[deltaten]

Twice this past weekend, almost got clipped! I dunno; but every which way I read it, regs say I have right of way. Mebbe I'm not seeing it right tho, so asking for input.

Sunday afternoon back-n-forth.across the channel, lie. so many/all other sails do. Nice beam reach WX. Making way outbound the mooring field and see a HUGE trawler-type anda smaller spedboat coming S. towards me; perhaps 300 yds out.. I'm already centered in the channnel, mebbe 50 yds past/out from the permanent day-marker line. Neither PB slows or diverts. I'm making 2.5kt and figure as the "stand-on' I should hold course and speed. Maybe fifty yards short of me, the speeder (a big one!) veers to my stern at full power, the trawler hold his line and speed (10-12 KT?)...with a five foot or so bow- wave!...and I decide to avoid contact by turning downwind to stbd. Now I'm in the "vee" of two wakes and making. the choice oftaking the smaller (2.5'?) wake head-on and letting thbig, rolling 4+ footertake me on the Stbd. quarter. Both PBs pass within spitting distance.
Bounced, twisted and. turned! I hollerfor my Mate to get. down low and hold on. She ended up on the deck,taking a header into the companionway and. breaking the fire-extinguisher off it's mount .Helluva thing to get smacked in the azz by one wave . while plowing into to opposing.

Almost exactly the same spot on Monday. Opposite direction and runnign beamreach at 3.5kt. Yep! Another "wedding-cake" trawler trying tomakethe marker before me, I suppose . Huge bow wave, no backing down/off and as we came stbd to cut his wake; rose over the first and surfed down into the second, nearly taking it over the bow.
But his Admiral" waved as they went by. :sheesh:, leaving us hobby-horse-ing and rigging snapping and groaning.

So...other than the ubiquitous "Bigger boat has more weight to toss around" answers; what *IS* the rule? Sure and I understand the responssibilty to maintain ssafety and good practices part; hence the move or be crushed instinct cutting in Does the boat travelling the channel have rights over crossing? Am I wrong (Colregs)? or expectintoo much by the way of courtesy on thewater?

Other than that, it was a great three days of sailing

 

[christian.hess]

even if you do have the right away you cant take the ass away from some people and theyll just do whatever so usually just take the high road and let it be and maneuver to avoid all contact...

its not racing so rather just enjoy the scenery if you will

 

[Donna_F]

... or expectintoo much by the way of courtesy on thewater?...

This.

 

[Donna_F]

Only once have I had a power boat throttle down to pass me. He came down well before he got to me and throttled up well past me. I got on the radio and thanked him.

Depending on the type of boat the wake may be worse if they come off of plane. But, it's a big bay. Your power boats probably had plenty of room to maneuver and avoid your boat.

 

[Ulladh]

I assume you are sailing out of Northeast MD in the channel on west side of Elk Neck. The power boats are going to keep on course and on plane down the middle of a rather narrow channel and the water gets shallow very fast on either side of that channel.

So either get used to jumping wakes or avoid the area during holiday weekends.

The east side of Elk Neck is just as crowded with power boats on holiday weekends but more room with deeper water.

Past Turkey Point you have more options, more space, better water depth, but on the west side of Elk Neck it is what it is.

 

[deltaten]

Yes, and yes again. First instance.I was holding. that same course and speed for half a mile. PB/s was probably a klick out when I entered channel.
My boat buddy (PB) says it costs them near twenty dollars of. fuel to back down and regain speed, so they won't.
I really want to put a few rounds acrosstheirbows; but would settle for the CG to lite 'em up. Just that deaing. with the boat handling and aftermath leaves little time. to get video of any infractions!

*IF* I did gget name/reg number AND proof of disregard; would it even be worth the dime to call CG? If the PBs are breaking regs that *could* result in mishap/collision/injury/death , they oought a be called on it,no?
If I'm off base, I'll stand corrected and eat crow.

 

[christian.hess]

that aint gonna happen bud, unless there is a collision involved....sorry to say

honestly it wont be worth your time and effort

 

[Faster]

We've had the extremely pleasant occurrence of power boaters slowing down for us and I always acknowledge that on VHF and thank them when it happens.. unfortunately it's not the 'norm'.

More often it's passing unnecessarily close, unreasonable wake, on autopilot/no deviation type of behaviour. On the plus side, though, many of the planing-capable power boats seem to be chugging away at displacement speeds more often (price of fuel??)

 

[deltaten]

Ulladh:
Close enufffor jazz! Between Jackson's and Charlestown Point. Plenty of water tho. At 8'+ in thmain and 7' either side, so it's not like the channel down below Cara Cove where it's very narrow, down to the tip of the Neck atTP..

ReaIly, I give way most alla the time,regardless of who/where. I try to let other boats my intentions Newell in advance. I *always* give a tip o'the hat to. well mannnered Cap'ns and will sttand to render. salute to those which are particularly courteous.

I'll pass on calli. CG.. Perhaps afew, well phrased comments via VHF would be mo'betta?

 

[Donna_F]

I disagree. If you have time to do it and can do it safely, I'd take the picture and send it to the CG. You'd have to make sure you get a registration number in the pic.

In the U.S. we're all responsible for our wake. I don't care that it costs them to come off plane if it means not damaging my boat or passengers.

 

[jzk]

Where are we talking? In a calm harbor with a no wake zone? Or out and about? If in a regularly navigated area, why the fuss over a wake? What kind of sailboat do you have that a powerboat wake can cause you damage and injury to your passengers?

I disagree. If you have time to do it and can do it safely, I'd take the picture and send it to the CG. You'd have to make sure you get a registration number in the pic.

In the U.S. we're all responsible for our wake. I don't care that it costs them to come off plane if it means not damaging my boat or passengers.

 

[Donna_F]

It doesn't matter what kind of sailboat anyone has or the location. You are responsible for any damage the wake of your boat causes. Delta said that his companion "took a header into the companionway."

10. What are the regulations concerning wake effects, wake damage, and responsibility? Regarding one's wake, vessels over 1600 Gross Tons (GT) are specifically required by Title 33 CFR 164.11 to set the vessel's speed with consideration for...the damage that might be caused by the vessel's wake. Further, there may be State or local laws which specifically address "wake" for the waters in question.

While vessels under 1600 GT are not specifically required to manage their speed in regards to wake, they are still required to operate in a prudent matter which does not endanger life, limb, or property (46 USC 2302). Nor do the Navigation Rules exonerate any vessel from the consequences of neglect (Rule 2), which, among other things, could be unsafe speeds (Rule 6), improper lookout (Rule 5), or completely ignoring your responsibilities as prescribed by the Navigation Rules.

 

[RichH]

What kind of sailboat do you have that a powerboat wake can cause you damage and injury to your passengers?

Apparently youve never experienced the humongous wakes caused by the typical large 'sport fishing boats' driven by testosterone laden inconsiderate idiots that operate along the US East Coast. NJ/NY/S.Fl are probably the worst areas for such 'fun'.
Imagine a 5-6+ft. short interval & steep wake hitting you from the stern quarter that sends your 'heavy' boat uncontrollably over onto its beam ends and with deep bulwarked decks awash and cockpit flooded. When this happens one 'should definitely' file a documented protest to the USCG to be attached to any commercial operators license reapplication, with copies (a video if available) to the major marine insurance underwriters.

 

[deltaten]

jzk;'
27', 8klb 3.7'draft vs 42+/- @ perhpas 10-12 tons travelling. at 12+kt. and passing w/in 30 feet ....with his buddy in a 10000# speeder on the Bow end,. SWMBO says she saw the captain of the trawler laughing. as we took his wake (almost) over the stern 1/4. . All fun and games and I'll take my lumps in a fair fight; but just so's somemotorhead jerk can havva giggle?
Hell no!

 

[Dave_E]

My wife and I have this disscussion everythime we're out and we see "rule breakers". . My favorite analogy is the kids around the high school. Those young people will arrogantly step right out in front of you and look you in the eye while your slamming on your brakes with that "you have to stop for me" look on their face. Problem is stupid young person, is that when someone doesn't stop and you're dead, what good did some rule do you?

All the rules of the road and all the woulda's, shoulda's and coulda's in the world don't mean beans if you don't do everything in your power to avoid any collision or danger.

You did good and you did correct! Keep doing it... forever. Sorry about your mate's bump.

Dave

 

[jzk]

I submit that if your passenger "takes a header into the companionway" in open water with no wake restrictions, then you didn't properly warn them of the wake that you knew was coming.

It doesn't matter what kind of sailboat anyone has or the location. You are responsible for any damage the wake of your boat causes. Delta said that his companion "took a header into the companionway."

10. What are the regulations concerning wake effects, wake damage, and responsibility? Regarding one's wake, vessels over 1600 Gross Tons (GT) are specifically required by Title 33 CFR 164.11 to set the vessel's speed with consideration for...the damage that might be caused by the vessel's wake. Further, there may be State or local laws which specifically address "wake" for the waters in question.

While vessels under 1600 GT are not specifically required to manage their speed in regards to wake, they are still required to operate in a prudent matter which does not endanger life, limb, or property (46 USC 2302). Nor do the Navigation Rules exonerate any vessel from the consequences of neglect (Rule 2), which, among other things, could be unsafe speeds (Rule 6), improper lookout (Rule 5), or completely ignoring your responsibilities as prescribed by the Navigation Rules.

 

[Donna_F]

Boating where there are no posted wake restrictions doesn't mean you aren't responsible for your wake.

 

[miatapaul]

Twice this past weekend, almost got clipped! I dunno; but every which way I read it, regs say I have right of way. Mebbe I'm not seeing it right tho, so asking for input.

Sunday afternoon back-n-forth.across the channel, lie. so many/all other sails do. Nice beam reach WX. Making way outbound the mooring field and see a HUGE trawler-type anda smaller spedboat coming S. towards me; perhaps 300 yds out.. I'm already centered in the channnel, mebbe 50 yds past/out from the permanent day-marker line. Neither PB slows or diverts. I'm making 2.5kt and figure as the "stand-on' I should hold course and speed. Maybe fifty yards short of me, the speeder (a big one!) veers to my stern at full power, the trawler hold his line and speed (10-12 KT?)...with a five foot or so bow- wave!...and I decide to avoid contact by turning downwind to stbd. Now I'm in the "vee" of two wakes and making. the choice oftaking the smaller (2.5'?) wake head-on and letting thbig, rolling 4+ footertake me on the Stbd. quarter. Both PBs pass within spitting distance.
Bounced, twisted and. turned! I hollerfor my Mate to get. down low and hold on. She ended up on the deck,taking a header into the companionway and. breaking the fire-extinguisher off it's mount .Helluva thing to get smacked in the azz by one wave . while plowing into to opposing.

Almost exactly the same spot on Monday. Opposite direction and runnign beamreach at 3.5kt. Yep! Another "wedding-cake" trawler trying tomakethe marker before me, I suppose . Huge bow wave, no backing down/off and as we came stbd to cut his wake; rose over the first and surfed down into the second, nearly taking it over the bow.
But his Admiral" waved as they went by. :sheesh:, leaving us hobby-horse-ing and rigging snapping and groaning.

So...other than the ubiquitous "Bigger boat has more weight to toss around" answers; what *IS* the rule? Sure and I understand the responssibilty to maintain ssafety and good practices part; hence the move or be crushed instinct cutting in Does the boat travelling the channel have rights over crossing? Am I wrong (Colregs)? or expectintoo much by the way of courtesy on thewater?

Other than that, it was a great three days of sailing

Well if you have the boaters info, they would be liable for any damages done by there wake, so they owe you a fire extinguisher mount at a minimum and any medical expenses if there were any.

 

[killarney_sailor]

If you can ID morons I would contact the Coast Guard. Who knows how often they might have been reported before and one more report might stir the CG into action.

 

[Donna_F]

I once heard a call to the CG by a sailboat reporting a power boat. They asked if he got the registration number and he had but I had no idea what the results were after the call was over.