Our Dinghy "Flo" Saved the Mothership Today!

[Paul L]

Good to hear no significant damage. As for lessons learned, am I the only one here who doesn't think it is a good idea to put your body between an 85ft power boat and a 53ft sailboat?

[Pelagic]

Lucky escape Ken and most importantly, you were not hurt!!

Was there much wave action at your anchorage?

My own thoughts in that scenario would be to NOT put my body between the two boats, but instead hop on board my own, start engine and slowly pivot stern upwind so that the windage of the powerboat would work in favor of seperation when I put my own in reverse backing into the wind.

Of course if in flat calm conditions, what you did was practical.

My biggest fear would be loosing control of the problem and a panicked skipper using too much power with me helpless as a jammed fender.[emoji33]

Since i wasnt there,.. on hindsight, would you have done it differently?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

GAdzooks!! This means that there should be a term more condemning than "WAFI" in the maritime lexicon.

Jim

CAFI? Crew assisted....?

[Pelagic]

What does the WA part mean? (got the FI part)

Honestly... All I can think of is Western Australia...[emoji87]

[Steve Bean]

Wind-Assisted, isn't it? Reminds me of what a friend of mine who has a crooked thumb says: "Never use any part of your body as a fender!"

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

GAdzooks!! This means that there should be a term more condemning than "WAFI" in the maritime lexicon.

Jim

Umm -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLSecfkulqs

[44'cruisingcat]

Happy to read thee wasn't any serious damage!

We've used our RIB as a fender a couple of times, once between two dragging boats in a 40 knot thunderstorm. At times it looked like there was no way our dinghy could be in that gap!

I still wonder if it's a bit longer and less beamy than it used to be.

[Diesel Bill]

Very glad to hear it ended well and you weren't hurt between two heavy vessels. I'll bet the adrenaline was really pumping.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Yikes!

Curious, was it a rising tide between 10 am and 4 pm?

The tide here is only about 18-24 inches or .5-.8 meters

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Lucky escape Ken and most importantly, you were not hurt!!

Was there much wave action at your anchorage?

My own thoughts in that scenario would be to NOT put my body between the two boats, but instead hop on board my own, start engine and slowly pivot stern upwind so that the windage of the powerboat would work in favor of seperation when I put my own in reverse backing into the wind.

Of course if in flat calm conditions, what you did was practical.

My biggest fear would be loosing control of the problem and a panicked skipper using too much power with me helpless as a jammed fender.[emoji33]

Since i wasnt there,.. on hindsight, would you have done it differently?

No waves, just 8-10mph light wind. In hindsight, I should have tried to hop onboard our boat and start the engine, but it quickly became obvious there wasn't time to do this. The situation as far as me and Flo ending up between the boats, this unfolded in a way where it seemed like the right thing to do at the time with both boats drifting. It was only when the skipper of the other boat began trying to use both engines and stern thruster, did it start looking like a bad idea. That boat had massive power.

Actually, now as I look back.... the owner of the boat was calling on the skipper to use the bow thruster to separate the two boats, but I don't remember him using it, only the stern thruster was used, probably because he knew I was too close to it.

But honestly when confronted by situations like this, you never know what you're going to do. They don't unfold in a way which allows careful planning and reason.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Happy to read thee wasn't any serious damage!

We've used our RIB as a fender a couple of times, once between two dragging boats in a 40 knot thunderstorm. At times it looked like there was no way our dinghy could be in that gap!

I still wonder if it's a bit longer and less beamy than it used to be.

The first thing my wife asked, " is Flo OK? Was SHE damaged?"

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The situation as far as me and Flo ending up between the boats, this unfolded in a way where it seemed like the right thing to do at the time with both boats drifting. It was only when the skipper of the other boat began trying to use both engines and thrusters, did it start looking like a bad idea. That boat had massive power.

Yes, that is how things can go south real quick when power rather than brains are used.....(Often a power boater's default setting, whereas a sailor has a much better feel of how to use the natural forces to his advantage.

In this scenario of them drifting onto your bow....Using your strong pointy end to keep a much larger boat from doing large area damage to your sides, would be my priority and let them worry about fending to protect their sides.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Yes, that is how things can go south real quick when power rather than brains are used.....(Often a power boater's default setting, whereas a sailor has a much better feel of how to use the natural forces to his advantage.

In this scenario of them drifting onto your bow....Using your strong pointy end to keep a much larger boat from doing large area damage to your sides, would be my priority and let them worry about fending to protect their sides.

I was stuck at the time between the two boats, then I needed to untangle their anchor, which was surprisingly easy. I got behind it by powering Flo in reverse to go under their bow, and just lifted up on it's edge, then the situation began to improve rapidly except for them bending our stanchion. Their skipper was also at the bow at the time and not in control of their boat, because I remember him pointing and yelling at me to untangle the anchor.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The first thing my wife asked, " is Flo OK? Was SHE damaged?"

Good to know she has her priorities right!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Good to hear no significant damage. As for lessons learned, am I the only one here who doesn't think it is a good idea to put your body between an 85ft power boat and a 53ft sailboat?

You are not the only one. Yikes!! Fiberglass is a lot cheaper than human bones!