me the efforts that some people will make to avoid doing any physical exercise these days. A good example being those silly electric scooters that people use to get around marinas. What is wrong with walking, or using a bicycle?

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[AuntyRinum]

How can a rowing boat come "out of nowhere"?

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[stephenmartin]

Re: Right of way Ferry

You are not allowed to impede commercial traffic....and he was definately commercial.....Your lookout should have spotted it way before it became a near miss.....

Still....bet his passengers had brown trousers on

Steve

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[BarryH]

The little ferry has been there years. I've been going to the area for nigh on 40 years.......god I'm getting old!
You've got to look at the lay of the land at Weymouth. For the Holiday makers that go there a walk round the harbour is de rigor. The only crossing to the Portland side of the harbour is over the road bridge. Then people walk along the quay where the old cottages are, down pass the sailing clubs to the breakwater.
I've done it on many occasion. Problem being that directly after the bridge is the Kings Arms. Olde worlde pub that does good food etc. Then you've got brewers quay etc etc. By the time peeps have "strolled" off their lunch, liquid and otherwise it seems a bloody long walk back up the harbour and down the other side to get back to your car.
Now for only 20p and the chance of a boat ride in an "olde worlde" boat with what looks like a right old salty sea dog who's got the "gift of the gab" and the welcoming thought that grannies zimmer will be stowed in the boot of the car in half the time. It survives. Long may it do so!

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[ianwright]

Beats me why after an accident or near accident it's always the other blokes fault.
What happened to learning by experience? You know,,,,,, "Oops, that could have been nasty, what can I (note the "I") do to make sure it doesn't happen again?"
Still, at least no one was motoring up the harbour in fog with DGPS and a close guard zone alarum set on the radar. I've seen it done,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


IanW

<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[Twister_Ken]

\'scuse I

Where does "not allowed to impede commercial traffic' come from?

Harbour byelaws? Coz it's certanly not colregs.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[poter]

Wait a minute!!!!

I have just read the reply's to this post in astonished amazement, with all the old fa*t like answers.

Yes a lookout should be maintained....yes roaring up a commercial waterway, At 3knts! should not be allowed...yes we are all so good that we have never taken our sails down a tad too late....yes the old man in the ferry has many years of rowing on the seven seas & has rescued countless souls!
BUT what the heck has any of that got to do with anything?

If this company/ferryman wants to stay in the 17th century - then let him!
But to ply a commercial enterprise in the 21st without any visible or audible warnings IS DANGEROUS, (I assume there was no audible warning from the ferry) I 100 percent agree with Global, that it is ridiculous for this kamikaze to carry on. If this tradition is still required, then go to a boating lake & have your pleasure there.

Get Real - let them get an outboard, some lights & a horn.

Oh! & while we are on about it, how can any comment be made about 'lets keep the old traditions' etc. etc. whilst bashing away on 1000's of pounds worth of computer equipment?

AIMHO

poter




<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by poter on 13/02/2004 11:57 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: Wait a minute!!!!

Get out on the wrong side of the bed today?

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