2011 Cowes Week Crash - Skipper in Court

[Gypsyclubjuggler]

You may recall Cowes Week 2011 'someone' tried to squeeze a J120 across the bows of an incoming 260m tanker:



The skipper, ex-RN, is in court at the moment. Apparently he reckons it was the tanker pilot's fault.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24463746

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10726311.Sailor_accused_of_crashing_boat_into_tanker/

For info, Southampton Water wher it joins the Solent has several 'precautionary zones' and 'prohibited zones' enforced by bylaw whereby a skipper shall not sail within an area 200m x 1000m ahead of incoming vessels over 150m LOA: http://www.royal-southern.co.uk/Portals/0/Article_Racing_2010/ABP_bylaws_10%20_11_and_NtoM_No3.pdf

 

[SloopJonB]

Yeah - good luck with that. Flea Baily couldn't pull that off.

 

[One eye Jack]

When at fault.. Try to blame others for your blatant FU. The only thing that the pilot did was have a coronary hoping to God that everybody was ok. This skipper could care less about anything or anybody to try a stunt like this and needs to have an attitude adjustment. I hope the pilot will be able to speak in open court to explain to this jerk about the laws of gravity and physics. Don't people get it? It's only a frickin boat race.

 

[grouchyIRL]

I thought it was a corby.

 

[NoStrings]

Don't you guys get really punitive fines for crossing the shipping lanes at the wrong time or wrong angle or such? I'm thinking this nitwit is going to get pasted.

 

[LeKa]

• 11:13am
  
  Mr Wilson is now in court 6. He is wearing a pin stripe suit and a red striped tie.
  

Wonder why its is important to know what the skipper is wearing in court?

 

[Oz Scout Sailor]

I use this video all the time to teach kids to stay away from ferries, tankers etc.

I would like to say thank you to the skipper for this perfect demonstration of what not to do. You are saving lives by your commitment to stupidity and allow me to to offer my condolences at not winning a Darwin Award. Better luck next time!

 

[couchsurfer]

Yeah - good luck with that. Flea Baily couldn't pull that off.

.

.......only Guy Fawkes would try!

 

[damp_freddie]

In the UK there is a culture for counter-accusation to the Maritime Safety Agency-

I believe it is probably lawyer's advice which leaked over from assault cases where the offending thug's lawyers try to get charges laid against the innocent party who was defending themselves.

Worse, often skippers of commercial craft maneuvering in restricted waters where they have right of way, who have met Tilly Hatted Twats (WAFIs) or poorly marked diving sites, get accused out of the blue of what was someone else's lack of knowledge of the collision regulations and the sea chart.

Video evidence is just a tad' decisive in this case IMHO

 

[ncsc2]

No way it was the skippers fault. Firstly the horn from the stupid tanker must have been really distracting, making it hard to think. Secondly, the spinnaker trimmer wasn't doing his job. With the spin drawing properly instead of luffing he would have had at least 6 inches to spare.

 

[Nixon]

Ummm, the ship changed course. Yes he appeared to be inside the exclusion zone, but apparently thought he could pass clear ahead - until the tankler altered cource to port.

Has anyone here, who actually sails, ever been inside an exclusion zone while racing? In this case it is a box 200m wide and 1000m in front of the ship.

 

[SloopJonB]

Ummm, the ship changed course. Yes he appeared to be inside the exclusion zone, but apparently thought he could pass clear ahead - until the tankler altered cource to port.

Has anyone here, who actually sails, ever been inside an exclusion zone while racing? In this case it is a box 200m wide and 1000m in front of the ship.

I'm not sure what you are saying there - are you actually defending the skipper of the sailboat?

 

[Skipper734]

Three things that are surplus on a Racing Yacht. An umbrella, a ladder and a Naval Officer!

 

[Nixon]

Ummm, the ship changed course. Yes he appeared to be inside the exclusion zone, but apparently thought he could pass clear ahead - until the tankler altered cource to port.

Has anyone here, who actually sails, ever been inside an exclusion zone while racing? In this case it is a box 200m wide and 1000m in front of the ship.

I'm not sure what you are saying there - are you actually defending the skipper of the sailboat?

I am suggesting that:

1. Crossing into an exclusion zone is frequently done while racing - not condoning it, just saying that it is something that is frequently done.

2. You really should rtfa

3. Why the lynch mob attitude?

SJB: Do you race anywhere near commercial vessles? Have you ever been inside, even marginally, the exlusion zone of a commercial vessle? Put the engine on to get out of the way?

 

[SloopJonB]

Ummm, the ship changed course. Yes he appeared to be inside the exclusion zone, but apparently thought he could pass clear ahead - until the tankler altered cource to port.

Has anyone here, who actually sails, ever been inside an exclusion zone while racing? In this case it is a box 200m wide and 1000m in front of the ship.

I'm not sure what you are saying there - are you actually defending the skipper of the sailboat?

I am suggesting that:

1. Crossing into an exclusion zone is frequently done while racing - not condoning it, just saying that it is something that is frequently done.

2. You really should rtfa

3. Why the lynch mob attitude?

SJB: Do you race anywhere near commercial vessles? Have you ever been inside, even marginally, the exlusion zone of a commercial vessle? Put the engine on to get out of the way?

Everyone in Vancouver sails around large ships - English Bay is a roadstead anchorage as well as the entrance to the harbour. There is constant traffic - everything from log tows through large ferries freighters & cruise ships all the way to the New Jersey once. Most of us are smart enough & seamanlike enough to stay out of their way. Some aren't and there are occasional rundowns & deaths.

 

[Peelman]

At about 20" is that a MOB on the stbd side of the sailboat?

 

[Grinder]

Yes. Later retrieved by another boat, unharmed. I would have shit my shorts.

 

[LeKa]

At about 20" is that a MOB on the stbd side of the sailboat?

Yes.

Documented that one crew member jumped just before.

 

[TQA]

Best question yet from the defense lawyer went something like this;

"Did you at any time consider stopping and backing up to avoid the collision. ! "

Addressed to the pilot of the tanker doing 15=20 knots.