"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in
reenews.net:


*******s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should've arrested the captain of the tow boat. He violated
the
Colregs. He should've kept clear of the sailboat.
Did you notice how it was reported. Biased like snot in favor of
the
motor boat. It said the sailboat collided with the barge. Duh! It was
the other way around 10 to 1!!!! I bet the tow/barge wasn't showing
RAM lights/shapes.
That's why you gotta know your rights. People and the reporters
will
make you look guilty even when your innocent.

Cheers,
Ellen



BG ....and he should have been showing RAM lights....why?

otn

"otnmbrd" wrote
BG ....and he should have been showing RAM lights....why?

If he was RAM and showing shapes/lights then it was the sailboat's fault for not giving way.
If he wasn't RAM it was his fault for not giving way. Sailboats have to keep clear of RAMs
but RAMs have to identify themselves so people know what they are. Towboats are motorboats
unless they're RAM so they have to keep clear of sailboats.
They said it happened off the coast near St. Augustine, FL. That means open water so they
can't claim narrow channels and all that shall not impede stuff. If it was in a channel they'd
have said it happened in the channel not off the coast. Duh.
If you ever sailed a little sailboat you'd know we spend most of our time looking for and
worrying about motorboats hitting us. Sailboats just don't go around hitting things. For one thing
it's hard to hit things. We go so slow. Even if you try to hit a motorboat it's not that easy to do.....
Be honest now. Don't you think the reporting made it sound like the sailboat was in the wrong?
How's about some fair and balanced once in a while. A man gets run down by a tow boat barge and
then gets treated like a criminal. He lost his boat and coulda lost his life. Where's the justice?

Cheers,
Ellen

On the issue of reporting..... we all know that the accuracy of most news
reports is highly suspect and generally based on how the reporter perceives
or wishes an item to be perceived, so, hence why it's always best to wait
before commenting....

As for sailboats hitting stuff.....bull.... many sailboats are capable of
speeds and maneuvers, above what some slug powerboats ever thought of.
Personally, I go around worrying what any "vessel" is apt to be doing and
whether it may hit me.

Concerning the guy being handcuffed..... considering the post 9/11 security
crap now in place on commercial vessels and frame of mind of those in
"homeland security" regarding anything out of the ordinary....those actions
don't surprise me at all.

otn




"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in
reenews.net:


"otnmbrd" wrote
BG ....and he should have been showing RAM lights....why?

If he was RAM and showing shapes/lights then it was the sailboat's
fault for not giving way.
If he wasn't RAM it was his fault for not giving way. Sailboats have
to keep clear of RAMs but RAMs have to identify themselves so people
know what they are. Towboats are motorboats unless they're RAM so they
have to keep clear of sailboats.
They said it happened off the coast near St. Augustine, FL. That
means open water so they
can't claim narrow channels and all that shall not impede stuff. If it
was in a channel they'd have said it happened in the channel not off
the coast. Duh.
If you ever sailed a little sailboat you'd know we spend most of
our time looking for and
worrying about motorboats hitting us. Sailboats just don't go around
hitting things. For one thing it's hard to hit things. We go so slow.
Even if you try to hit a motorboat it's not that easy to do.....
Be honest now. Don't you think the reporting made it sound like
the sailboat was in the wrong?
How's about some fair and balanced once in a while. A man gets run
down by a tow boat barge and then gets treated like a criminal. He
lost his boat and coulda lost his life. Where's the justice?

Cheers,
Ellen