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

On Nov 9, 11:58 am, Ruby Vee wrote:
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- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Just a few comments.

I've done the ditch back and forth between NY and Florida many times
delivering boats. Most power boaters know enough to slow down when
overtaking a slower vessel, and most sail boaters know enough to turn
into the wake as they go by. Their are a few bad apples on both sides,
I have seen several sail boats that refused to move aside and let
anyone pass, most learned the hard way that was the wrong thing to do.
Some even beleaved they always had the right of way, which they don't.
I've seen sail boats refuse to give way to large commercial traffic,
with tragic results, all the while claiming "I had the right of way".

And their are some sail boaters beleave that the water should be
without a single ripple, that's not going to happen, get over it.

Your on a boat, and waves, be they from Mother Nature, or from another
boat, are going to happen. If you'r stupid enough to bring a frail old
lady on your boat, and she gets injured, that's your responsibility.
You can try to blame it on whoever you want, you were the one foolish
enough to take her along. Did you ever hear of storms? Do you think
large commercial traffic, that throw large wakes, that must maintain
headway to maintain control is, or will, slow down because you made a
mistake, and you want him to place himself, his crew and vessel, at
risk because of your bad decision? Go ahead and get on the radio and
rant about how your going to sue anyone that rocks your boat. No one's
going to give you a response, such a message does not deserve a
response. See if you can get a lawyer to do what you want, good luck,
it's not going to happen. You may be the one who gets sued by the
"little old lady". Captians who injure their passangers on pleasure
boats get sued by them all the time, you could become one of them.

Your on the water, never depend on the other person to do the right
thing, that's how accidents happen. And never take someone on board
that could be seriously injured by as a result of things that might
happen during the course of a normal day on the water. To do so is a
sign of a poor captian, one that takes risk that he shouldn't take.

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:48:10 -0800, Capt John wrote:

snip
....yawn...
*plonk*

Capt John wrote:

Just a few comments.

I've done the ditch back and forth between NY and Florida many times
delivering boats. Most power boaters know enough to slow down when
overtaking a slower vessel, and most sail boaters know enough to turn
into the wake as they go by. Their are a few bad apples on both sides,
I have seen several sail boats that refused to move aside and let
anyone pass, most learned the hard way that was the wrong thing to do.

Sometimes if the channel is narrow, the sailboat can't move to the
side. We saw one guy near Barefoot (in the Rock Pile) who was
attempting to be courteous by moving into what looked like an inlet
area. What he didn't realize that there was a rock ledge right under
the water. He was stuck there for a considerable time as a result of
trying to move aside and probably had damage to his boat's bottom.

Sometimes power boats just have to be patient and wait to pass in a
better place.

And their are some sail boaters beleave that the water should be
without a single ripple, that's not going to happen, get over it.

We were passed once by two power boats - one went on the port side and
one went on the starboard side. We were bounced around a bit, but not
badly. However the sailboat ahead of us (a bit to our starboard), did
not see the power boat that passed on our port side because it was on
the other side of us. They had a bit rougher go because of that.

The fact that there may be non-manmade waves does not exempt power
boaters from being responsible for their wakes.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
Capt John wrote:

Just a few comments.

I've done the ditch back and forth between NY and Florida many times
delivering boats. Most power boaters know enough to slow down when
overtaking a slower vessel, and most sail boaters know enough to turn
into the wake as they go by. Their are a few bad apples on both sides,
I have seen several sail boats that refused to move aside and let
anyone pass, most learned the hard way that was the wrong thing to do.

Sometimes if the channel is narrow, the sailboat can't move to the
side. We saw one guy near Barefoot (in the Rock Pile) who was
attempting to be courteous by moving into what looked like an inlet
area. What he didn't realize that there was a rock ledge right under
the water. He was stuck there for a considerable time as a result of
trying to move aside and probably had damage to his boat's bottom.

Sometimes power boats just have to be patient and wait to pass in a
better place.

And their are some sail boaters beleave that the water should be
without a single ripple, that's not going to happen, get over it.

We were passed once by two power boats - one went on the port side and
one went on the starboard side. We were bounced around a bit, but not
badly. However the sailboat ahead of us (a bit to our starboard), did
not see the power boat that passed on our port side because it was on
the other side of us. They had a bit rougher go because of that.

The fact that there may be non-manmade waves does not exempt power
boaters from being responsible for their wakes.



We've had a similar situation happen in the Marina Bay channel, which is
quite narrow. It's really a two-lane channel, and very unforgiving as far as
bottom goes on the right, returning side. (The other side is the edge of a
building/pier.) Coming in one day, I had a PB pass on my port, while another
sailboat was coming out. We were already on the edge of the channel making
room for the on-coming SB. The other SB saw what was happening and moved to
his right as far as possible, and fortunately, the PB got by us, with a big,
but manageable wake. Then, not knowing what the f*ck he was doing, went even
further to the right and ran aground in the mud. Sweet justice. Then, a
couple of minutes later, another PB did the same thing. I think the first PB
must called the second for help, since the pretty much went there directly
after zooming past us and you could see he was on his cell phone. More sweet
justice... they ran aground also. There was a Sea Tow boat coming out from
the marina who saw the whole thing. As he went by us, I could see he was
laughing.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...



We've had a similar situation happen in the Marina Bay
channel, which is
quite narrow. It's really a two-lane channel, and very
unforgiving as far as
bottom goes on the right, returning side. (The other side
is the edge of a
building/pier.) Coming in one day, I had a PB pass on my
port, while another
sailboat was coming out. We were already on the edge of
the channel making
room for the on-coming SB. The other SB saw what was
happening and moved to
his right as far as possible, and fortunately, the PB got
by us, with a big,
but manageable wake. Then, not knowing what the f*ck he
was doing, went even
further to the right and ran aground in the mud. Sweet
justice. Then, a
couple of minutes later, another PB did the same thing. I
think the first PB
must called the second for help, since the pretty much
went there directly
after zooming past us and you could see he was on his cell
phone. More sweet
justice... they ran aground also. There was a Sea Tow boat
coming out from
the marina who saw the whole thing. As he went by us, I
could see he was
laughing.


Could you see the Capt and crew, were they all wearing their
''Eat My Wake'' t-shirts? They are very popular here on the
east coast.

SBV

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...



We've had a similar situation happen in the Marina Bay
channel, which is
quite narrow. It's really a two-lane channel, and very
unforgiving as far as
bottom goes on the right, returning side. (The other side
is the edge of a
building/pier.) Coming in one day, I had a PB pass on my
port, while another
sailboat was coming out. We were already on the edge of
the channel making
room for the on-coming SB. The other SB saw what was
happening and moved to
his right as far as possible, and fortunately, the PB got
by us, with a big,
but manageable wake. Then, not knowing what the f*ck he
was doing, went even
further to the right and ran aground in the mud. Sweet
justice. Then, a
couple of minutes later, another PB did the same thing. I
think the first PB
must called the second for help, since the pretty much
went there directly
after zooming past us and you could see he was on his cell
phone. More sweet
justice... they ran aground also. There was a Sea Tow boat
coming out from
the marina who saw the whole thing. As he went by us, I
could see he was
laughing.


Could you see the Capt and crew, were they all wearing their
''Eat My Wake'' t-shirts? They are very popular here on the
east coast.

SBV




Heh... we waved and smiled as we went by...


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com