Navigation Error = Almost Lost the Lot

[Don1500]

Big sign over the companion way "WHEN IN DOUBT, STOP!" although most times when you're really in trouble it's because you're dead sure you're right.

[Eleven]

Reminds me of - two days ago. Sailing (drifting) in the western Solent, against the tide, watching three big cruise ships approaching. Why are they coming this way, they never come this way.
I'd lost track of my position and was sailing northwest at two or three knots at best, and being carried (drifting) east at two to three knots on the flooding tide.
Engine on and sod off out of the way a bit sharpish, still chuckling at the RIB that crossed between the lead cruiser and it's Police Escort Launch maintaining the 1000ft exclusion zone ahead of large vessels (constrained by draught). The RIB tried to outrun the Launch until it got up to speed! It was a short chase and a very long lecture.

[Motley]

Don; you're absolutely right. We get into the worst trouble when we're totally confident.

I love the complete lack of condemnation/contempt in these replies. On the muddy east coast of England they say if you haven't run aground yet, you aren't trying hard enough. They don't say that on the rocky south coast...

I think what I'm trying to say is; if you haven't been there yourself, you haven't been sailing long enough.

Motley.