What now Solent Skipper

[DPH]

Interesting though it is reading all the hypothetical situations and responses 50% of this forum is Solent based and therefore for every situation posted so far a call on ch16 would normally result in 2 lifeboats a helicopter, land based coastguard and 30 other boaters all rushing to be first to save you.

In reality a boater in the Solent faces more challenging problems and from next month MBY will be printing a Solent WNS. So far we have these two possible conundrums.

1. You are anchored in Newtown creek on a falling spring tide. You have taken the tender ashore for a BBQ. You have burgers, sausages and Steak. Un-wrapping the disposable BBQ you realise its last years; however, the winds are dropping as its 30 minutes to sunset. After lighting the BBQ it burns for 3 minutes and then goes out. The charcoal is not alight and it was your only BBQ. WNS?

2. You have anchored all morning in Totland bay and your guests have all been swimming. As you plan to overnight in Yarmouth you leave at midday to ensure you arrive in time to secure a walk ashore pontoon with electric. After weighing anchor you motor slowly through the other boats in the now crowded anchorage. On the radio you hear a call advising you that you have left the swimming ladders down. What reply would you make on the VHF so it wouldn’t look like a mistake?

Can the forum think of any other possible scenarios?

 

[Pete7]

You arive at the Folly at Saturday tea time only to be told the pontoons are full because someone organised a pop concert in a muddy field a mile away. Your two teenagers who up until now have taken not the slightest interest now think it's cool to gate crash the rave by arriving in the yacht and plead you to continue up stream. However you can already see the mud outside the Folly and tide is dropping quickly. Will you make a decent viewing area before your bilge keels touch? will you be surrounded by mobos who have been drinking all afternoon? or would you be safer in Osborne Bay playing cards by candle light and drinking red wine? Isn't doing this the reason you now have two kids?
What next kipper?

Pete

 

[benjenbav]

Excellent. I could relate to these scenarios straight away.

How about this one:

You're approaching Puerto Solente on a falling Spring tide about 1 hour before low water. It is Sunday afternoon and over the vhf thingy you hear lock control issuing numbers to the boats ahead of you in the queue. You know you're in for a two hour stint tooling around in front of Portchester Castle and yet it's imperative that you get home to watch the Canadian Grand Prix (for some unknown reason you're unable to get decent BBC1 reception on the boat). What now Solent Skipper?

 

[bendyone]

You are not sure if your VHF is working - how many radio check calls should you make in a day?

 

[mjf]

After an enjoyable bank holiday weekend you have got your boat back safely through the lock at Puerto Solento and have been looking forward to using the new luxury berth holders only facilities.


You march up to the door of the entrance lobby but your electronic key will not open the door. You are devistated.

This could ruin your w/e

WN solent S?

 

[Rustyknight]

It's blowing like hell, and the rain would put shame to Niagra Falls.

You're alone in the cockpit of your 11m thingamyjig, with all the fenders and warps still in the lockers (except one birds nest of twisted 8mm nylon, the free end of which you clutch tightly in your left hand).

You looking to come alongside another boat (even though there's plenty of pontoon space), and yet there's no-one in sight on any of the already moored craft.

One of the small boats tied up has one of it's hatchboards removed, with wisps of steam wafting through the gap, along with the smell of a lovingly cooked Fray Bentos pie that's obviously just been served to those below.

How do you attract their attention to forgo their hot meal and help you come alongside, without them being immeadietley aware that your wife is below in the cabin of your own fine craft, but is afraid to come out in case she gets her hair wet?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Mine is a simple one. You are moored in a busy Yarmouth harbour and are rafted up against a yacht who's skipper has already irritated you earlier in the day with some cack handed boat handling which nearly took out your port side handrail. Later that night, after a fine dinner at Salty's, you settle down in your cockpit with a generous tumbler of malt and a large Montechristo. A few minutes after you light up, the skipper's head pops up from a hatch of the yacht next door and roundly abuses you for poisoning him and his crew with your cigar smoke.

Do you

A) Tell him there's no law against smoking outdoors and start up your gennie just to ram the point home

B) Agree with him but surreptitiously lob the still smouldering cigar stub into his pristine teak floored cockpit

C) Apologise profusely and meekly retire to bed

WNSS?

 

[mjf]

mike f - a no brainer here.

Genny on and volume up on your 50" plasma - pour another Malt

 

[bendyone]

No sooner had I started it and retired inside with the doors closed there was a man jumping up and down waving his arms around.
He asked me to turn it off which I agreed almost immediately, he said I could put it back on in about 20 minutes when they went out but that would make it a bit late in my opinion.
Now the chap at the side of him came across ranting and raving like a lunatic, by now it had already been agreed for me to turn it off, all I needed to do was pop inside to unplug stuff including :-
3 x mobile phones
1x Nintendo DS
1x electric shaver
2 x PMR radios
Hand held VHF
water scooter
remote control boat
Laptop computer
MP4
etc

Anyway he wouldn't let me go, he kept ranting and raving about how no one else needed a generator and I was the only one with one at the Yarmouth Naffers causing a nuisance.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[gjgm]

After a perfect day's cruise, you arrive at the next marina, moor-up easily, and have a chilled glass of vino as the sun drops, before wandering into town for a fine bistro meal.
Returning to the boat, you and SWIMBO retire a little early. WNS ?

 

[DAKA]

Oh no , have I now turned into a typical solent sailor /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif


You have spent all winter planning your holiday, your ambition is to take your 40ft sports cruiser passed the needles , across the channel and on to Jersey.

You are already to leave when you hear the Coast Guard Forecast

Strong wind warning, SW 4-5 increasing 6 at times, visibility good but poor at times, showers later, sea state slight increasing moderate, rough for a time in the east.

WNS

Head for Yarmouth, Lymington or Cowes

Or find a Flybridge boat to follow and tuck in behind /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Rustyknight]

[ QUOTE ]
After a perfect day's cruise, you arrive at the next marina, moor-up easily, and have a chilled glass of vino as the sun drops, before wandering into town for a fine bistro meal.
Returning to the boat, you and SWIMBO retire a little early. WNS ?

[/ QUOTE ]

As the marina is full, the next boat coming in is advised to come alongside you for the night. After much shouting and swearing, revving of engine and squeaking fenders, the crew of 4 adults, 6 children, and two dogs spend the next 1/2 an hour clambering all over your decks whilst trying to sort out which rope goes where.

Meanwhile, one of their friends from another yacht (already berthed) wanders along the pontoon and climbs onto the side of your boat whilst holding onto the stays. They then chat to the friends (who are still on your coachroof) about their daring does in a wine fueled cacophony of tones for another 1/2 hour.

Not long after this, a twanging of guard wires and squeaking footfalls announce to the world that your new neighbours are off to the showers on a rota system, with the first one back being tasked to take the dogs ashore for their calls of nature.

Eventually though, peace reigns........ although the alarm clock shortly begins it's wailing to inform you that the tide waits for no man, and it's time to go back to Port Solent before the bank holiday rush starts.