Are Power Boaters Clueless

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Sailboat (with poorly-trimmed mainsail) showing disdain toward power boats?:

No wonder he is disdaining them... they are invisible!

Just what is the point of this picture and statement?

Jim (who agrees that idiots and jerks come in all sorts of watercraft)

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by crankysailor

I got into sailing cause I wanted to get away from all the idiots .. Only to find out the sea is also plagued with them.

. . .

That sailing couple obliviously enjoying their downwind sail straight into me as I frantically issued a SECURITE on ch. 16 warning all vessels to avoid me cause my boom had just fallen off and we couldn't maneuver easily in force 5 winds.. Even after I called them by name asking them to please alter their course a few degrees to avoid us.. No answer .. Nothing was going to deter these folks from enjoying their downwind sailing..

. . .

There is just no escape .. The idiots are everywhere. Sorry

Yikes; I'm glad I'm sailing in a different part of the world from you. No doubt something I do would have you condemning me as an idiot as well.

As to the fallen off boom and the Securite call --

If a sailboat not maintaining a good VHF radio watch when daysailing in in-shore waters, makes the crew "idiots", then that covers about 2/3 of the boats on the water.

Unless you are seriously disabled and showing NUC day shapes, you remain fully obligated to maneuver according to COLREGS, which means getting your sails down and starting your engine if necessary, whether or not the other vessel received your radio call.

So, if you find yourself in a situation like that again, rather than wasting your time and nerves cursing the other sailor, you might want to consider getting your engine started and doing what the COLREGS require of you. Fuming about how the other skipper is managing his boat, while a risk of collision is developing, is unseamanlike, and distracts you from the job of preventing a collision.

Good luck and stay safe.

[John_Trusty]

In general, Dockhead, I agree that putting up dayshapes for Not Under Command would alleviate some problems. People would come up to my little boat and ask - "Hey, what are those things in your rigging?" No one in my piece of the world knows what those things mean anymore, even if they have a captains license.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by John_Trusty

In general, Dockhead, I agree that putting up dayshapes for Not Under Command would alleviate some problems. People would come up to my little boat and ask - "Hey, what are those things in your rigging?" No one in my piece of the world knows what those things mean anymore, even if they have a captains license.

All the more reason to get the sails down and maneuver, rather than fuming at all the "idiots" around.

The sign of real professionalism in collision avoidance is total absence of concern about how the other vessel is managed, and total concentration on the task. It only takes one well-managed vessel to smoothly and easily avoid a collision.

It's all in a day's work for a real pro to smoothly unwind a risk of collision situation, with a vessel being badly managed or maneuvered contrary to the Rules, and even a matter of certain pride and satisfaction.

[crankysailor]

So basically you are saying that not maintaining a radio watch on 16 is not a big deal ? Yeah I sure hope we are sailing on different oceans ..

For the record this happened 1 mile south east from Tarifa in the straight of Gibraltar .. One of the busiest waterways in the world . Sure who cares what all those people are jammering about on the VHF..

Ah whatever .. I am learning that the only thing left to do is avoid everyone and let it rub off .. Like now ;-) cheers!

[Tetepare]

This past summer I was returning to port under sail.

A powerboat was overtaking me from my starboard stern towing a small sailboat with a kid aboard. No doubt, it was one of those situations that the kid really didn't know how to sail, and couldn't make it back upwind, so somebody had to go get him.

As he came up it was clear (apparently to both of us) that we were more or less on a collision course. I was rather surprised when he took out a whistle and blew three short blasts and then told me to give way since he was towing and had right of way.

I ignored him. He did it again. I told him that he did not have right of way, and to bear off. So he did it again. And again. I considered giving him a five-blast response, that would have looked good on the report. But in the end I fell off tack and let the retard go by.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by crankysailor

So basically you are saying that not maintaining a radio watch on 16 is not a big deal ? . . .

Not saying that at all. I'm saying that not maintaining radio watch is the rule when you're dealing with pleasure boats sailing in inshore waters. It's simply the reality we have to deal with.

And anyway you don't have any right to expect someone to hear your VHF call, and you don't have any right to expect someone to maneuver to avoid you even if they do hear your VHF call, so long as you are not officially NUC. VHF plays no role in formal collision avoidance procedure -- everyone is supposed to know what to do without chattering on the radio.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

................ VHF plays no role in formal collision avoidance procedure -- everyone is supposed to know what to do without chattering on the radio.

In the USA, on the AICW, it is common and customary to call slower boats on the VHF and arrange for a slow pass. I don't think that should be considered "chattering".

[thomm225]

This whole thread just supports the idea of starting out on a smaller boat.

Wakes are just not a big deal when you are on a heavy monohull like my 6600 lbs Bristol 27.

Also, I was noticing the other day how high the booms were on some boats. They seemed to be way to high....

My background is Beach Cats and small power boats.............

Boom height is a bit lower on a beach cat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zerhvg5OU4

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

This past summer I was returning to port under sail.

A powerboat was overtaking me from my starboard stern towing a small sailboat with a kid aboard. No doubt, it was one of those situations that the kid really didn't know how to sail, and couldn't make it back upwind, so somebody had to go get him.

As he came up it was clear (apparently to both of us) that we were more or less on a collision course. I was rather surprised when he took out a whistle and blew three short blasts and then told me to give way since he was towing and had right of way.

I ignored him. He did it again. I told him that he did not have right of way, and to bear off. So he did it again. And again. I considered giving him a five-blast response, that would have looked good on the report. But in the end I fell off tack and let the retard go by.

So you challenged the guy thereby putting a kid at risk, ....... mature.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

So you challenged the guy thereby putting a kid at risk, ....... mature.

You have to understand that sailboaters have the right of way no matter what.

[crankysailor]

Originally Posted by rwidman

You have to understand that sailboaters have the right of way no matter what.

Err .. Was that tongue in cheek? I sure hope so.

Anyhow.. This story sort of illustrates what I am trying to say. Collregs aside there are situations where switching on your smarts really should take precedence. If I see a guy hauling some kid on a small sailboat .. Just let them pass... what's the point of a standoff? Or some folks just trying to keep into the wind after their boom fell off to recover their sails.. I can alter course and give them some space. Or that tourist boat just being driven by a guy who just wants to end his shift and go home to his family? Don't cut him off at the harbour entrance...

It's called being a good person. A quality just as rare on the ocean as on land and missing in as many powerboaters as sailors ..

[lordgeoff]

Originally Posted by motion30

I think it a reflection on todays society. .why should i care about anybody but myself...sad

For me? A successful day is one with no damage or injury. I do anything that achieves that goal.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by rwidman

In the USA, on the AICW, it is common and customary to call slower boats on the VHF and arrange for a slow pass. I don't think that should be considered "chattering".

I didn't say that VHF is useless, and didn't say that all radio comms are chatter.

Arranging a slow pass is not collision avoidance so not relevant.

My point was different -- that VHF calls are not part of formal collision avoidance procedure, and that you shouldn't be working collision avoidance in a way that it breaks down because your call is not heard. The system is designed specifically to work without any communication between the vessels involved other than horn, whistle and bell signals, lights and day shapes.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

.......... The system is designed specifically to work without any communication between the vessels involved other than horn, whistle and bell signals, lights and day shapes.

It's the norm in my area for one ship (or boat) to call another on the VHF, identify itself and the situation and then arrange a pass on "one whistle" or "two whistles". Sometimes they will say "I''ll keep it to the green (or red) side." (of the channel). They never actually "blow" the whistles or horns.

The whistle or horn thing works OK if there are only two vessels in sight of each other and the situation is fairly clear such as two vessels approaching each other in a canal or river. In a harbor with a half a dozen vessels going in several directions, the sound signals would be confusing at best. Who sounded the horn and who was it directed at?

The only times I still hear horns used is in some cases where a vessel is leaving a dock or backing out of a dock. Cases where the signal is a general warning to any and all other vessels. Other than that, fog, and the danger signal, the radio has made the horn or whistle obsolete.