Who gives way when...?

[Guest]

Hi

A couple of weeks ago I was making my way up the solent against a foul wind and tide. Minding my own business I got over towards the mainland on the making tack and spotted a fleet of racing dingys playing. Being a kind soul I came about and headed off on port tack to give them room.

Another dingy fleet were plodding around and well clear when suddenly they seemed to wake up and charge towards the starting line, all of them being on Stb and poor old me on port.

Should I have

a. Immediately tacked and carried on on Stb, ploughing through the racing fleet?
b. Shut my eyes and covered the name of the boat?
c. Got out the shotgun and patrolled the foredeck?
d. tried to dodge the armada of about 50 dingies?
e. hoisted an American flag and started motoring?
f. headed below to make a cup of tea and let them sort it out for themselves?

Seriously though, given the increasingly crowded waters in the Solent when should you make way for racing dingies and racing fleets in general? We are all trying to enjoy the water but I can't help feeling that a mass of anything up to 50 dingies hardly makes for pleasant company, especially when they seem determined to reserve the areas of least tide for themselves.

Regards


Fred

 

[tome]

I almost always give way to racing dinghies, except when I'm in a very narrow channel when it's better just to stand on. I remember a few years back coming into Chichester in a 75ft boat (60 tons) when I stopped my engine to allow them to pass- all but 1 of the dinghies crossed well ahead, but one straggler didn't. We had lost way and were drifting towards the shallows so I needed to get her under control again. He followed me up the channel berating me for my lack of consideration, imagining I'd deliberately cut him off. He couldn't understand that our draft was 8.5 feet and that I wasn't prepared to put her aground.

If I have room to manuevre I rather enjoy threading my way clear, whilst SWMBO grabs the camera on such occasions. I think there's enough space for all of us and I always enjoy the spectacle of a fleet of dinghies. On the rare occasions when I haven't been able to keep clear, they have mostly sailed around me cheerfully and without protest, so I can't really grumble about one instance.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

I think option C cheers bob t

Bob T

 

[claymore]

Its just a matter of awareness really isn't it. Being aware of changing weather conditions, changing sea conditions and what others are doing. A dinghy fleet is normally fairly easy to spot and seeing a line of sails normally makes one think there is a start in progress. From then on I think its just a matter of keeping out of the way - as one of the other posts observed - there is plenty of water around normally - unless you are on the Broads - they are having fun, so are we - lets keep it that way by giving way and letting them get on with it. Having raced dinghies and coached racing sailors I seem to have developed a fairly healthy dislike of prats who stand on into a fleet when the options to avoid were plenty and obvious.

regards
Claymore

 

[rogerroger]

well there's comon sense and then there are the rules. Racing fleets have no priority just because they're racing so they are subject to the same rules as everyone else.

I try to avoid racing fleets not only as a courtesy to them but also for my own peace.

the worst thing would be to plough straight through them on starboard and THEN give way to them - that would confuse everyone...



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[stretch33]

l give way to the racers as other posters have said, never forget coming out from Maldon, l had to tack because of depth of water and this chappie hollered out "You Wanker l am racing" Never had that again since so must have been an isolated incident or he had eyesight that could see 17 miles!

 

[jimi]

If can keep clear I will out of courtesy, otherwise I tend to maintain course so that my movements are predictable to all. If possible I try to avoid nicking someone's wind & remain alert to the possibility of one of 'em capsizing ..which even in light winds may be caused by an over enthusiastic roll tack! I must admit if I see the racing marks I tend to go elsewhere even if it means a bit of minor incovenience.

 

[Joe_Cole]

I'm not sure, but what about this?

A week or so ago a motor boat was paddled onto the slip way at our club house. The skipper explained that he had broken down and did we mind if he was hauled out there? It turned out that he had been upstream and had broken down near to a dinghy race. Not only did the sailors have a go at him for getting in the way, but they wouldn't let him land on their slipway. As a result he had to paddle downstream to get to safety. To make matters worse he had a youngster on board.

It seems to me that whatever the circumstances they should have shown more consideration: even if it meant abandoning the race. Safety first.

Dinghy racers do not have priority, but it's only fair to keep away if you can.

Regards


Joe Cole

 

[oldharry]

A reghualr problem in Chi Harbour, where dinghy fleets of all grades of expertise congregate. Generally in a larger boat when it is not possible to safely avoid the fleets, the best recourse is to pursue a steady course at moderate speed so that oncoming dinghys are clear about your intentions. If space permits to avoid individuals, a course change to keep clear should be made so as to be obvious to all concerned. 'Edging over a bit to give way' particularly if you are the stand on boat will only confuse matters. A bold clear course change making your intentions clear in good time usally meets with at least an appreciative grin from the skipper.

But not always. Predictably the younger crews seem to believe racing gives them some God-given right to come rocketing out from behind a moored boat and expect you to be able to stop or turn 5 or 10 tons of boat as easily as you would a Topper. In fact I would swear some of the youngsters from a certain notorious club in one of the main channels do it deliberately - playing chicken with oncoming craft. I am only surprised the HM - who can see it all from his office window, hasn't intervened.....

The best strategy is to come up in a large cat - you can catch 2 - 3 delinquent Toppers between the hulls, when they have not realised that there is a second bow 10 - 12 feet behind the one they just carved up!

 

[Guest]

Old Harry writes

> The best strategy is to come up in a large cat - you can catch 2 - 3 delinquent Toppers between the hulls,

I'd invite you to think about my name - two hapence.

But.... who gives way? What lights would you show at night? (Clue)

Regards




Fred

 

[DavidP]

Size matters...?

I imagine your boat is bigger than theirs ,so let them move out the way ,especially as you did try to take them into consideration,