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"Never Approach a Dock...

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/06/2011 : 06:01:39

...any faster than you're willing to hit it."

...and don't forget to yell, "STARBOARD!"

[url="http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=4481"]Mayhem at sea[/url]

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 07:47:21

Oh how I needed a mid morning crackup !

Still wondering... then I followed the links to others...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-L4t3FOxW0& feature=player_embedded

I know, I shouldn't laugh at this...

paul

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 07:59:44

That's right, Paul. You shouldn't have laughed at our brothers in arms. But, I guess that means I shouldn't have laughed either!

Poor militaire française, they never get a break. I'm just going to hope that thing didn't get armed.

Dave, I've seen a number of those before but thanks for posting on this gloomy, rainy day.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 13:03:25

Dave, where did you find that gem! Don't mean to taking wind out of your sails but wonder how many collisions were "on purpose". For example, I recognized a Japanese whaling ship running into, on purpose, Ady Gil, a powerboat that is part of the Sea Shepherd, whose mission is to stop the killing of whales.
Anyway, it was amazing videos. Makes me feel much better knowing people who are supposed to be better sailors than me, aren't, after my occasional swiping of the dock.

Steve A

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 14:23:30

Dave,
That was a pretty amazing jam packed video. But what a nightmare ! I hope I can sleep tonight - Those accidents are on my mind.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 14:43:28

I had seen many of those before. But some of them just turned my stomach - like the uncontrolled jibe (shares the crap out of me) and the boats falling out of the slings (isn't there some rule against people being in a boat on the slings?).

I really don't like seeing videos where people are probably getting killed.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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1484 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 17:40:03

then don't watch it...

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 18:16:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 then don't watch it...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks, Einstein.

I won't watch it a second time. But it's tough to know what's on it until you've seen it once. Many of the clips were harmless, so I kept watching. Then there were a few that were slipped in there (which I had not seen before) that were painful.

Edited by - on

jerlim
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Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 19:04:16

Not if you've got imagination, or weren't born yesterday...

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 19:31:20

Now, now...

I found several of them to be pretty scary, and reminders that some really bad $#!+ can happen out there, especially if we're not vigilant. Some of the scarier ones that I had already seen have been presented with statements that nobody was seriously hurt, like the sailboat that turned in front of the ferry while the people on deck were yelling, "Oh no... NO... NO!!!" Everyone was OK and the boat was just bruised. The guy on the yacht dropped from the sling was fine. But you never know!

I was maybe more concerned about a guy sliding at a high rate of speed toward the camera on the cruise ship where he and some heavy stuff were heading off camera toward a big bang. I've seen that one before, too, and it makes me leery of cruise ships on the ocean! (I'm actually planning a cruise on the Danube.)

Sorry if this was disturbing... I meant it to be somewhere between humorous and poignant. Steve: It was a link from (painful admission) an on-line powerboat testing magazine that ends up in my e-mail each week. I generally don't look at it much, but somehow this caught my eye.

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TakeFive
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Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 19:45:51

Sorry for my comments. I never meant to suggest that your link should not have been posted - just that a couple parts of it were painful to watch.

It's good to have a reminder that I should not climb onto my boat while it's in t he sling (timely, given my upcoming launch), among other things. And it's good to hear that many of the people who where in harm's way were OK in the end.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/06/2011 19:47:43

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 04:39:28

It's amazing that most of those collisions happened in clear visibility, and some of those were professional skippers of big vessels, and you have to wonder how they could have collided, if anyone on either vessel was looking.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 06:50:32

I had seen some of those before also, like the sailing vessel taking out the walk bridge. What was that black boat that looked like something out of a Batman movie?

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 06:56:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 It's amazing that most of those collisions happened in clear visibility, and some of those were professional skippers of big vessels, and you have to wonder how they could have collided, if anyone on either vessel was looking.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I suspect it was the "Shall we dance?" syndrome, involving vessels that can't change their minds very quickly. That's a key principle of COLREGS--the stand-on vessel's duty is to stand-on (maintain course and speed). Then again, when all else fails, the stand-on vessel needs to "dance"...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/07/2011 07:00:36

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 06:59:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 ...What was that black boat that looked like something out of a Batman movie?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's the old "Earthrace" bought by the group that does battle with the Japanese whaling fleet. They (arguably) got too close and (arguably) the whaling ship turned into them--or they just got too close. The crew was saved and the boat eventually sank. They have a new one sorta like it.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 07:25:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 It's amazing that most of those collisions happened in clear visibility, and some of those were professional skippers of big vessels, and you have to wonder how they could have collided, if anyone on either vessel was looking.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I suspect it was the "Shall we dance?" syndrome, involving vessels that can't change their minds very quickly. That's a key principle of COLREGS--the stand-on vessel's duty is to stand-on (maintain course and speed). Then again, when all else fails, the stand-on vessel needs to "dance"...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think you're right Dave, but, in a crowded area, audible signals are supposed to be used to eliminate doubt as to what each boat is going to do. (1 short blast for port-to-port, and 2 short blasts for starboard-to-starboard.) If they would communicate timely with each other (especially the pros, in big, difficult-to-maneuver ships), either by horn signal or by vhf, there shouldn't be any last-moment confusion. I don't see many recreational boats using audible signals, and maybe we're lax about it. Although, I think, if we did it while motoring up a crowded river, for example, a lot of other boats wouldn't know what the horn means. They might just toot back, and wave.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 07:47:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 ...I don't see many recreational boats using audible signals, and maybe we're lax about it. Although, I think, if we did it while motoring up a crowded river, for example, a lot of other boats wouldn't know what the horn means. They might just toot back, and wave.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...which could be the correct response under the rules (minus the wave). I've found that rec boaters mostly think a horn signal is just "honking at them" (like in Manhattan), and don't take it as intended. And on the Mystic River here, there'd be a lot of noise (like in Manhattan)!

Edited by - on

Prospector
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Canada
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Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 09:12:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 It's amazing that most of those collisions happened in clear visibility, and some of those were professional skippers of big vessels, and you have to wonder how they could have collided, if anyone on either vessel was looking.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In the traffic industry, it is a well-known fact that most serious and fatal collisions occur in clear, dry weather when drivers relax and let their guard down. Not much of a surprise to me, really.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 09:40:39

Ya gotta just love the guy that gets out of the motorized canoe to clear the motor over an obstruction with his partner quietly paddling away. Teamwork! Communication!

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
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Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 13:36:04

I had a power boat collide with me Saturday afternoon. I was coming out of the fairway slowly, down wind and under sail and this lady in a Glastron hit me as I exited the fairway into the main marina area. Before she hit us we were all yelling and she was completely oblivious. Hit my port side by the bow, put a gash in my gelcoat. After she hit she just kept driving, like she was completely unaware that anything had happened. A kid, about 9 years old was riding with her. Once I cleared the marina I called 911 on her, no idea what happened from there.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 14:32:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 ...A kid, about 9 years old was riding with her...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Great lesson for the kid: If you hit something (or someone), pretend it didn't happen. Once a powerboat turned in front of me in a marina and slipped sideways into my C-25 as I was motoring out, gouging my topsides. (They don't always go where they're pointed.) He and family went on their way without looking back (except his wife, who glared at me. I glared back.)

Now, I don't know your layout... However, this illustrates why sailing inside a marina is a dubious practice--not allowed by many of them. I've seen many people back out of slips without looking down the fairway (or even down the river). You have a duty to avoid collision, regardless of who is supposed to give way, but you might not be able to when you're under sail in a tight space where other boats are on the move, especially when you're sailing down-wind.

She figures you sailed in front of her, so it was your fault. An admiralty court might call it 2/3 her fault, and 1/3 yours.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 15:00:04

I have long been a believer in motoring in tight situations. It is important to be able to handle a boat under sail in tight quarters and should be practiced in safe areas without traffic. Sailing a boat equipped with a motor in crowded channels is not, in my opinion, prudent seamanship. I don't feed my ego by showing off my sailing prowess at the risk and inconvenience of others. I was nearly in a collision last year when a "sailor" (his course and speed suggested that he was getting a little boost from his inboard) suddenly tacked across the channel. Shoving the tiller and motor over averted it by 2-3 feet.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 20:00:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 ...I was nearly in a collision last year when a "sailor" (his course and speed suggested that he was getting a little boost from his inboard) suddenly tacked across the channel...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">There's another issue--sailing upwind in tight quarters, sometimes you're forced to tack when it isn't convenient for others around you. A powerboat is supposed find a way to give way in that situation, but some will argue that they have "rights" over a sailboat crossing a channel, fairway, or whatever. Not true, but there's no time to debate the finer points in that case. In a marina, the sailor is making things too complicated. He can yell, but he can't stop. (Well, yes--he might be able to push the boom over and stop--I've even backed up that way to get out of irons... in open water.)

BTW, sails up and engine running, a boat is a powerboat under the rules. Some would say if it's in neutral, it's not "under mechanical propulsion", but I'd say they're splitting the hair too finely.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/07/2011 20:21:58

redviking
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Response Posted - 04/08/2011 : 06:44:02

When I used to ride motorcycles, I used to have a basic rule of: "If I have a close call - IT IS MY FAULT!

That rule does not apply quite as often on the water 'cuz some of these people are damn fools.

How 'bout this freighter with a crew of 22 that runs into a charted 700' tall island!!!

http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/rescuers-on-standby-after-island-disaster-1.1045312

sten

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PCP777
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Response Posted - 04/08/2011 : 08:10:11

I should clarify, this shouldn't have been a close call at all. The green arrow marks the position of the accident. I was sailing north towards the highway, almost dead downwind, preparing to turn to the east and the harbor exit. The power boat was heading east and if they had been paying any sort of attention at all could have easily avoided me. I don't think it would have mattered if I was under power or sail, this boat was clearly not paying attention and there was no where to me to evade. As I was exiting the fairway they hit me. It wasn't even a close call at first, it was someone who was not paying attention at all and a suspect was highly intoxicated.

http://goo.gl/maps/zZ5X

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redviking
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Response Posted - 04/08/2011 : 09:00:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 I should clarify, this shouldn't have been a close call at all. The green arrow marks the position of the accident. I was sailing north towards the highway, almost dead downwind, preparing to turn to the east and the harbor exit. The power boat was heading east and if they had been paying any sort of attention at all could have easily avoided me. I don't think it would have mattered if I was under power or sail, this boat was clearly not paying attention and there was no where to me to evade. As I was exiting the fairway they hit me. It wasn't even a close call at first, it was someone who was not paying attention at all and a suspect was highly intoxicated.

http://goo.gl/maps/zZ5X

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's why they make air horns. Keep one in the cockpit at all times.

sten

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