Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat launched to assist 2 yachts which had collided close to Horse Tail Channel buoy at lunchtime (Thursday).
The Tamar-class ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ was launched at 12:15 at the request of Solent Coastguard to assist the yachts – one 38ft and the other 30ft.
Conditions were benign so the lifeboat and her crew only took 5 minutes to reach the casualty vessels.
Having ascertained that none of the crew were injured, 2 lifeboat crewman were transferred to the smaller of the 2 yachts which had a broken mast to help make her safe.
Once this was done, the larger of the 2 yachts headed to Gosport Marina to be checked over and the dismasted yacht made her way under her own power to Chichester.
The Alfred Albert Williams returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 13:30.
How do you collide on such a clear calm day?
No lookout and or a gross level of incompetence, good idea to look up colregs to see which Yacht had the right of way.
You being a North East sailor perhaps you can explain to us landlubbers the colregs and who had right of way please.
Vessel which has the other on her starboard side must give way.
Thank you . It now clarifies the situation. Someone’s insurance will get a hefty hit.
You are assuming both were under sail – if not the one under sail has the right of way over the one under motor even if it is ‘motor sailing’.
If one was overtaking the other the requirement for the overtaking vessel to keep clear supersedes the other rules. (There are some exceptions such as vessels not under command, anchored, fishing or under tow). I’m not sure if towing a dinghy counts – probably not but you would need to have the appropriate day signals on the yacht towing the dinghy.
Rule 5 requires that “every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation.
Hi Ed. Is my post going to be printed
Looking at the sea state it makes you wonder how this happened even if one boat crew wasn’t keeping a look out.
Because two boat crews weren’t keeping a lookout.
I took part as crew during the round the island race, our Captain was an RYA instructor and the amount of near misses we had was incredible, One rather well to do plumb in mouth crew suggested “Give way we are racing” Our Captn responded “It’s my right of way” why don’t you observe colregs, other crew responded – What are you on about?
Idiot. Why don’t you start looking at the Bigger picture. Your comments on Islandecho suggest you are on some form of mmedication. I will expect the usual deranged comment from you.
Zak’s mate lol
Who is Zac.?
12.15pm?, dinner time, no wonder!
LoL at the arm chair sailors commenting.