Would this be a reasonable call for assistance?

Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 Jan 2010
Messages
1,295
Location
South Coast
Visit site
I was out yesterday in the Solent late afternoon with a F6/7 Southerly, heading for Langtone Harbour arriving at low water at the start of the flood. We had an engine fuel problem which was causing intermittent failure. I did seriously consider calling coastguard for assistance. Although all was well in the end we got us back (but only just - the engine stopped as we moored!). I considered calling Coastguard as I didn't fancy the consequences of losing the engine in the harbour. Picking up a buoy or getting back to the marina without an engine with the Southerly F6/7 would not be guaranteed; I doubt the flood would have carried us back with the wind direction as it was. Should I have called for assistance? Should I have headed for a safe anchorage on IOW or what other options did I have?
 
I called the marina but they were not able to assist. The Harbour office was closed. I think if I was on my own I would have headed for shelter and anchored. having crew made a difference to my decision.
 
With flood into Langstone ... you scream in at great rate of knots ... if no engine - then pray that you stay centred in channel ! But once past HM office / Eastney Cruising .. the rate starts to drop off ... as you know.

I would be inclined to turn east behind HM and anchor as long as wind is not from North ..... if from the North - then its grab a buoy I reckon .. any vacant buoy and sit it out.

In fact I have done just that - tucked in behind HM in that 'bay' when weather turned foul ... and the engine was too marginal to beat with. Brother, son and I then got wet going to shore to sit in the Pub !!
 
Refueler said:
With flood into Langstone ... you scream in at great rate of knots ... if no engine - then pray that you stay centred in channel ! But once past HM office / Eastney Cruising .. the rate starts to drop off ... as you know.

I would be inclined to turn east behind HM and anchor as long as wind is not from North ..... if from the North - then its grab a buoy I reckon .. any vacant buoy and sit it out.

In fact I have done just that - tucked in behind HM in that 'bay' when weather turned foul ... and the engine was too marginal to beat with. Brother, son and I then got wet going to shore to sit in the Pub !!
Click to expand...
An excellent plan which i didn't even consider, having crew who were tired and one sea sick perhaps forced my hand a little; both wanted to be back. The sea state was not too bad but it was pushing F7 and quite wet. I think you are right that there would be sufficient shelter behind the harbour office.
 
Little Dorrit said:
An excellent plan which i didn't even consider, having crew who were tired and one sea sick perhaps forced my hand a little; both wanted to be back. The sea state was not too bad but it was pushing F7 and quite wet. I think you are right that there would be sufficient shelter behind the harbour office.
Click to expand...

Years ago - I moved my Alacrity from Chichester Harbour to Langstone .. my wife then was not best on boats !

Great plan ... depart whilst still afloat at Thornham Marina on ebb tide .. get round to Langstone entrance as flood starts .. shoot in ... then make way to new mooring marker at Farlington Marsh, Havant Slip. We had new mooring chains etc. on board ...

Catch the plastic container marking the new mooring .. drop the chain over and wait ebb to let boat dry out. Being stony hard ground - I could then jump over .. shackle up the mooring, then Wife and I could walk ashore where I'd left my van ... (main car was at Marina).

Great plan ... but tide and time was not with us .. we ended up banging against that ebb tide into Langstone and the Seagull + sails could not do it .. we tried to get an inshore fishing boat to tow us in ... but he got the RNLI Rib out to us ... by then with wind over tide and really rough conditions .. boat bouncing around like a cork .. tried hugging the east beach line but no go .. Wife was a screaming wreck in the bottom of cockpit ...
Rib towed us to the ferry boat pontoon ... where we stayed till tide abated ... then made our way to mooring.

Wife vowed she would never do that again ...

Yes I know Langstone quite well !!
 
Little Dorrit said:
Well we were in no urgent or imminent danger but it was 'potentially' dangerous so if I was to make a call it would have been right for it to be a Pan Pan, however I think most people simply call the CG and explain the situation and let them decide on the level of urgency.
Click to expand...

The call and explain is the best .... its what I did when forestay parted outside Bembridge ..

Its well to note that Mayday and Pan Pan require all who hear it to pay attention and prepare to render assistance ...
 
It's well worth practicing mooring pick up under sail. In breezy conditions, you need to be well reefed down, but I find that with sail up, the boat is much more stable - it gives you more time to get to the foredeck and grapple with the chain.
 
Refueler said:
Langstone has one of the highest tide rates ... honest - you can be catapulted through if wind with tide ...
Click to expand...
The OP was arriving at low water at the start of the flood, with an engine fuel problem, so the rate of the current flow wouldn't be high, so he had his timings right.
His issue was an unreliable engine, so with wind and tide assistance, having his engine cut out isn't a disaster provided he still had steerage, and he would have had that with a S 6/7 behind him.
 
Pye_End said:
An 'assistance required' VHF conversation in such a situation is really only needed if there is no 'Plan B', or all 'Plan B's' have been exhausted. It's not really there for problems related to convenience.
Click to expand...

A direct call to CG on their working ch instead of a Pan Pan is a respected and reasonable action ... explain in short precise terms ...

If anyone thinks CG are not ready or like to have such calls .. I think that's mistaken.

Not everyone is able to act in extreme weather - some events can become overwhelming ....

My Bembridge incident - I called Solent CG direct - short explanation and their first response was ... Have you dropped anchor ? We had .. so that was reassuring in itself to be confirmed ... but weather was further deteriorating and we were at risk of dragging into the rocks of the Fort. Solent CG then advised us LB was on its way to pull us off and back into Bembridge.

The LB crew after said that the opportunity to actually use Rocket Line in such conditions was limited and they had 'learnt' a lot from it .. Note - Their rocket line was a perfect shot ...
 
LadyInBed said:
The OP was arriving at low water at the start of the flood, with an engine fuel problem, so the rate of the current flow wouldn't be high, so he had his timings right.
His issue was an unreliable engine, so with wind and tide assistance, having his engine cut out isn't a disaster provided he still had steerage, and he would have had that with a S 6/7 behind him.
Click to expand...

Agreed ..I was just reminding some that Langstone is one of the worst tide rates on the south coast.

But even at start of flood - it quickly gets going ... but that's another issue.
 
My experience is that only you were there, so only you can asses the situation as it affects you, your crew and your craft. First principles are to get yourself and crew safe, so you do what you need to in the situation to achieve that.

Everyone's experience level varies, and even so, the most weathered old salt can be struck down with 'green gills' from time to time.

So whilst it's nice to hear from your experience, it's great to hear that all is well, and lovely to run though it to see if there are any learnings or alternatives that can be applied in future - my advice is not to dwell or second guess yourself now. There are usually a number of options in any given situation, and multiple ones can achieve objective A - everyone safe and vessel back sound. ?
 
There is nothing stopping you from informing the CG of your situation, saying you were happy to continue and would inform them once you arrived or if the situation deteriorated, that way they have the heads up as does anyone else out there in the area.

A friend out singlehanding earlier this week heard a call over the radio, admitedly a pan pan, turned round having almost reached his destination and sailed back 2 miles to tow in a small fishing boat that had lost its engine they made it to safe harbour just after dark so correct call by both of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top