You're under sail on the bay with your family when you notice a large powerboat in the distance... on a collision course with you. Having the right of way, you hold steady for a while to see what the other skipper will do. Finally he sees you and builds speed to clear your path. Although there is no danger of collision now, the powerboat crosses your bow at a distance that seems less than prudent. The resulting wake comes at you from 10 o'clock, causing drinks to spill and some crashing sounds down below. The powerboat skipper is looking forward and does not see any of this. What would you do?
That is common ocurrence.
Whenever there is a wake approaching the boat we warn all the crew, "Hang on" and that means drinks to. Usually non get spilled. If the power boat is on course from a distance what can you do. I don't expect for him to makedly change course and it would be nice if they could cross your stern but the majority of them have no clue. But I will take exception if they alter their course to purposely come and cross your bow. We maintain a digital camera on board and we will take a picture of the boat as it passes making sure they see us do it, then the name and port of call will be obtained with binoculars immediately followed by calling the boat's name with a scolding transmission on the VHF. No profanities, just broadcasting over CH16 the ill intentioned act and disregard for safety by the boat in question. This transmissions are overheard by the Coast Guard and Marine Patrol.
Whenever there is a wake approaching the boat we warn all the crew, "Hang on" and that means drinks to. Usually non get spilled. If the power boat is on course from a distance what can you do. I don't expect for him to makedly change course and it would be nice if they could cross your stern but the majority of them have no clue. But I will take exception if they alter their course to purposely come and cross your bow. We maintain a digital camera on board and we will take a picture of the boat as it passes making sure they see us do it, then the name and port of call will be obtained with binoculars immediately followed by calling the boat's name with a scolding transmission on the VHF. No profanities, just broadcasting over CH16 the ill intentioned act and disregard for safety by the boat in question. This transmissions are overheard by the Coast Guard and Marine Patrol.
Real Life
This is a regular occurence, maybe not every week, but certainly we all see it often enough to recognize that we need to toss out the 'stand-on' terminology soon enough to avoid the obvious results. A lot depends on the relative size differences between the two vessels. If he's a 50 foter doing 18 knots and you have two kids on the rail of your 22 foot daysailer, you'd better give way sooner. If the encounter results in having someone on board your vessel injured; or property damage such as having your dingy swamped, you would need to get the vesssel name, maybe it's regestration numbers, etc. I tried to report a similar incident with no property damage or injuries and the marine police put the burden on me - said I'd need to describe the operator as well... Taking his wake on the 10:00 position is probably a reasonable direction if you can slow down yourself to minimize the impact. Definately do not turn away as you will get the worst roll broadside to his wake.
This is a regular occurence, maybe not every week, but certainly we all see it often enough to recognize that we need to toss out the 'stand-on' terminology soon enough to avoid the obvious results. A lot depends on the relative size differences between the two vessels. If he's a 50 foter doing 18 knots and you have two kids on the rail of your 22 foot daysailer, you'd better give way sooner. If the encounter results in having someone on board your vessel injured; or property damage such as having your dingy swamped, you would need to get the vesssel name, maybe it's regestration numbers, etc. I tried to report a similar incident with no property damage or injuries and the marine police put the burden on me - said I'd need to describe the operator as well... Taking his wake on the 10:00 position is probably a reasonable direction if you can slow down yourself to minimize the impact. Definately do not turn away as you will get the worst roll broadside to his wake.
Get on the horn
and let everybody (lots of boaters here) know that there is an uneducated ******* at the helm of such and such boat. Then I would blow the horn 5 times. Then I would get out the 60 and mow him down
Now what part of this am I kidding about?
and let everybody (lots of boaters here) know that there is an uneducated ******* at the helm of such and such boat. Then I would blow the horn 5 times. Then I would get out the 60 and mow him down
Now what part of this am I kidding about?
After he takes action, I do.
Since he has taken action to cross my bow, I have several options that will not impede his effort (lame as it may be) to keep clear. I can slow down or alter course to increase the distance when he crosses. I can alter course to minimize the impact of his wake to my boat and crew. If I let every clueless boater I see raise my blood pressure, I'd have died long ago.
Since he has taken action to cross my bow, I have several options that will not impede his effort (lame as it may be) to keep clear. I can slow down or alter course to increase the distance when he crosses. I can alter course to minimize the impact of his wake to my boat and crew. If I let every clueless boater I see raise my blood pressure, I'd have died long ago.
He's Responsible
This happened to my brother. A boater is responsible for his wake. Take down whatever info is available (reg, boat name, etc). Then call the Harbor Master. If he is concerned, he will pursue it. In my brother's case the Harbor Master did pursue it and got the owner's insurance to pay for damages (spreaders and Windex crashed into another boat's spreaders and windex when they were rafted together).
This happened to my brother. A boater is responsible for his wake. Take down whatever info is available (reg, boat name, etc). Then call the Harbor Master. If he is concerned, he will pursue it. In my brother's case the Harbor Master did pursue it and got the owner's insurance to pay for damages (spreaders and Windex crashed into another boat's spreaders and windex when they were rafted together).
What Would You Expect?
Unfortunately we have this sort of thing happen on a regular basis. I agree that the initial action should be to hold course, as that is what knowledgeable powerboat skippers expect. I also give my guests early warning of possible consequences from his wake or from avoidance procedures I may have to take. It's really aggravating when the offending powerboat happens to be one of the Sheriff's or the U.S. Coast Guard's boats.
Unfortunately we have this sort of thing happen on a regular basis. I agree that the initial action should be to hold course, as that is what knowledgeable powerboat skippers expect. I also give my guests early warning of possible consequences from his wake or from avoidance procedures I may have to take. It's really aggravating when the offending powerboat happens to be one of the Sheriff's or the U.S. Coast Guard's boats.
Learn CBDR
Navy and Coast Guard teach "constant bearing, decreasing range," which is the phenomenon of eyeing a collision course far away and following it. If the treeline behind the oncoming boat is fixed and not moving, you're on a collision course. Slowly try to deviate so as not to alter your sail plan, and you'll pass (usually behind) without anxiety or incident.
Navy and Coast Guard teach "constant bearing, decreasing range," which is the phenomenon of eyeing a collision course far away and following it. If the treeline behind the oncoming boat is fixed and not moving, you're on a collision course. Slowly try to deviate so as not to alter your sail plan, and you'll pass (usually behind) without anxiety or incident.
Educate Skipper! Call on radio explain result!
If the skipper has a radio and it's on, I would attempt to contact him over channel 16 (USCG channel) and if he answered, I would explain what his inattention did aboard your vessel. IF he is not on the air, I would contact USCG and explain to USCG what had occured on the vessel and provide a description of the vessel. They will likely receive a nice little notice from the USCG.
If the skipper has a radio and it's on, I would attempt to contact him over channel 16 (USCG channel) and if he answered, I would explain what his inattention did aboard your vessel. IF he is not on the air, I would contact USCG and explain to USCG what had occured on the vessel and provide a description of the vessel. They will likely receive a nice little notice from the USCG.
Lock and Load ?
7.62 NATO (M-14) with A/P slugs to just below the waterline in the area of the engine compartment or into the powerhead if an outboard ?? Hmmmmmmmm It's a temptation........... Seriously tho', this is a normal event many times in a few minute's experience when transiting a narrow passage such as the "Devil's Gap" just south of Kenora, Ontario on Lake of the Woods. During passage thru the two mile area (seems like ten) area a sailboat will oft be passed (closly) by up to 10-15 or more powerboats, very few of which in recent years will slow down. In the past many (if not most) would slow down and move as far away as safely possible giving as much consideration as might be reasonably expected. But led by the youg fellows driving the big "B/B Camp" workboats as they transport kids back and forth to their camp out on Town Island or running into or from Kenora for supplies -- in recent years the general populace seems to have taken it as proper to zoom right on by quite closely without slowing a bit. Really "rocks one's boat" so to speak. Best a sailor can do is to try to turn sharply into their wake (providing there's not another right behind him - also at 25 plus knots) and take the wake on the bow -vs- on the beam. (and maybe look for the M-14 again - grin) The OPP Lake Patrol boats are also often offenders in this regard so to try to get them to help would be less than laughable. That said however the rest of lake of the Woods is a #1 beautiful place to sail.Check out the website for the lake of the Woods Internation Sailing Association
7.62 NATO (M-14) with A/P slugs to just below the waterline in the area of the engine compartment or into the powerhead if an outboard ?? Hmmmmmmmm It's a temptation........... Seriously tho', this is a normal event many times in a few minute's experience when transiting a narrow passage such as the "Devil's Gap" just south of Kenora, Ontario on Lake of the Woods. During passage thru the two mile area (seems like ten) area a sailboat will oft be passed (closly) by up to 10-15 or more powerboats, very few of which in recent years will slow down. In the past many (if not most) would slow down and move as far away as safely possible giving as much consideration as might be reasonably expected. But led by the youg fellows driving the big "B/B Camp" workboats as they transport kids back and forth to their camp out on Town Island or running into or from Kenora for supplies -- in recent years the general populace seems to have taken it as proper to zoom right on by quite closely without slowing a bit. Really "rocks one's boat" so to speak. Best a sailor can do is to try to turn sharply into their wake (providing there's not another right behind him - also at 25 plus knots) and take the wake on the bow -vs- on the beam. (and maybe look for the M-14 again - grin) The OPP Lake Patrol boats are also often offenders in this regard so to try to get them to help would be less than laughable. That said however the rest of lake of the Woods is a #1 beautiful place to sail.Check out the website for the lake of the Woods Internation Sailing Association
Prudence
During a club race, we had a member challenge a USN ballistic missle submarine who was in the approach channel to Port Canaveral for right of way! The sub was constrained by draft (CBD), and certainly not under any obligation to a sailboat under sail cutting across the channel. In the senario you pose, the sailboat does have right of way, but too many boat operators do not understand the pecking order. Too many sailors don't understand that a sailboat under sail only has right of way of a power boat that is not in a channel, constrained by draft, or restricted in manuvering (trolling fiching gear). We are actually pretty low on the food chain when you get down to it. The poster that mentioned "constant bearing, decreasing range" laid out a good lesson. If a vessel is approaching and causes concern, call him on the VHF or blow a horn. If you get no response, control the situation by making changes to your course. This may not be the caveman approach, but it is showing good seamanship.
During a club race, we had a member challenge a USN ballistic missle submarine who was in the approach channel to Port Canaveral for right of way! The sub was constrained by draft (CBD), and certainly not under any obligation to a sailboat under sail cutting across the channel. In the senario you pose, the sailboat does have right of way, but too many boat operators do not understand the pecking order. Too many sailors don't understand that a sailboat under sail only has right of way of a power boat that is not in a channel, constrained by draft, or restricted in manuvering (trolling fiching gear). We are actually pretty low on the food chain when you get down to it. The poster that mentioned "constant bearing, decreasing range" laid out a good lesson. If a vessel is approaching and causes concern, call him on the VHF or blow a horn. If you get no response, control the situation by making changes to your course. This may not be the caveman approach, but it is showing good seamanship.
This happens all the time
We sail in the California Delta and this happens all the time (and sometimes almost continuosly). Unfortunately, many large powerboats seem to travel at that in-between speed that maximizes the size of their wakes. The jetskis and the like (we call them "water maggots") love the wakes but they're in the minority. Our waterways are so narrow that there is generally no way to avoid the wakes so we're always on the lookout and always assume that the power boat skipper is not looking where he's going. I never assume that I have the right of way unless there's some acknowledgement on the part of the power boat. Facing this situation, I would alert my crew and passengers to prepare for a wake and turn into it or tack away from it, depending on which approach gave me the most manuevering room. We try to anticipate as much as possible so as to time our tacks to put us in the best position to take the wake, generally from astern. I've never figured out why so many powerboat skippers choose to pass us by crossing our bow rather than our stern; it would make life so much easier if they just passed behind us.
We sail in the California Delta and this happens all the time (and sometimes almost continuosly). Unfortunately, many large powerboats seem to travel at that in-between speed that maximizes the size of their wakes. The jetskis and the like (we call them "water maggots") love the wakes but they're in the minority. Our waterways are so narrow that there is generally no way to avoid the wakes so we're always on the lookout and always assume that the power boat skipper is not looking where he's going. I never assume that I have the right of way unless there's some acknowledgement on the part of the power boat. Facing this situation, I would alert my crew and passengers to prepare for a wake and turn into it or tack away from it, depending on which approach gave me the most manuevering room. We try to anticipate as much as possible so as to time our tacks to put us in the best position to take the wake, generally from astern. I've never figured out why so many powerboat skippers choose to pass us by crossing our bow rather than our stern; it would make life so much easier if they just passed behind us.
ah yes
and sailboat racers don't know the pecking order either. They seem to think that ending a race at the channel markers is just fine. They seem to think that because they are on a starboard tack that they have stand on over boats coming out of the channel. The channel is the passageway for vessels restricted by draft which means they have stand on. Did I ever say I hate racers?
and sailboat racers don't know the pecking order either. They seem to think that ending a race at the channel markers is just fine. They seem to think that because they are on a starboard tack that they have stand on over boats coming out of the channel. The channel is the passageway for vessels restricted by draft which means they have stand on. Did I ever say I hate racers?
single digit salute and slingshot
What I think really makes matters worse is when they buzz your beam at warp speed and have the ...well, guts to actually throw a friendly wave your way. I usually respond with the ever popular "single digit salute". I also keep a sling shot and cache of ammo on board if there's time (or another chance) to retaliate. Here in the Long Island Sound area the Coast Guard is already heavily burdened without chasing down these idiots. Harbor Patrols are almost non-existant except for holiday weekends and special events, and seem to be out there just to show off that they're out there. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen power boaters that were very clearly intoxicated go streaking right by these "authorities" without any fear of being stopped. I've often said that many of these jerks live by the theory, "If I can I afford this big boat I don't need to follow the rules, or for that matter know them." It's probably not a good thing to stereotype, but in close to forty years of sailing I can probably count on one hand the number of "impolite" sailors I've seen on the water.
What I think really makes matters worse is when they buzz your beam at warp speed and have the ...well, guts to actually throw a friendly wave your way. I usually respond with the ever popular "single digit salute". I also keep a sling shot and cache of ammo on board if there's time (or another chance) to retaliate. Here in the Long Island Sound area the Coast Guard is already heavily burdened without chasing down these idiots. Harbor Patrols are almost non-existant except for holiday weekends and special events, and seem to be out there just to show off that they're out there. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen power boaters that were very clearly intoxicated go streaking right by these "authorities" without any fear of being stopped. I've often said that many of these jerks live by the theory, "If I can I afford this big boat I don't need to follow the rules, or for that matter know them." It's probably not a good thing to stereotype, but in close to forty years of sailing I can probably count on one hand the number of "impolite" sailors I've seen on the water.
And sailboats under power sometimes
don't get it either. Sailing back from Fleet Week here on Saturday, we were ging east. A sailboat under power was ehading north. No lookout, 10 people on board all drinking (maybe not the skipper, but no one was looking out at all.) Kept closing, I was wing 'n' wing, so was restricted in being able to adjust. Finally yelled eight or ten times and they woke up. Nimnals... Always gotta figure the worst, but never nasty enough to resort to ballistics.
don't get it either. Sailing back from Fleet Week here on Saturday, we were ging east. A sailboat under power was ehading north. No lookout, 10 people on board all drinking (maybe not the skipper, but no one was looking out at all.) Kept closing, I was wing 'n' wing, so was restricted in being able to adjust. Finally yelled eight or ten times and they woke up. Nimnals... Always gotta figure the worst, but never nasty enough to resort to ballistics.
Franklin hates racers
Yes, yes, yes. You've said it over and over and over. *Zzz Funny thing is, this post is discussing passing and/or crossing situations with power boats and how to deal with their wakes. This post has nothing to do with the many threads where "who has right of way over whom", "there is no such thing as 'right of way'", or "Franklin hates racers" have been beaten into the ground. *x Phil, I apologize and realize that this doesn't fit into the thread either, feel free to delete at your discretion. Tom
Yes, yes, yes. You've said it over and over and over. *Zzz Funny thing is, this post is discussing passing and/or crossing situations with power boats and how to deal with their wakes. This post has nothing to do with the many threads where "who has right of way over whom", "there is no such thing as 'right of way'", or "Franklin hates racers" have been beaten into the ground. *x Phil, I apologize and realize that this doesn't fit into the thread either, feel free to delete at your discretion. Tom
Sore Tom
"In the senario you pose, the sailboat does have right of way, but too many boat operators do not understand the pecking order." by Joe I was commenting on this...and where in my post did I say anything about "right of way"? I said "stand on" which is exactly what it is and how it is written in the rulebook. I guess you can't read.
"In the senario you pose, the sailboat does have right of way, but too many boat operators do not understand the pecking order." by Joe I was commenting on this...and where in my post did I say anything about "right of way"? I said "stand on" which is exactly what it is and how it is written in the rulebook. I guess you can't read.