What am I? Disneyland?

[Seagreen]

This may turn into a bit of a rant about power boat owners, but I just can't keep this to myself. Has anything similar happened to other boat sailors?

Gripe No.1

So, last sunday afternoon off Dartmouth. Flat calm, bright sun, blue, blue sky. Unusually, I'd actually managed to get all my light weather sails up. At this point I should say 'Cleone' is a gaff yawl, with jackyard and jib topsail, so lots of string and quite impressive from a distance with all her slap on.

Anyhow, there were quite a number of powerboats returning from all points, mostly heading back to Torbay when I spot one heading straight for me and doing some 25 knots. Heading straight for me, not even slightly past at high speed as is usual for most of these things.

I grab the airhorn and give him 5 short blasts, at which point he slows to 10 knots and passes about 100 feet astern, asking "are you all right?"

I may not be very up to speed on the colregs, but I don't remember 'not moving (fast)' as being a distress signal. Ok, he had a couple of kids on board, and coming over to have a look is fine by me, but charging up staright at me at high speed was irresponsible.

On a similar note, gripe no.2

Nearly saw a windsurfer killed last week, as having fallen off in the run of the river Exe past Exmouth beach, a fast racing powerboat was heading toward him in a narrow tidal channel, where the speed limit is 10 knots.

This powerboat was doing about 40 knots. It passed 12 feet this side of the surfer in the water and us by 40 feet. It didn't slow down, or appear to have altered course much to avoid either me or the windsurfer.

OK rant over. A case for reporting these to CHIRPS or are cases of powerboat pigheadedness too numerous to mention?

Mac (seething)

 

[dur]

Yip

Sounds like par for the course. Every other Richard Cranium with 50 hp or more likes to see whether they can cause a serious accident on a small boat. Last time was in near calm in the Solent. Too close for us to turn into the wave and we went toe rail to toe rail. One seriously frightened 10 year old girl as a result.

Perhaps there is a case for lots of tax on the diesel. It won't make em slow down but at least it will contribute to the exchequer.

 

[Nautorius]

Fair enough,

But most sportsboats/jet skis use Petrol so tax on diesel will harm us old codgers. I still think a compulsory license of ICC level would help.

Cheers

Paul

 

[DR007]

Another case of powerboat versus sail: Last weekend returning to Torquay harbour in my Classic 1958 marine ply on mahogany open day sailer (17ft 6inches), wood spars, minding my own business, making for the harbour entrance under power (4hp 2stroke) and a Gin palace cuts inside me between the harbour wall doing around 20knots, the stern wash combined with the already choppy conditions causes my bow to vertually go perpendicular and to slam down then for the boat to roll violently. I really don't think the drivers of these magnificent lumps of plastic are aware what damage they can inflict to small boats and their owners! They sit up on their flybridges, one story up and have no conception of what it is really like to feel at one with the water, sailing free as a bird.

I think before a person is allowed to take control of a powerboat they should do a three day boat handling course and pass it competently. Part of the course should include a session in a small sailing boat and be passed in close proximity by a fast moving power boat. Only then would they understand the vulnerability one experiences in these circumstances.

There is space for everyone out there, another similar size powerboat approoached on my port side and was witness to what happened, they slowed right down, kept their distance and waited their turn to enter harbour behind me, thank you!

 

[AliM]

Another one...

Just upstream from Burnham, there is a small sailing club, within a 8kt speed limit zone. Last Saturday we were motoring past it, against 20kt wind and tide. Several dinghies were out and having difficulties in the strong wind. One capsized, and the three kids in it had to be helped to right it. They sailed away, still a bit wobbly as they sorted out the bits of string. We slowed right down to pass very well clear. At that point a mobo belted pass us, within about 15 m of the dinghy, at 20+kts. The wash was mountainous, and the crew did not even glance back to see the effect on the dinghy. However, a rib blasted off after them, and when it returned, we saw it was a harbour-master. Does the harbour authority have any powers to issue fines, or would he have been restricted to shoutuing at them?

 

[Peterduck]

Here in Oz a licence to use a motor boat [which includes auxiliary sailboats] is definitely necessary, as is attendance at a course on boat handling as part of the licence process. Jet ski have a course and licence of their own, which is stiffer, I believe. Shoreline waters near beaches are segregated into swimming only [jetskis verboten] and jetski access [to the beach] lanes. The Water Police are equipped with 180 hp jetskis with which they patrol the beaches in summer.
Peter.

 

[Whitelighter]

Well, I am feeling tarnished with that brush then. I'd like to think I could defend myself, and the other bods who use MOBO's courteously, but I get the impression I won't be heard.

 

[Steve Clayton]

4(ish) years ago we were invited out on a out and return trip from Swanwick to Lymington on a 40' mobo (Toscana) with David and Patricia.
Part of their overall safety was "' ware wash" that Toscana could cause to other water craft and taking appropriate action - so there are some good guy's out there!!!

 

[Lakesailor]

It's part of this strange magnetism that effects us all. If there is a buoy you will pass it close by. Don't know, why it's just a fact.
Problem is that in addition the MOBOs seem to have a racing mentality and will always want to pass across the bow rather than duck under the stern. It wouldn't seem to make any difference, other than a twitch of the wheel, to me, but is apparently a matter of honour to most MOBO pilots.

 

[BrendanS]

Not true. Certainly not true of many mobos used to crowded Solent conditions (at times)

Some raggies wave in appreciation, tho most are not even aware you've detoured around them

 

[moodycruiser]

Could have been worse.....

....ouch !

 

[Seagreen]

YEEAAAARRGH!
Moodycruiser, thats exactly what I was afraid of. Even blasts on an airhorn won't be heard over the noise of growling engines.

But, something slightly prophetic about teh name of the catamaran?

I try not to let the thought of it scare me, but it still does.
M)