nicho
Well-known member
I don't know who it was, but a few weeks ago, someone posted, detailing a close call with the WightLink Portsmouth/Wooton Creek Ferry.
In another post I have talked about my test sail experience last Wednesday, during which I came uncomfortably close to a similar incident.
Roughly mid - Solent between Gilkicker and Ryde (heading SW), on starboard tack in F5/6 of Westerly wind, we were being buzzed by a photographer in a RIB. I was helming, and being new to sailing, was having to concentrate quite hard keeping the boat where the photographer wanted it. Suddenly there was a shout from someone "Tack, tack!!". I looked behind and was horrified to see one very large WightLink ferry, only some 300/400 metres directly behind and on what looked to me very much like collision course, and travelling at some speed. We got out of the way pretty damned quick!!
We were just about the only boat out, and quite obviously involved in "an activity", not just dicking around. Yet this guy came straight at us - he would have passed VERY close to our port side if we had not tacked sharply to starboard. There was no five blasts to question our intentions or warn of his approach, and apparantly no attempt to steer off a couple of degrees to give us some room. Perhaps he would have done so at the very last minute, but if so he was leaving it pretty late.
OK, I was absolutely at fault for failing to keep a 360 degree look out, but surely he had some responsibility here. He was not restricted in his ability to manoeuvre, there was plenty of water (just off high water), and he was the overtaking boat - it seems to me he had no rights at all (except those associated with being a bloody site bigger than we were!!)
Frankly, I thought his conduct was appalling - there were several kids outside on the ferry's upper deck, and they were all hooting and hollering at our "quick scarper".
Perhaps the Skipper knew what he was doing, perhaps he did not see us, perhaps he just wanted to scare us with a close pass - I don't know. In my view however, it was a pretty unprofessional thing to do, and it was obvious to us that WE were going to have to take the avoiding action.
It seems these ferries come out of Portsmouth and just head for Wooton Creek regardless of whats in front of them......Yet another lesson learned!!
In another post I have talked about my test sail experience last Wednesday, during which I came uncomfortably close to a similar incident.
Roughly mid - Solent between Gilkicker and Ryde (heading SW), on starboard tack in F5/6 of Westerly wind, we were being buzzed by a photographer in a RIB. I was helming, and being new to sailing, was having to concentrate quite hard keeping the boat where the photographer wanted it. Suddenly there was a shout from someone "Tack, tack!!". I looked behind and was horrified to see one very large WightLink ferry, only some 300/400 metres directly behind and on what looked to me very much like collision course, and travelling at some speed. We got out of the way pretty damned quick!!
We were just about the only boat out, and quite obviously involved in "an activity", not just dicking around. Yet this guy came straight at us - he would have passed VERY close to our port side if we had not tacked sharply to starboard. There was no five blasts to question our intentions or warn of his approach, and apparantly no attempt to steer off a couple of degrees to give us some room. Perhaps he would have done so at the very last minute, but if so he was leaving it pretty late.
OK, I was absolutely at fault for failing to keep a 360 degree look out, but surely he had some responsibility here. He was not restricted in his ability to manoeuvre, there was plenty of water (just off high water), and he was the overtaking boat - it seems to me he had no rights at all (except those associated with being a bloody site bigger than we were!!)
Frankly, I thought his conduct was appalling - there were several kids outside on the ferry's upper deck, and they were all hooting and hollering at our "quick scarper".
Perhaps the Skipper knew what he was doing, perhaps he did not see us, perhaps he just wanted to scare us with a close pass - I don't know. In my view however, it was a pretty unprofessional thing to do, and it was obvious to us that WE were going to have to take the avoiding action.
It seems these ferries come out of Portsmouth and just head for Wooton Creek regardless of whats in front of them......Yet another lesson learned!!