Giant Barge Drags Onto Us

[yachtrodney]

Hi Everyone.

As you may know - the little dogpaddler Penny & I, liveaboard a 75' ferro yacht in Botany Bay, Australia.

Well yesterday in bad weather - we had an unexpected drama develop when a megahuge giant crane barge, that had been placed amidst the anchorage a few days earlier - dragged slowly but deliberately straight at us on the mooring.

I have uploaded the full story with pictures to our site and you might be interested to view and read the experience that I have referred to as:

with kind regards

from

[Steve Pope]

Surely something for your ever vigilant water police / Harbour authorities to look into, there must be some responsibility on the part of the barge owners to ensure their vessel is left in a safe and secure manner and not to be a threat to other shipping.
Nice to see that with the help of fellow yachtsmen that you were able to avoid damage to your yacht. It begs the question If you had been ashore what the outcome would have been.

[yachtrodney]

Yes - you're quite right Steve, about it being a concern had I not been aboard - and although we live here and can therefore always be at the ready - I have in fact planned a weekend away visiting relatives in the near future - which will always leave the yacht vulnerable except for the help of nearby boaties.

Fortunately there are a few about - and I'm sure they would not hesitate to take action - in my absence - if mine or any yacht was in real trouble - as we have all had to do in the past on rare occasions.

While others would have an attitude - of 'better to not get involved' - others like myself, could not stand by idly while a boat was in danger - if assistance could be given without harm to yourself or vessel.

Who of us in our boating lives has not helped out someone - with a tow or a rope - in the knowledge that one day it will be us - needing the help.

*************************

While it took some time to track down the actual owners of the barge - I can understand their reluctance to send the team and vessels across that were involved in bringing it here - if it was not absolutely necessary (it could possibly cost $10,000 for that operation). Clearly, me getting out of the way was the only logical solution, and letting it continue on at it's snail's pace - until it came to a rest.

You'd like to think that if it was really about to do some damage to anything - there would be people here in a hurry.

I also suspect that the shipyard had told the owners that they would send out their tug to try and secure it - if that became necessary - but that Rodney (me) - having moved safely out of the way - there was need for anyone to do anything.

******************

Today is a beautiful, light and sunny day on the bay - and all is peaceful and normal - and the huge barge sits in the distance with my big mooring drum along it's side.

Here is a shot taken a few minutes ago - zoomed up - of the now distant scene - and the barge sitting right where my yacht should be.

Rodney

[Pelagic]

Well done Rodney!

I know you are an “old hand” at sea, but after a few years living ashore in the building mode just think of this as Nature’s friendly wake-up call…. that you are back into her realm of wind and weather.

All your dormant sailor’s instincts are now fully awake and of course Penny can now sleep more soundly….hmmmm! do you think she might have arranged this?

[Ex-Calif]

Welcome back Penny, we missed you! (oh and Rodney too - LOL)

I love your blog and visit periodically. It must have been a while because I don't remember the stick going in as evidenced by teh binocular photo (cool idea BTW). I suppose I should sign up to the emails. Your site is so much fun.

BTW - I just knew if there was an emergency you and the salty boys would be running around in a panic, getting wet, hauling lines and doing all that nautical stuff, while only Penny would keep her head about her - LOL

Glad it worked out well.

Interestingly, yesterday we were out and our channel has lot's of barge traffic. One of Singapore's big imports is dirt and they shuttle it around on towed barges. Well yesterday we had about a 2.5kt current running down channel and downwind. This is the time the barges really have to rip down the channel to stay in control.

We saw a couple of police boats as we were beating up the channel and as we approached it looked like a tug had lost power. This would be very bad because they were upwind, upchannel from about 40 moored fiberglass boat - yikes!

The good news we were off our mooring. Just kidding. Anyway we called the club and asked them to watch out.

By this time the tug and barge are almost sideways in the chanel and the barge had almost overtaken the tug. The police boats looked as if they had rafted up to the tug, one on each side.

Then inexplicably the tug started moving and started to get straightened out. He eventually got under way again but at a really reduced speed.

Looking back on it, we speculated whether it was a police stop or not. Seems a really dumb idea to staop a barge under tow in a 2/5 kt channel but that's the kind of stuff they do around here. The police boats escorted him all the way down the channel. The next barge coming behaved entirely normally. Weird...

[yachtrodney]

[yachtrodney]

Dear Ex-Calif

How are you going?

You had me wondering what you were on about when you said: 'I don't remember the stick going in'.

So then - when I looked at the 'binocular photo' that you're talking about - that Bill on shore sent me - I could see just what you meant.

Here is the shot Bill took:



And you'd have to say - that it certainly looks like we are sporting a mast and rig.

But I'm sorry to say, my friend that it's just an 'optical delusion'
and we are still 'bereft of erections'.

Here is an over-enhanced blow-up - whatever that is.



And if you look closely you will see that it is in fact another yacht directly behind us - which amazingly is in the correct position to make it appear WE are a fully rigged yacht.
If it were only so.

But the fact is that we are still just as you see us in the following shot taken at the nearby Club Marina recently as we took on a few tons of water
(Penny needs regular bathing).



If and when we ever do get that mast on
I promise there will be plenty of announcements about it.

kind regards

[knottybuoyz]

That was some adventure Rodney & Penny! But.... I can't help but think the whole situation could have been avoided if you had posted a proper lookout! Now I know dawgs make good seagoing companions but as you've illustrated on your web site, they have a tendency to lay down on the job just a lil' toooooooo much!

What you need and I'm sure Penny will object is a high energy guard cat!

Looking to starboard...



Looking to port...



Ever vigilant no matter what the situation...



Even on the open decks never letting down her guard....



In the evening hours ever on security watch for her crew and boat...



And the proof that she's Shadow the Wonder Cat here's what happens when an interloper gets just a lil' too close to her boat!!!



Now, is there any doubt which species is the better watchkeeper?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by yachtrodney

Dear Ex-Calif

How are you going?

You had me wondering what you were on about when you said: 'I don't remember the stick going in'.

<snip>

But I'm sorry to say, my friend that it's just an 'optical delusion'
and we are still 'bereft of erections'.

Here is an over-enhanced blow-up - whatever that is.

And if you look closely you will see that it is in fact another yacht directly behind us - which amazingly is in the correct position to make it appear WE are a fully rigged yacht.
If it were only so.

But the fact is that we are still just as you see us in the following shot taken at the nearby Club Marina recently as we took on a few tons of water
(Penny needs regular bathing).

If and when we ever do get that mast on
I promise there will be plenty of announcements about it.

kind regards

Ha, ha, ha...

Well done. That shot sure tricked me.

Gotta love a boat that takes on a few "tons" of water. Love it...

[yachtrodney]

Dear Knotty

"and I'm sure Penny will object"

HA! Clearly you don't know - that Penny and I are the worldwide foundation members of W.H.A.C.K.O.

We Hate All Cats, Kittens, and Ocelots (Ocelots in particular).

So far as Penny is concerned
that 'pretty feline' you've got hanging off your boat
is just an . . .




And so that there can be no doubt of Penny's feelings.

We are

(remember us)

(We Hate All Cats Kittens & Ocelots)

you don't see them around here very often - but there goes one now

Rodney Field
President - Botany Bay Chapter 222


Penelope Field
Hon. Secretary, Treasurer, Club Enforcer
W.H.A.C.K.O
We Hate All Cats Kittens & Ocelots
(Ocelots in particularly now that we think about it)

This is another Public Service message brought to you from thedogpaddler.com

Semi-Annual Membership Subscriptions are now due (not again!)

so if you're completely WHACKO then send ocelots of money to us

(Well I'll be damned if that's not another one)

************************************************** *

This is just a little side show Penny & I have with our friends who are unfortunate enough to suffer from 'cat infestation' in their homes.

[yachtrodney]

Looking to starboard...
Looking to port...
Ever vigilant no matter what the situation...
Even on the open decks . . . . . . . . . .

You forgot . . . .

Looking for any small native wildlife to torment




and ruthlessly kill . . . . .





**************************************





from your friends at

WHACKO