Hitting an anchored boat in a sparsely populated anchorage while under sail

[Chotu]

I can’t believe what I just saw.

I just saw somebody "sailing" into an anchored boat with 2 (qty) 360 degree lights and a strobe on it. Deck level.

They sailed right into it and panicked.

I heard the woman yell, "we gotta get out of here!"

I only wish I could identify them. It’s past sunset and it was too dark. They smashed right into a boat. Started flailing around. Yelled "turn on the engine we got to get out of here!" And took off.

Hit and run.

this was probably a 60 or 65 foot boat that was anchored. And a 38 foot or so maybe 40 foot boat that hit it.

guess it really doesn’t matter what anchor light you have. not with these kind of people out there.

[Chotu]

I got up on deck so they were sure that mine was occupied. They were about to come off and hit mine on the next tack. But they changed their entire approach when they saw me with my camera ready. they just stayed on the tack they were on after hitting the other boat and backed the Genoa and motored out of it. Instead of following through toward me which they started to do.

[Chotu]

and from a completely different point of view, I’m looking over at this other boat. It has double 360 lights. Deck level. And a strobe a little bit above deck level.

I am not as convinced about these deck level lights as a lot of people on the forum. When I look over there, it kind of looks like it’s buildings and may be a radio tower. In the distance.

I don’t think anyone should forgo their proper masthead light.

I have a dinky all around white light while I have no mast, but I light up the boat like crazy otherwise so it looks like a boat.

[rslifkin]

In my mind, anchor lights shouldn't be at deck level, any deck lighting should be additional. The primary anchor light (or lights if you follow the 2 light pattern) should be high enough that they're visibly above the shape of the boat (doesn't necessarily mean masthead). That should make them stand out the most I think.

[Montanan]

Chotu, perhaps their genoa obscured their vision of the anchored boat. Can't see through those big pieces of fabric, particularly at night.

[Chotu]

The first picture here is naturally what it looks like. I actually had to edit the picture quite a bit to get it to look like reality. I had to make it darker. That’s what it really looks like outside looking at this boat. My iPhone went into super night vision mode and took the second picture. It's actually completely dark in Florida right now. The boat you see way in the back with the Port bow light shining at you? That’s the one that hit it.

i’m starting to see how they maybe weren’t able to see the boat. No masthead light. The 360° deck level lights blend right into the buildings. And if you look at that bright white colored light at the top? That’s a strobe. I caught it on rather than off for the picture.

That strobe light looks an awful lot like a radio tower strobe or something with the city background. I think those are usually red, but while you are sailing you might not think of the color.

but that one thing you are supposed to notice is that unmistakable stripe going from your boat to the anchored boat in the water. That’s pretty well visible. Jury is out on this one.

[Chotu]

wow. They just came through the Anchorage again. They caught my attention because the genoa was flapping and flapping and flapping. They are just weaving in and out of the boats here. Practicing I guess. In the dark. They are coming very close to the other boats (and hit at least one)

Now all nav lights are off too.

This is unbelievable.

PS: This picture is super iPhone night vision. I couldn’t see anywhere near as well as this picture shows. It’s dark out. Completely dark out. The camera added all of the detail.

[team karst]

Where is this?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by team karst

Where is this?

I can tell once I leave. I don’t want to tell my exact location until I leave somewhere. Internet safety.

I’ll be leaving next week so I can tell next Thursday or Friday.

[RaymondR]

The owner of the boat they hit gave them an out with the strobe light.

[JPA Cate]

Chotu, don't they have water police you could phone? or the CG? Or a VTS nearby you could raise via VHF? It wouldn't matter if you scared them.

Or you can wait till they've settled in your anchorage, and go by close enough to get the rego, on your way out.

Ann

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Chotu, don't they have water police you could phone? or the CG? Or a VTS nearby you could raise via VHF? It wouldn't matter if you scared them.

Or you can wait till they've settled in your anchorage, and go by close enough to get the rego, on your way out.

Ann

A good case for a loud Hailer. I would have liked to at least yelled at them to put on their navigation lights flying through the Anchorage several times. Hitting things.

i’m sure there are water police. Coast Guard. All sorts of stuff. But I didn’t expect them to come back. Getting the pictures was more on my agenda. They are not going to be anchoring here. They are off of a dock I am sure. I’m in a very large bay. There are tons of boats here. This is just a far corner of the bay. They are clearly just sailing around on a Saturday night for fun locally. trying to learn how to tack and things like that, which they haven’t quite mastered. They will be getting really good at sail repair however. Lol it’s gusting to like 18 kn. That’s enough to slam the Genoa around quite a bit. And that’s what keeps attracting my attention. It’s flailing hard. that unmistakable sound of a sailboat out of control.

they appear to be gone for now. Hopefully they are done for the night.

[Benz]

At least they couldn't make the boat they hit any uglier....there's some comfort there.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Benz

At least they couldn't make the boat they hit any uglier....there's some comfort there.

I'm dead. Ha ha ha

it’s a restoration project or something. I don’t know. I’ve only seen the owner there once. But just the rest of this whole story. Kind of insane tonight out here.

[Boatguy30]

Looks like that old Samson fero? Can take a few hits.