Encounters of the Submarine Kind

[nigel1]

This has been my only close encounter with a sub, I was heading up towards Greenock under sail when this thing came looming out of the mist, and I was then chased off by military police patrol boat. They were quite polite about it though.

[Wotname]

SWL,
For every sub you see, three have seen you…

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Wotname

SWL,
For every sub you see, three have seen you…

With the edgy peace between Greece and Turkey, the waters are teeming with them here. I am sure there are far more than 2 in 3 nearby that we don't spot.

The problem at this time of year is that they are probably simply not listening out for yachts. There are only rare ones out here. Other than tied up to a town quay, we have not encountered another yacht for at least 2 months now in the Aegean. The Med literally empties of sailing boats. Couple that with old subs without all the bells and whistles and I am now starting to think if this was a sub, then there is a small possibility they may not have detected us.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by nigel1

This has been my only close encounter with a sub, I was heading up towards Greenock under sail when this thing came looming out of the mist, and I was then chased off by military police patrol boat. They were quite polite about it though.

This was the last one we saw. I included a portion of our yankee sheet in the shot to give an idea of its proximity:

[Seaworthy Lass]

PS Note that it is a Turkish flag that they are sporting in the above photo. We just clipped Turkish waters sailing between two Greek islands. They patrol the borders of their domains ferociously here.

SWL

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

……….. Couple that with old subs without all the bells and whistles and I am now starting to think if this was a sub, then there is a small possibility they may not have detected us.

Ya running silent again

[OBXSkipper]

I've only seen two subs in my days, one was off the coast of Georgia about 15 miles offshore. This one popped up stayed on the surface as we tacked and we never saw it again. The other encounter was near the tongue of the ocean in the Bahamas, that time it was mainly the con we saw. Both times we were under sail and no motor running.

[carstenb]

Friends of ours were sailing into Kiel Bay a couple of years ago when a german sub surfaced right behind them and stayed there as they sailed all the way in.

They kept listening for the ominous words

Torpedo Los!

[zeehag]

swl.....as i recall you see funny looking airplanes and now funny looking boats... hhmmmm.... ....and i like the idea of a speaker on the hull to send music their way--- i can think of some good songs to play to get attention....lol
you just have ALLL the fun....

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by OBXSkipper

I've only seen two subs in my days, one was off the coast of Georgia about 15 miles offshore. This one popped up stayed on the surface as we tacked and we never saw it again. The other encounter was near the tongue of the ocean in the Bahamas, that time it was mainly the con we saw. Both times we were under sail and no motor running.

The Tongue of the Ocean is a interesting place for submarines. The water in the Tongue is over mile deep in spots but almost totally surrounded by the very shallow waters of the Great Bahama Banks. This blocks most of the ambient sound in the ocean, ships, whales, etc making the Tongue the quietest spot in the ocean. So the US sends their subs in to test ultra sensitive listening devices to find them and at the same time test to see how quiet the subs can be.

All VERY hush, hush. A friend's father was an electrical engineer who worked at the AUTEC base on Andros 30-40 years ago and until the day he died was prohibited from traveling to any communist country or to even fly on a plane that crossed over a communist country. Needless to say he couldn't talk about what he did.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by zeehag

swl.....as i recall you see funny looking airplanes and now funny looking boats....

Zee, you have me confused with Saucy Sailoress.

[2Hulls]

We see them frequently in and out of the Ches Bay. One time at night on a passage south about 25 miles out from the Bay I was hailed by "Warship (some number)" who apparently saw me on his AIS and wanted to make sure I saw him visually. I didn't at first because I started looking for a surface ship. Then I spotted the flashing amber. We had a nice chat.

Any way, here's a scene combination not too many people get to see. That's the Pride of Baltimore.

Dave

[IdoraKeeper]

Many years ago while sailing home from the San Juan islands I spotted a Sub on the surface, lying in a very unusual spot near some rocks. At first I was concerned they were aground. Our course for best vmg took us close on their Port bow. As we drew closer it was apparent that they were having family day. The deck stanchions were installed, all hatches were open and civilians were strolling on the deck dressed in sunday best. We came very close indeed waving hello. They crew above deck waved back....no such thing would be permitted now. Being that close was quite impressive, ominous even. I would not want to encounter such a vessel inadvertently in the open ocean. They are too fast to avoid if a mistake is in progress.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by 2Hulls

Any way, here's a scene combination not too many people get to see. That's the Pride of Baltimore.

Fantastic image!

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

I would not want to encounter such a vessel inadvertently in the open ocean. They are too fast to avoid if a mistake is in progress.

This has made me more conscious of making us easier to detect by subs both in and around training areas such as the one we had sailed through earlier (around 15nm back when I had a closer look at the charts).

This was the Navionics warning boats to "lookout" in the zone.

"Make heaps of noise" may be a better recommendation .

SWL

[Raythesailor]

A few years ago I was doing a YMaster exam ,at night, in Plymouth Sound (UK).

Part of the examination involves light identification.

The poor candidate was as confused as the examiner when entering the harbour came;

A submarine escorted by two tugs foreword, a tug aft and 4 police launches.!!

That is a lot of lights all at the same time!