Tanker versus Racing Yacht at Cowes...VIDEO

[Gulliver]

Collision caught on VIDEO!

[Captain Kong]

GOOD ONE Davey.
Those Grotty Yotties are a menace.
I remember coming along Mother Bank towards the Thorn Channel there, where that happened on the first day of Cowes Week around 31 July 1977, I was on watch as Third Mate with the Captain and Pilot inbound from the Gulf to Fawley on a 256,000 ton Tanker. You could hardly see water for canvas.
Tankers have CLEAR CHANNEL, we cannot deviate from our course or speed with Deep Draft, around 60 feet with squat, you can imagine the devestation a loaded crude tanker can cause if it hit bottom. Ahead of the Tanker is the Harbour Masters launch with its strobe lights flashing and loud speakers telling all the Kamekaze Yachties to keep clear. It is broadcast on VHF for all vessels to give Clear Channel to the inbound tanker.The ignorant and stupid Yachties think it is their playground and refuse to give way, many head towards the tanker to have a look, they get in the lee of the Tanker and they lose the wind and then crash into our side. some sinking and others wrecked and almost getting very close to our prop.
Many yachts were sunk that day and a lot of people in the water, I spent most of my watch swinging on the whistle lanyard and almost fell over the wing of the Bridgel laughing so much at the stupidity of these idiots.
Thanks for the memory
Cheers
Brian.

[Dave Allison]

Did someone 0:24 jump overboard?

[Capt Bill Davies]

Reminds me of the time I was Master in the Bantry Class of vessel which, in the early 70s were very much in the publics eye. Although built for loading in the Gulf and discharge at Bantry Bay there were occasions we discharged half cargo at Whiddy and proceeded to Rotterdam to complete discharge. Passing So'tan was always an experience or nightmare with the 'yachting fraternity' wanting to play chicken or wanting to speak to the Master to confirm statistics about these vessels which were well publicised in the world press. In essence the 'Grotty Yachties' as I have heard them described elsewhere just wanted to hear their own voice over the VHF and had no ideas of the stopping distances or turning circles of these vessels.

Brgds

Bill

[Gulliver]

Did someone 0:24 jump overboard?

Yes,it did look like that,just before contact with the mast.If he did then he came perilously close to being run down in the water by the tanker...

[Ivan Cloherty]

Sailed into Cowes and Soton many a time with yachties shouting "don't you know steam gives way to sail" we always replied "sorry mate we're a motor ship" the arrogance and stupidity of these weekend sailors had to be seen to be believed. many a time felt like ringing "full ahead" when they attempted to cross the bow, but good seamanship and sympathy for the idiot's family prevailed. Bet our name was mud on many an occasion in the clubhouse. Also used to stick a couple of high pressure fire hoses over the bow when in very restricted waters, they seemed to steer clear then, probably against their "yuman rites" to do that now

[Keith Tindell]

As an ex merchant seaman from the 50-60, and now a yachtsman with a love of the sea, also a RYA qualified yachtmaster, i always resent being lumped in with all grotty yachties. I live on the Isle of Wight and sail the solent, and have done for 40 years. I have seen on the local news the accident to which you refered, no accident, attempted suicide by a dickhead. the main culprits are the racing fraternity, who think they have rights over everything that floats, maybe that video will slow a few of the pratts down hopefully, but you cannot educate pork, but we sensible yachties live in hope, regards Keith Tindell

[Ivan Cloherty]

As an ex merchant seaman from the 50-60, and now a yachtsman with a love of the sea, also a RYA qualified yachtmaster, i always resent being lumped in with all grotty yachties. I live on the Isle of Wight and sail the solent, and have done for 40 years. I have seen on the local news the accident to which you refered, no accident, attempted suicide by a dickhead. the main culprits are the racing fraternity, who think they have rights over everything that floats, maybe that video will slow a few of the pratts down hopefully, but you cannot educate pork, but we sensible yachties live in hope, regards Keith Tindell

Keith
we sympathise with you, of course as seamen we know there are lots of professional and considerate yachties out there, unfortunately as in all walks of life, it is the few bad apples that spoil the barrel.Unfortunately from the bridge you cannot always tell which apple is at the helm when they are approaching you, the non-professionals have no idea of the concern they cause when you are in a ship that cannot take avoiding action, as we didn't really want to run anybody down.

I remember as a child living in Hull that as mother pointed out, to read the local paper you would think that every seaman was an habitual drunk, yes we had the drunks but the majority of the seamen had families to support and were good hard working men, who had little money left over when the allotments had been paid, who could barely afford the occasional drink, but we all got tarred with the same brush...that's life!

[happy daze john in oz]

In NZ there are almost as many yachts as people and a similar situation exists here in Oz. rom what I know of the yachting fraternity the greater majority do abide by the rules. My mate does a lot of racing sailing , bay and deep sea, during the year and I have yet to hear him tell me of any similar incidents here.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi John, Could not agree more, the main problem here is the start line and finish line, right at the mouth of the river Medina, which is commercial, with a lot of ferries to and fro, also right on the edge of the main channel for the large ships going and coming from Fawley and Southampton. We have said for years that it should be shifted to a quieter area, but with a royal connection that will not happen, regards Keith