8o degrees and 10-12 knots of wind on Boca Ciega Bay. On the final beat back to the club out on the wire, I was about to cross in front of a power boat. The power boat sped up to cross in front of me and as just I was crossing his stern I saw he was towing a section of floating dock. His wake completly obliterated the tow and I tried to head up to stop. But it was too late and I crashed into the dock breaking off the port hull at the crossbar. Luckily ,I only damaged my elbow but did not break it. Skipper survived, boat totaled.

I would sue his butt off!! Hate a^** that don't care about sailboats

Doug
Hobie 17

Was he flying any kind of signal that indicated that he was encumbered?

I'm not a maritime lawyer, but I'm pretty sure you'd have a case for at least damages on your hands.

There's a good reason we call them stinkpots.

Hope you got a report and I hope the idiot had insurance!

Pretty basic, you had right of way. Well, maybe you can get a new XJ or A2!

The tow was about a foot above the water and was essentialy invisable in the boats wake. The sheriff's department maritime police said there is no requirement to flag the tow. Also a tow is a right of way boat and a sailboat is a right of way boat so did not know in this situation which one would be burdened. I guess the insurance companies will have to fight it out.

International maritime law requires a signal, at least that was what they teached at maritime basic officer training 13 years ago. During night, he should have shown two white lights for a short tow, at daytime I think it is two black diamonds to signal the length of the tow.
If he speeded up to pass in front of you, he should also have given sounds signals when he realised you was in danger (5 short blasts I seem to remember).
Maritime law is very well organized, and cover most situations. Unless you have some local rules overriding international maritime law, it was not your fault, unless he flied the proper signals and gave sounds signals as you approached danger. I would have checked it out as you had substantial damage.

Sorry to hear about the damage to your boat, but good to hear that you was not injured worse!

GISCO - You should consult the U.S. Coast Guard Collision Regulations (COLREGS) rule 24. The requirements are pretty clear for inland and international waters. Your sheriff's maritime department is wrong. Just Google USCG COLREGS. It's all there.

Before you go getting lawyers you should consider how much your boat is worth$$, how long you want to deal with this frustration, and how much the lawyer is going to cost??? Just because you want to settle this issue does not mean the powerboat guy does. The longer he can drag this out the more likely you will give up due to frustration with the legal system. It simetimes can take 5 years to get to court only to find out the other side has new representation and require a continuance to become familar with the case...depending on whether the judge will or will not grant it.

thom

Regardless of "right of way" each boat is burdened to not hit the other, if you were going to clearly cross him and then he sped up, he basicaly ran into you with his tow. He could have just as easily slowed, let you go by, then continued.

Gordie's got (had?) a brand new beautiful A-Class. This is a litigious society and there are frivolous lawsuits out there, but this isn't one.

Glad you weren't hurt, Gordie - hope the insurace works out quickly so you can get back on the water as the season heats up.

For those of you who don't know Gordie, he's the nicest, most even-tempered and helpful guy I know - a real stand-out in a sport crowded with nice guys.

Oh, and he made this:

Gordo,

Man, I'm sorry to hear it. Good to hear there is no serious injuries.

Mike Hill

Gordie, glad to hear you are OK. Boats can be replaced, sailors can not.

Additional credits for Gordon, He was the Founder and Developer for the US SAILING Fast and Fun program, while Chair of the US SAILING Multihull Council.

Caleb Tarleton

Gordon:

Hope you get it all worked out. Hope your injury will be okay. Even though small it can still be a pain. I am really sorry to hear about you having a problem. Waiting anxiously to hear that you are back on the water.

Later,
Dan

Make them buy you a new A2.

SWEET justice!!!

That will be my next boat

Best of luck.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17

I make it a point to give all motor boats a wide berth while sailing. I have had too many close calls in the past both on the open ocean and in the harbor. My theory for this is a.) Most people that are driving motor boats are oblivious to what is going on around them. b.) Most motor boaters are oblivious to the rules of the road. c.) Most motor boaters are oblivious as to what a sailboat has to do to avoid them. To them a motorboat is a car that floats – a “no brainer”. On the other hand, I have met some motor boaters that are very considerate to sailboats - they are mostly the skippers of committee boats.

Good luck, and let us know what the outcome is. I would like to see who has final jurisdiction on the “who is at fault” discussion.

I have fond memories of duking it out with Gordie trying to make A mark first. That laugh he has is contaigous. Hope the dispute is settled quickly and you're back on the water.

I also give plenty of room to powerboats, as few of them are aware of the rules of the road, and more importantly, the speed at which today's multihulls travel.

At Hiram's Haul a few years ago, I was almost bi-sected by the Coast Guard Auxilliary boat. We crash gybed after the 40+ powerboat turned into our predicted course and sped up, closing the gap to less than a boatlength at their cruising speed (close to 10 kts). Upon our notice, they responded "maintain course & speed".

At the distance they were when we crash gybed (with the spin up on one hull trapped out, nonetheless), I'm sure they were inspecting the washing instruction tag on our lifejackets.

In contrast, I've had more close calls with sailors who are 1) under power with no rags flying, 2) under power with their main up(***), 3) driving race committee boats.

(***) This is the best of both worlds gets ROW from all the uninformed.

*Non-Short Story* (Regarding #1 Above)
There are two instances in the following ramblings that illustrate my lack off comfort about the monomorans. About a month ago I was out introducing a co-working to sailing and cat sailing. It was a perfect late afternoon for introducing someone to sailing, light wind, no waves, no other boats until later; it was a Wednesday afternoon. Just enough breeze downwind to fly the hull with that powerful RacerX womper, I was sitting to leeward and new guy was driving. A closet catamaraner was anchored on his mono and on our way by we had polite discussion and he offered us beer if we needed any. So being a responsible dual-hauler, we continued upwind set that checkered thing of beauty, and headed for his stern, never one to refuse a free beer. He saw us coming. Perhaps it was a little bit ambitious on my part to think we could grab two beers while wildthingin'. He completely misjudged our rate of advancement. He had good form. However, he clearly aimed for the tramp instead of the hot green. The beers had splash down about 10 feet behind us. We could call into question his coordination and his ability to execute. But I don't think that would be fair to him. He showed excellent reaction time and ability to immediately leap into the murky, pee-warm, jellyfish laden river and retrieve the beers. He also showed keenness in that he ordered his boat babe to retrieve two fresh beers, since the West River sodden beers would simple not do. While we put on a boat parking display, he couldn’t stop commenting on our earlier flyby and remarking about how greaaat our sails where. I told him where he could get a set for himself. So finally we back out little ship up, preceded to starboard tack and promptly snagged the seat cushions he had tethered off his stern. Of course this is easily remedied, but upon his insistence to unsnarl us he almost received a nasty gash from the tip of the rudder blade on its way to releasing the seat cushions.

The second instance that evening we were sailing back to the club, moving fairly well considering the breeze, on port tack right along the docks at Pirates Cove. A 35’-40’ boat, had finished the race, had her sails put away with the main covered and was under power heading for her slip at Pirates Cove. When the “Lurch” look-a-like standing at the mast made a big show of where they intended to head, I made a big sweeping jester with my right hand at the incredible display of modern canvas that was rapidly placing us on our collision course. Our bowsprit would impale their overweight thingy about 3 meters from their bow (Like the metric use?). Probably resulting in empting their head. Fester, standing at the wheel, decided to show his quick wit and offered “but we are doing 8 knots.” Of course my having not thin sliced the characters we were dealing with, I replied, “So are we and what does that have to do with it?” Amazingly, Gomez was sitting in the **** being confidently quite. Thing, on the other hand, sorry, popped up from below providing us with a NY style howdy. Fester, in a joyous, overly confident state from his seconds earlier obvious verbal victory, offered “but we are blah, blah tons, what does that weigh 300#s?” Still not having come to a reasonable mind, I replied “try 800# and this particular model has been known to disable a Kevlar hull.” I know I’m a little slow, and not to quick, I finally decided to pinch a little and easy a little and let them pass. After all, our inclusion into the sailing community as a whole is a fragile existence. Cousin It, having now appeared on the scene at their transom, and obviously having not looked straight up asked, “Is that an A-cat?” For if he had looked straight up, Cousin It would have been able to see the “n” instead of the “A”. My reply was simple, “This is no A-cat. If it were, we would already be at the bar. Hope to see you there!”

We did have nice discussion or two with some other monos that were racing, and they were even being considerate with regards to our intentions. We did avoid them while they were racing. Simple sailing threw their lee.

He already had a brand new Flyer from AHPC.
I'm glad your OK Gordon and I hope everything works out with your cat.

FYI The power boat has been cited.

Sweet Lady Justice - she must be pregnant. She's a week late.