Why Sail When You Can Motor?

[Robin]

A recent thread re a Pan Pan from a yacht out of diesel and thoughts of JDS prompted a look around last weekend. OK we have a quick boat that is good in light airs but why are so many people motoring everywhere, sometimes not even with the mainsail up (unless they want to fool the stinkies into giving way).

We had a lazy weekend, just Poole to Yarmouth & back but we SAILED both ways downwind (that was good passage planning) using just the genoa in under 3 hours. Friday's wind was a nice NW F3/F4 and yet so many were motoring going both ways, going east it was a broad reach and west it was a one leg beat, both in flat sea and clear sunshine. Sunday's wind was the same in reverse but a touch more at SE F4 and yet so very many were out there motoring away. This was mid morning not late afternoon so not in the rush hour for getting home.

Are there a lot of closet stinkies out there? Are these perhaps stinkies learning to pull strings? An auxiliary sailing yacht used to mean the engine backed up the sails not the other way round, so what is going on?

Answers on a a postcard as usual please



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Aeolus_IV]

Perhaps these closet motor boaters are "new money" into the world of boating, having by chance (or simple good house keeping) found themselves with money to spare they have chosen to make "sailing" their hobby. With no prior experience in boats of any size of type they buy a sailing yacht because its a) pretty b) traditional c) environmentally friendly d) their great-grand-dad used to have one (delete as applicable), then realise that it will take time and patience before they can blend into the sailing culture (talk the talk as it were). So to avoid leaving their nice white/grey/blue caravan in the marina they drive it about between marinas on days when the inconvienence of the weather is minimised. Et voila - loads of sailing boats motoring everywhere! I'd have more respect for them if they'd simply bought a proper motorboat in the first place. Takes all sorts I guess.

Now I've probably offended a significant number of people, I'll go away and hide.

Regards, Jeff.

BTW - morning everyone.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

doubt you have offended anyone with those comments!
I am sure there are a lot more reasons and the individuals are invited to outline them here of course!
In that area I can't understand anyone wanting to risk their prop with the ropes when they can avoid it! We were anchored of Swanage - mile of fthe ledge, Saturday night in around a WNW 3, around 0100 when a yacht of around 32ft came motor sailing past from the West at around 4 - 5 knots. Why? Motoring I could understand if he didn't want to put up sails, flat out I could understand but phut phut - only reason we could come up with was he had used all his battery cooling the beer during the day and needed to run the engine to use the nav lights!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tillergirl]

Given the other post the other day about having to get into a marina by 2pm in the Solent, perhaps they are all motoring to get there in time.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ecudc]

you may find that keeping the battery charged to run fridge, freezer, electric charts, washing machines and even sometimes microwaves and air con and god knows what else could be some of the reason why peeps are running their engines, and you can also get hot water for the shower and washing the dishes too.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Coming back from Poole on Sunday we got to the N. Channel a bit early and faced a stiff foul tide. It was pleasing to see how many people stuck with the sailing despite the easterly slant. We arrived home about 4 hours late but so what we'd had a magic day.

The problem that faces right thinking boaties of all persuasions is that if you meet your obligations under the colregs you often find someones taking advantage and if you stand on your ignored. It's not about knowing the rules sometimes it's more like "What rules!"

As I relate below I spent a day with the stinkies and it was quite a revelation. If someone drags a trench through the moorings and causes yachts to rock wildly it does the same to the motorcruising boats too. Often the offending boats going at the minimum speed it can steer at. As an aside, both of the boats I visited had been hit by sailing vessels, while they were at anchor, this year.

There is no answer to this. Good sailors of either types of craft will excercise a bit of give and take while, what is fast becoming a majority of twits just do what they like.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[townquay]

I'd certainly risk a decent wager that most of those you saw motoring were charter boats. It might be that they simply want to squeeze in as many ports-of-call as they can during their long weekend break. No harm done 'though.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Jacket]

Possibly a lot of people sail when its just them on board, and motor when they've got young children or non-sailing and nervous friends on board. Given the weather at the weekend, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people had friends along with them - find somewhere nice to anchor, swim, food couple of beers etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[qsiv]

I have to say that most times we motor sail to keep averages up. If boat speed falls below 5 knots (good sailing speeds for us are 7 to 10 knots) then the engine goes on. It's usually self preservation as nearly all harbours/ports/marinas are tidal in CI waters, so a minute or two late can often mean a 6 hour delay. OTOH, the satisfaction last summer in and around the Biscay Islands of sailing in and out of anchorages when there was no time pressure was rewarding (even if the engine was running but out of gear - just in case).

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Robin]

Yes that is very understandable, but to motor on a lovely day when you could sail at a decent rate?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[wishbone]

Why oh why!
All that teararsing about, we saw this in the BVI’s I am not a purest (well I don’t think so) but my answer is were on our holiday’s I do enough teararsing up & down the M1, when the rag is up nature takes over & I can wind down. We only used an egg cup full to charge the batts, and run the fan at night!

Wishbone

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Laurin]

Mum & Dad came sailing for the first time last year. 1st comment from dad was "Do we HAVE to put the sails up" followed shortly by "Do we really need BOTH of them". Think he had a problem with trusting his "little girl" to skipper a 36" yacht.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BoatlessinOslo]

Three adults on a 36" yacht?

Shouldn't you be reported for overloading or was it a radio controlled model )

<hr width=100% size=1>Why's that smoke coming out the hatch ?

 

[Jacket]

I did wonder. I know she said "little girl", but to fit on a boat that size?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Birdseye]

I think part of the problem is the way we live the rest of the week. Must get to the appointment by....... must get this job done today......have to pick the kids up at 4.30 etc. You cant switch off at the weekend, in fact in my experience of retirement it takes 6 months to really wind down. So drifting along at 3 knots just isnt in peoples minds any longer, any more than waiting for a favourable tide. If you cant make 5 knots vmg, then its on with the engine.

Thats my theory anyway.

<hr width=100% size=1>