Coast Goard hovercraft hits unlit anchored sailboat with no radar reflector.

[jackdale]

A Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft sustained damage after colliding with a sailboat near Salt Spring Island on Monday evening.

The hovercraft CCGS Siyay was transporting advanced life-support paramedics to Ganges Harbour to medevac a patient to Vancouver around 5:45 p.m.

Coast guard officials say the craft was travelling at eight knots – approximately 15 km/h – in the harbour when an unlit sailboat that was anchored outside the common anchorage area suddenly appeared in front of the vessel.

"The captain of the Siyay was able to perform an emergency maneuver and avoid direct contact with the sailboat," coast guard spokesperson Kiri Westnedge said in a statement Tuesday.

"However, there was contact on the starboard side of the hovercraft and the bowsprit of the sailboat (a spar that extends from a sailboat’s bow)," she added.

Westnedge says the sailboat was not detected on the hovercraft's radar.

No one was aboard the sailboat when the vessels collided. The paramedics and the seven-person hovercraft crew were uninjured in the crash, according to the coast guard.

The rescuers were able to complete the medevac to Vancouver.

https://www.iheartradio.ca/cfax-1070...ast-1.16549765

[Adelie]

Ohhhh, this is like the worst possible combination of several COLREGS threads/arguments.

[Chotu]

Let the Colregs wars commence!

[steffan]

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Ohhhh, this is like the worst possible combination of several COLREGS threads/arguments.

Well, in this case, given that the sailboat was anchored outside of a designated anchorage, unlit and without a radar reflector, it seems pretty clear-cut who was at fault.

[Adelie]

Legally clear cut, doesn’t mean folks won’t argue about it in increasingly rude terms.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Legally clear cut, doesn’t mean folks won’t argue about it in increasingly rude terms.

WHAT PEOPLE BEING RUDE??? HERE???

Surely you jest!

[jackdale]

BTW - In Canada all anchored vessels must show a 360 white. We have no designated anchorage rule.

[GreenWave]

All anchored boats should show the light period!!!


I do question the CG radar on their boat if they didn't "see" the sailboat at all on it.... not like their radar dome was 200 feet above the sea level.

[requiem]

when an unlit sailboat that was anchored outside the common anchorage area suddenly appeared in front of the vessel.

I hate when they do that.

[JPA Cate]

"suddenly appeared" Was visibility poor?

Was the CG vessel going too fast for the conditions?

Was the radar even on? or being watched. Should have been able to see the sailboat at about 1-2 mi.

What a schlemozzle.

Ann

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

"suddenly appeared" Was visibility poor?

Was the CG vessel going too fast for the conditions?

Was the radar even on? or being watched. Should have been able to see the sailboat at about 1-2 mi.

What a schlemozzle.

Ann

Sailboat had no radar reflector or lights and unoccupied. At night. Hovercraft was doing 8 knots on a medevac mission.

[sv_pelagia]

There is no "designated" anchorage in Ganges, hence the statement was "anchored outside the common anchorage area".

Anchor light definitely required.

[Lodesman]

Should also add that in Canada, rule 40 requires vessels under 20m, constructed primarily of non-metallic materials, to use a radar reflector.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Should also add that in Canada, rule 40 requires vessels under 20m, constructed primarily of non-metallic materials, to use a radar reflector.

That's pretty clear! And yet, I find it hard to believe that anyone was maintaining a radar watch, for at short range (say <200 m) almost any radar will pick up a 26 foot frp hulled yacht with an alloy mast and s/s rigging, and at the reported speed of 8 kts, that is time enough to maneuver.

But with LED lamps and auto switching and cheap solar there is simply no excuse for not lighting ALL anchored vessels.

Hope they were successful in their medevac...

Jim