Yacht collision off Cowes

[j.sabourn]

Same area Brian. Going for Rosyth there were a couple of rigs laid up at anchor in the river. One called us up and said he had spotted a mine close to his leg. Went alongside and the Diving officer (Lt. Commander) said its ok John its only a practice one get it on board. I pulled it onboard with a schatt davit up the ships side. He stood on the focsle head shouting directions half a ships length away. We arrived alongside Rosyth Naval Base and was dark, never saw this mine going ashore and nobody ever reported the official state of same have always wondered if it really was a dud, and if it wasn't what it would have taken to detonate the same. I set a whole line of practice ones off just off Falmouth. Was going into the port at about 20 knots in the ships launch come liberty boat and went through a field and they all started bobbing to the surface, as some of the modern mines lie near the bottom and movement and other things bring them up. Had the harbour master chasing me in his launch for exceeding the 5 knot speed limit in the port confines. Was going to report me to authoritys and everything. He was all dolled up in full dress uniform, didn't help matters when I asked him if he was the deck chair attendant in front of a load of tourists hanging over the pier. Anyhow never heard anymore, went ashore the next day in the Z boat at about 30 knots and he couldn't catch us in any case. Cheers John Sabourn

[cappy]

ive nothing against our navy they are the pride of the sea but like the other navies in the world it always amazes me to sea the dozens of them fore and aft and every were else when there tying upon the size of a collier were old peggity forward and the deck boy aft would do the job cappy

[Captain Kong]

They always seem to have too many people in the wheelhouse. so the OOW doesnt quite get the feel of the surroundings and what is going on. It must cause some confusion,
We safely navigated 260,000 dwt tankers single handed with no problems, only in congested waters did we double up.
Brian

[j.sabourn]

Coming back into Cardiff after 3 days sea trials in the Bristol channel on the conversion of a supply vessel to an armed coastal protection vessel. After all things were accepted etc. the red ensign was pulled down and the White ensign put up. The bridge manning was then to RN standards. They had a QM, a bridge messenger, a telegraphist who if I remember was in this case the radar observer, and a CPO in charge, no officer on the bridge, when the pilot boarded he may have appeared then but as I was busy getting ready for going home never saw. Under our manning would have been myself only or the other watchkeeper. If cappy reading this if you played table tennis you would never be short of table tennis balls, as all void spaces and tanks were filled with these for reserve buoyancy. Believe they do this also on their naval vessels, good idea when you think about it, however wouldn't like to try and stay afloat with one in each hand. Cheers John Sabourn

[cappy]

think ive driven myself into a bit of amess it now sounds all balls cappy

[Keith at Tregenna]

Should have gone to Specsavers.

Moment ex-Royal Navy officer crashed yacht into bright red 120,000-ton oil tanker at Cowes

Read more: Former Royal Navy officer denies flouting maritime law after crashing yacht into bright red 120,000-tonne oil tanker | Mail Online

[Captain Kong]

What an arrogant clown, should not be allowed anywhere water.

[cappy]

scrambled egg all over his face cappy

[Keith Tindell]

thank god we have an airforce, poor old Nelson will have rolled over many times. I hope at the end of the trial, a stiff penalty is imposed. How the Pratt can plead not guilty, maybe he has not seen the footage, if so he must be the only one. i wonder who pays the expenses of the trial. KT

[john sutton]

it has been said that the 2 most useless things on a yacht are a wheelbarrow and a naval officer


as an aside you will note that the incidents are all from southerners.we northern yachtsmen have more sense and better manners

john sutton