On 2007-11-09 07:50:07 -0500, Skip Gundlach said:

Here's what I said: "Grain of Salt (later shown to be grain of sand,
but I'm sure they got the point), Grain of Salt, Grain of Salt, this
is Sailing Vessel Flying Pig, ahead of you. We're aware of your
behavior. We have an 82 year old woman aboard. If you pass us like
you did the last couple of sailboats, and your wake causes her to lose
her balance and she is injured, be advised that we *WILL* take you to
court. Flying Pig out."

Not surprisingly, nothing was heard (despite the fact of the mistaken
name, I can't imagine there was any confusion on the point). Later,
we heard traffic complaining about these same two boats' passage
behavior, but it sounded like each successive one got a little better.

Finally, three power boats were coming up on our stern. I got on the
blower and said, "Southbound power boats approaching southbound St.
Thomas registry sailboat (our name is on the bow and sideboards, not
the stern), when you get to me, I'll pull over to the right and go
into neutral to allow you a safe slow pass." Nothing heard.

That's what I did - and that's what they did. The two miscreants were
in the lead, and another followed right behind. There was a fourth
rather further behind, and he continued to blast along, alarming the
ladyfolk, but I said, and it proved correct, that he was just closing
the gap. Just at the right time, he pulled it back, and idled by.

I thanked them and congratulated all on the perfect pass, and they all
picked it up again and continued to blast along. I heard nothing
further from any down the line about what jerks they were, so I gather
they got the point.

Last night (boats tend to move in flotillas) we were chatting with
another boat we'd met along the way, and they commented on how lovely
and considerate all the power boaters had seemed to be - but they'd
been in front of us, and so would have experienced these boats after
us. We have, indeed, encountered - generally - great courtesy, as
we've gone along. However, these above, I also heard in chatter, I
think, must have been inexperienced, as I heard, not long before they
got to us, some complaint (an attempt, not successful, in doing the
slow pass) being responded to as "a learning experience in progress" -
so perhaps they got their training in the Alligator-Pungo Canal :{))

Sounds like the perfect solution to the power boat problem. And it IS
a problem! We encounter them when we're out sailing -- seems like some
of them speed up just as they're going by us. I'm not sure if they're
trying to make a point ("Get out of my way, you fat, slow sailboat!")
or just want to see if they can swamp us.

But what REALLY scared me is when DH and I were out swimming in the
creek (unlike where I grew up, THIS creek has three marinas within
swimming distance of us) and power boats would dart out of the channel
to check us out, swimming along the shore. I was afraid that they'd
run over ME trying to see what DH was up to, or vice versa. Once
they'd determined that we were human swimmers, many of them would rev
up the engine to dart back into the channel. A wake is uncomfortable
in a sailboat -- dangerous to a swimmer. What's up with THAT?!

Ruby