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Post by chrise on Oct 19, 2009 14:52:32 GMT
Guys, I'm really glad that you enjoy going out to sea in tiny boats to catch big fish. I'm impressed, I really am. Could I as someone who fishes from his 23' boat and sails on a 38' yacht make a couple of observations? Please take this from someone who doesn't want to stop your activites, I just don't ever want to have to explain to loved ones how I happened to run you down. 1. I've seen (just) quite a few guys paddling up the main Needles fairway en route to the Needles. Do you know how invisible you are in any kind of a chop to someone travelling at 15 knots? I keep a good look out but it is really difficult to see you until I'm close especially when as at present the sun is low on the horizon. A bright vest or a flag or something would really help me see you. And keeping out of the main fairway makes sense for small craft. There are RIBs and other power boats doing 40+ knots up and down that piece of water. 2. I've read about some of the night trips and I wonder if and hope that you do have all have nav lights both for the trip out and back and whilst at anchor otherwise I won't see you. I've come across a couple of anglers paddling back through Hurst Narrows at night with no lights. It was only pure luck that I didn't hit them. It is especially true on the yacht as we're a long way from the front and just can't see objects about 2 foot above the sea at night. As an aside, I nearly hit an unlit 30 foot commercial fishing boat one night, so you can imagine how likely we are to see you. I hope you don't think that I'm lecturing, I'm just concerned about your safety. I'm really not a nanny  |
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Post by chris329a on Oct 19, 2009 16:17:31 GMT
Hiya,
As a yakker myself I do understand how we are seen by others in bad weather. That is why i have an orange 13 foot kayak, a flourescent yellow high viz pfd and the same on a flag pole when I'm out far. Even my paddle has bright blue ends which are constantly moving.
You are probably describing others who don't take their safety seriously, and in my opinion those people wouldn't be the sort of people who would read this. As far as night is concerned, virtually all of those who go out at night have a REALLY bright nav light (LED version) and solas tape - for example I even have reflective material in my grab rope that lights up like a christmas tree in the dark.
Whilst on this subject, there have been numerous occasions when some boats / yachts have nearly cut us up in the day time when we are clearly visible broad side and anchored with an orange marker buoy etc.
I personally can't see what more I could do to make myself more visible and in my case would question the ability of the skipper of any vessle that couldn't see me considering all I have done. I could have written the same about boats that are irresponsible and ignorant but know that these type of people wouldn't read this as they exactly that, ignorant. In my opinion all the people on here are here to promote safety and it wouldn't apply so I would be ranting at the wrong audience.
To sum this up I think that your point is valid for the less serious paddlers who don't go out much etc and don't care much about their / others safety.
You make a valid point towards these people however if you spent 10 minutes reading anglersafloat you will see how seriously we consider our safety.........
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Post by scotty on Oct 19, 2009 17:05:28 GMT
Good post cris! ;D
There is a very very small minority out there, that dont take kayak safety seriously(as with anything in life). You will find that the majority of kayakers have a very dim view of the minority and strive to educate safety.
I can say that every kayakfisherman i know does make an effort to make them selves more visible and certainly have a flag up when going further offshore also those that fish at night do have very bright nav lights and lots of solas tape to go with it.
Now if you cant see somone in a kayak with with high viz gear flag/light ect. then either your not paying attention or you need your eyes tested. Most pot boys dont have lights on, they're just empty oil bottles, but you can still see them in the day/night, so a kayak shouldnt be a problem!
Take a look on anglersafloat, i think then you'll realise safety is taken more seriously by kayakers than sailors!
how many people do you see out at see that arent wearing life jackets for instance? I too have had several yachts come close enough to trip my anchor line, is that safe?
tightlines, scotty.
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Post by richi on Oct 19, 2009 17:21:59 GMT
Most yakfishermen are cg66 registered along with their yak AND all the kit they carry,we take safety every bit as serious as boat owners,if not more.We need to! I personally use a Hi Viz PFD with solas on the shoulders and a flouro orange beanie.I own the same light as Chris which lighted up my lounge sufficiently during a power cut ;Dmine is also adorned with solas tape as are my rod holders,I also own a flouro flag.I carry flares,whistle,first aid kit,compass,gps,6 watt handheld VHF,mobile phone in a waterproof case and my kayak is red/yellow,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, But,,,,much as we try to educate( I've personally been involved in training over 50 yakfishermen) there will always be numptys that go out unprepared or without the right equipment,,,,,,just like all water sports  |
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Post by chrise on Oct 19, 2009 19:26:33 GMT
Good post cris! ;D There is a very very small minority out there, that dont take kayak safety seriously(as with anything in life). You will find that the majority of kayakers have a very dim view of the minority and strive to educate safety. I can say that every kayakfisherman i know does make an effort to make them selves more visible and certainly have a flag up when going further offshore also those that fish at night do have very bright nav lights and lots of solas tape to go with it. Now if you cant see somone in a kayak with with high viz gear flag/light ect. then either your not paying attention or you need your eyes tested. Most pot boys dont have lights on, they're just empty oil bottles, but you can still see them in the day/night, so a kayak shouldnt be a problem! Take a look on anglersafloat, i think then you'll realise safety is taken more seriously by kayakers than sailors! how many people do you see out at see that arent wearing life jackets for instance? I too have had several yachts come close enough to trip my anchor line, is that safe? tightlines, scotty. i'm very pleased to read that you take safety seriously. I'd just mention one point tho'. You may be able to see pot bouys easily from 1 foot off the sea. At night, in any kind of sea or no moon they are invisible to someone on the helm of a yacht standing maybe 50 foot away from the target. Now I sail a great deal at night and have yet to snag a bouy it but I know plenty of guys that have. My point is that don't assume that other sea users have the same perspective on an object that you do. Regarding the yottie that nearly hit your anchor line I can't say I'm surprised, there are numpties in all walks of life. Seriously have you considered an anchor ball? I know it sounds daft but there a few enough guys in fishing boats that fly them and I'll be honest and say that I'll come close a few times as it is not always obvious whether a boat is anchored, drifting or under way. The anchor ball makes this clear. Any ways best of luck guys, you must have iron consistitutions to sit out there with no shelter on anything other than the warmest of days. I'll give you a wave from Hilda Maud (my fishing boat) or Rival Spirit (the yacht) as we pass (hopefully not too close....) Chris |
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Post by richi on Oct 19, 2009 19:59:02 GMT
see ya at the spoil grounds :cheers: :catch:
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Post by chris329a on Oct 19, 2009 20:04:39 GMT
Whilst on this subject, there have been numerous occasions when some boats / yachts have nearly cut us up in the day time when we are clearly visible broad side and anchored with an orange marker buoy etc. No worries, we all tend to use warps as well so we can quickly throw the anchor line to help others / move out of the way. I'm glad that at least we can have an adult discussion about it as opposed to some sites that don't!  |
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Post by chris329a on Oct 20, 2009 14:54:45 GMT
see ya at the spoil grounds   I hope he does see us! haha |
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Post by yd on Oct 21, 2009 10:16:09 GMT
I think we carry more safety equipment than the average "Captain Pugwash" on his weekend jolly
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Post by chrise on Oct 23, 2009 7:56:13 GMT
I think we carry more safety equipment than the average "Captain Pugwash" on his weekend jolly You'd be surprised just how much safety gear the average yottie has on the yacht. A liferaft, lifejackets and harnesses, flares, EPIRBs, fixed radio, hand-held radio, climbing ladders, waterproof torches, dan buoy, rope cutters, bilge pumps, collision repair kits, spare nav lights, whistles, throw lines. That's a bit what I carry on every trip and I nearly forgot the plank for mutineers to jump off... |
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Post by yd on Oct 23, 2009 17:27:03 GMT
as you say "that's what YOU carry" thousands don't.
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Post by Sunny on Oct 24, 2009 11:07:18 GMT
EPIRBS are expensive... but the dogs-b*%%*£s if you are in trouble.... beats a VHF hands-down.
Gotta be the wisest investment I ever made... just hope I never get to use it !
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Post by olly on Oct 24, 2009 12:15:46 GMT
im all the way with what richis first post says
and if its hard for you to see us when your doing 15knts slow your speed to a safe speed that your eye sight can cope with
olly
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Post by maghouse on Oct 24, 2009 16:21:47 GMT
I have had 2 instances like this ... one gin palace could not care less as he throttled up as he neared me - forcing me to turn bow on to the wake ... appeared no-one in the driving seat ... tw@t  Out the other side of the forts in the Solent, I saw this boat hurtling towards me in the distance ... a good 200/300 yards away, he slowed right down, trundled past me, a crewman waved at me ... 200/300 yards past - throttled up again ... He clearly saw me from some distance off and did the right thing  A pilot launch - professional sailor - knew what he was looking for ... |
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Post by chrise on Oct 26, 2009 10:31:30 GMT
im all the way with what richis first post says and if its hard for you to see us when your doing 15knts slow your speed to a safe speed that your eye sight can cope with olly My eyesight is 20/20, the point is that you are small targets and if you don't realise it you are paddling into trouble. To be perfectly honest, the last thing I (and I suspect most other boaters) expect to see in a chop is a small boat miles from nowhere.Wearing something bright and carrying a flag means that I see you sooner thus avoiding some of the incidents related here by others. It's just the same for me and big ships. I make a point of: a. making my best efforts to make sure that they can see me via a radar reflector and b. keeping out of the way of commercial vessels, via keeping a good lookout, when crossing the channel Because at the end of the day I'll come off worse if they hit me. |
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