Ok, some power boat folk is good folks too.



But lemme paint the picture of the other day. Michael and I are one of only 2 boats in sight on a large intracoastal bay. On the horizon can be seen a small dot, the PWC. It comes from the horizon directly toward us (minding our own business) and buzzes within 15 feet, arcing his path so as to throw spray on us. Then he circled back around just to do donuts directly in front of us. This was an unprovoked ATTACK, not a conflict in understanding boat right of way rules.



This was ingorant pig behavior. It had nothing to do with understanding or not understanding the rules of the road. It has nothing to being an arrogant sailor demanding right of way. Heck, we had several SQUARE MILES of water to share with this single other craft. Sure, I've been in tight docking or channel situations with other boats. I know tempers can get short. Those situations are different.



If it's any consolation to the Inter 20....I used to work at a power boat marina and helped repair a power boat that had a huge hole in the side from being t-boned by PWC.



I don't see this as a power vs sail issue. It is larger than boating. The issue is etiquette in general. How we treat others and expect to be treated. The ol' golden rule thing.

Doesn't a powered vessel that needs to stay in the channel due to draft have right of way in the channel? If so there's another, and often occuring, situation where power has right of way over sail. A 30' power cruiser may have a 4' draft when not on plane which is usually the case coming into a harbor. One thing I find myself guilty of is passing too close to other boats, be it monohulls, boats that are fishing etc. Plan early and it takes very little deflection or an earlier or later tack and all is well.



We are lucky where we sail in that there is sailboat racing on four to five days per week and the local powerboaters are for the most part fantastic. Most often they will cut or reverse power and signal us to pass ahead. Many an assist for dismasting, capsize or sinking.



A recent incident, which we laugh about now, was at the CRAC Lighthouse Race last weekend. Just as the gun went off a LARGE monohull (sail) was under power passing through the starting line in the direction opposite to ours. I'm sure as he approached he was at ease seeing a bunch of cats parked and we were concentrating on the start. Well as the start sounded these cats accelarated like scalded dogs. The poor guys eye balls blew up like bowling balls and he panicked, turning to avoid us. Of course once he started turning things got interesting real quick. Being racers our reaction, those real close, was to yell head up, head up. He continued his turn and our boats bore off until everybody was happy and going the same way. We lost some height on the layline and some boat lengths but no hard feelings.

Barry,





wow,..what a picture,....nice yellow color though.



Did you fix it,.....get new hull,...?





You all should come down here,....very few jetskis,.



..too much wind and waves,.......they stay inside the reef,...



...in fact,..that waves are such that most powerboats under 30' just cruise by,......it is those MegaYacht things that get in the way down here,....

..

In the 2001 BVI spring regatta,...a particularly huge one ( with a helicopter or 2 , you know the type),....went thru the course ( of course),......the waves were square after that for about an hour.....





Bruce



St. Croix.

generally, limited maneuvaribility refers to large commercial boats that take a long time to stop or are difficult to turn. a 30' power cruiser does not fall into this category.a 30' power cruiser that has to stay in the channel can still slow down or speed up. that is what a transmission is made to do. your car does it every time you drive it. we are not just talking about rules of the road now, we are talking about consideration of other people. i had some idiot behind me leaning on his horn because i wasn't sailing fast enough for him. what does leaning on the horn do besides piss me off.



i know we aren't supposed to advertise here, but i have invented a shotgun mount that attaches to the bridle (under the forestay) and the mast. it comes with a trigger extension that attaches to the tiller so that it can be operated while driving the boat. would anybody be interested in purchasing one of these great devices? there is a discount for purchases of ten or more, and right now, they come with a rebate for a box of 50 rounds of winchester ammunition.