Watch Out for This Guy in the B.V.I.'s

[pwratch]

i thought they were fenders....

[Boracay]

I'm missing the sense that going through fields of moored or anchored boats is something that really should only be done at slow speed when there is a clear destination in mind.

I row out to my moored boat almost every day in a small dinghy, and there have been more than a few times when a boat passing through has had that little voice saying that this is getting a bit hairy.

Mooring fields here normally indicate some sort of marine facility, from which boats may sometimes depart at right angles to the path of a someone sightseeing or just taking a shortcut.

Not to mention me rowing or the large number of bits of rope that are all over the place...

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by foggysail

I sailed for over 25 years before making the change to power. There is far better control under power, even in a sailboat trying to maneuver in an anchorage. YOU DO NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL UNDER SAIL!

No one is impressed with poor sailing skills when weaving in and out of an anchorage, under sail. My final comment in this thread is to iterate that I hope it costs anyone dearly if they cause harm to anyone.

I agree with your point about accountability for harm.

I'm not in quite so much agreement about boat control. It's hard to beat the control of a twin-screw power boat, but a good helmsman can put a sailboat--under sail--anywhere desired.

Originally Posted by Hud3

The anchorage in the video was on Anegada in the BVIs. You'd have to be crazy or drunk to sail into that anchorage. Many of the charter companies put it off limits because of the coral heads and somewhat tricky entrance, depending on the sunlight. Inside, there are some moorings but most boats anchor, and it can get quite crowded.

There are a lot of moorings in Anegada today. The installation of GPS on just about every charter boat in the BVI has reduced the limitations on going to Anegada. I still anchor there, but the number of boats at anchor relative to those moored is way way down.

[Hud3]

Looks like there were a few less moorings and anchor rodes in the harbor after that guy left!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I agree with your point about accountability for harm.

I'm not in quite so much agreement about boat control. It's hard to beat the control of a twin-screw power boat, but a good helmsman can put a sailboat--under sail--anywhere desired.

A good helmsman can indeed put a boat under sail anywhere desired... but he can't stop it quickly when constrained by nearby moored boats. At least, I don't know how to stop my boat when sailing downwind without coming up head to wind (or nearly so), and that option isn't available when threading your way through a crowded mooring field.

So, the worry about swimmers,dinghies or just underway vessels popping up in front of the sailing vessel is warranted.

I too enjoy entering and leaving an anchorage under sail, but wouldn't like to do so in a place such as shown in the video.

Cheers,

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

A good helmsman can indeed put a boat under sail anywhere desired... but he can't stop it quickly when constrained by nearby moored boats. At least, I don't know how to stop my boat when sailing downwind without coming up head to wind (or nearly so), and that option isn't available when threading your way through a crowded mooring field.

So, the worry about swimmers,dinghies or just underway vessels popping up in front of the sailing vessel is warranted.

I too enjoy entering and leaving an anchorage under sail, but wouldn't like to do so in a place such as shown in the video.

Cheers,

True... but the secret as any good sailor should know is to pick your approach... not allow conditions to dictate it...
Reconnoiter the anchorage first then plan your move... to many go in gung ho... and then the **** hits the fan...
Can't beat over confidence for bringing a dork () skipper down..

[captainKJ]

Enough about sailing/motoring into an anchorage,,,,want to hear about the girls in the bikinis,,,,

[hummingway]

Well now, it could be said if that guy hadn't of motor-sailed into the anchorage we wouldn't have had the opportunity to enjoy said bikini. Just saying.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by hummingway

Well now, it could be said if that guy hadn't of motor-sailed into the anchorage we wouldn't have had the opportunity to enjoy said bikini. Just saying.

"Every cloud has a silver lining..."
or in this case a neat nikinini....

[YACHT TARENTELA]

Ahhh, cruising. Cant wait till the fall to get back!

[rowingdude]

Can someone tell me what kind of boat the red boat was? Thanks

[Jens1]

Do I have to go to USVI to see those manoeuvres? No, Europe has so many nice places where you can see it too.
lol

Thanks for sharing the video.

[Rockette]

Wow, that vid was scary. I don't think I was that incompetant my first time out...

On the flipside, it did look like a perfect day for sailing.

[MarkJ]

This is the first time I've seen the video because I don't usually have a connection well to videos. I haven't read everyones comments either.

I think the belittling comments in text at the head of the video are puerile.

Wondered if the boat's engine was stuffed so they had to sail in? Sure was later

Situations happen and I've seen many from cruisers as well from charterers. Anyone can screw up.

I'm amazed that more boats didn't move out of the way, and or up anchor. 2 minutes is a long time.

The cruisers were on hand pretty quickly, but some not helping the situation seriously as one was drinking his coffee and one holding the video camera whilst giving advice and presumably controlling his own dinghy.

They let the inexperienced charterer do the underwater work when a cruiser would have been far more competent.

The cruisers did take too long to get there, quickly, but not quick enough.

I did notice most of the cruisers wern't yelling at the charterers, thats good. Just get the dink in and shut up till necessary.

I think its behoven on us to help those causing damage through inexperience.

If my boat was very close and in danger I would have gotten out of there. Even boats ahead could leave so theres space to anchor the stricken boat.

Normally if I see a situation I put the fins and snorkel in the dink and move to a position I can see if I could be needed to help.

i dont use my dink as a fender between 2 boats but I've seen it done. Crazy.

I am not opposed to jumping on board a charter boat and taking over. If I have a clear plan of action that will succeed.


Its up to us to help all other people as that gives mutual protection to us all. So whenever a squall hits the anchorage I'm checking on my boat to see if we're dragging, but also on everyone elses boat.

I am sure if a cruiser got the the stricken boat before 1:48 mins in the video he could have pushed the bow into the wind or onto the other tack and saved all the other boats a battering. The situation was happening over a longer time period.

So, well may we slag off another boat and inexperienced crew. But how could we have helped better?


Mark