A Near Collision
Today Ann and I came as close as we ever, ever want to be in a collision from behind with a motor sailer, about 35’, doing 6 to 7 knots.
We were under jib alone doing about 2.5 kn SOG in about 5 kn of SE (following) wind, en passage in Houston Passage heading towards Sandstone Rocks on our way to Telegraph Harbour. We had watched the offender make the turn at Grappler Rocks about 1 1/2 miles behind us. It is not unusual to have boats on the same track, as some of the passages are relatively narrow, and we all trust each other to take timely avoiding action when necessary, right?
Not this guy/gal!
He actually over rode our 6m dinghy painter and pushed our dinghy aside before our panicked shouts and a few expletives woke him to action, and we assume he went full throttle reverse. I could have leapt onto his bow, we were so close. Fortunately the painter did not get fouled even tho’ at one point is was under his bow.
The caution to take from this episode, apart from the obvious lookout advisories, is to always have your air horn to hand. Mine was partially buried amongst the cluttered nav station shelf, and I just about had it in my hand at the closest point of closing. Had I had it in the cockpit, we could have sounded an alarm earlier.
At no point could we see the offender’s name, as it was only on the transom, and as we parted after the incident, he motored south into the sun glare off the water. He made no attempt to contact us by radio, although a third party witness to the incident did so call us to ask about our status. In our dazed state we did not register the name of the concerned boat.
Replaying the incident in mind, several questions arise, all of which emphasize how much we trust the other person to do the right thing. If sailing in proximity to motoring boats, at what point do you sacrifice your right of way at the risk of confusing a skipper who just wants to be sociable(!!!) or is too idle to temporarily reprogram his autohelm?
Anyway, this time disaster avoided, but we never want to be stimulated this way again!
As a final punctuation mark to our trip, we were chased out of Nanaimo by a 32-34’ sailboat in 15 kn NW wind who closed to within five boat lengths of our transom before altering course when we were both close reaching on port tack for Point Atkinson off Entrance Island. I called him on the radio CH16 in a voice loud enough to be heard without the radio. Again, no name visible. This was a classic “i can’t see you under my sails” event. He sheepishly refused to look at us as he stormed past, with full sails, as we were under 2 reefs and partially furled jib, still doing 5.5 kn, although his cockpit partner did give us a friendly wave.
Ann is convinced we have a target on the transom which is easily read saying “Hit Here”!
Safe sailing to all,
Ann & Martin“Sabbatical”
Quanta 28
Port Moody
Today Ann and I came as close as we ever, ever want to be in a collision from behind with a motor sailer, about 35’, doing 6 to 7 knots.
We were under jib alone doing about 2.5 kn SOG in about 5 kn of SE (following) wind, en passage in Houston Passage heading towards Sandstone Rocks on our way to Telegraph Harbour. We had watched the offender make the turn at Grappler Rocks about 1 1/2 miles behind us. It is not unusual to have boats on the same track, as some of the passages are relatively narrow, and we all trust each other to take timely avoiding action when necessary, right?
Not this guy/gal!
He actually over rode our 6m dinghy painter and pushed our dinghy aside before our panicked shouts and a few expletives woke him to action, and we assume he went full throttle reverse. I could have leapt onto his bow, we were so close. Fortunately the painter did not get fouled even tho’ at one point is was under his bow.
The caution to take from this episode, apart from the obvious lookout advisories, is to always have your air horn to hand. Mine was partially buried amongst the cluttered nav station shelf, and I just about had it in my hand at the closest point of closing. Had I had it in the cockpit, we could have sounded an alarm earlier.
At no point could we see the offender’s name, as it was only on the transom, and as we parted after the incident, he motored south into the sun glare off the water. He made no attempt to contact us by radio, although a third party witness to the incident did so call us to ask about our status. In our dazed state we did not register the name of the concerned boat.
Replaying the incident in mind, several questions arise, all of which emphasize how much we trust the other person to do the right thing. If sailing in proximity to motoring boats, at what point do you sacrifice your right of way at the risk of confusing a skipper who just wants to be sociable(!!!) or is too idle to temporarily reprogram his autohelm?
Anyway, this time disaster avoided, but we never want to be stimulated this way again!
As a final punctuation mark to our trip, we were chased out of Nanaimo by a 32-34’ sailboat in 15 kn NW wind who closed to within five boat lengths of our transom before altering course when we were both close reaching on port tack for Point Atkinson off Entrance Island. I called him on the radio CH16 in a voice loud enough to be heard without the radio. Again, no name visible. This was a classic “i can’t see you under my sails” event. He sheepishly refused to look at us as he stormed past, with full sails, as we were under 2 reefs and partially furled jib, still doing 5.5 kn, although his cockpit partner did give us a friendly wave.
Ann is convinced we have a target on the transom which is easily read saying “Hit Here”!
Safe sailing to all,
Ann & Martin“Sabbatical”
Quanta 28
Port Moody
