I had an incident with a boat yesterday morning while sailing at Point Walter that I thought I would share as a reminder to stay well away from boats in the river! I was sailing back from the Claremont side of the river toward Point Walter around 11:30 am and found myself on a collision course with a large boat heading towards the city. I hoped initially that he would slow as, in theory, I had the right of way but of course he was a boat and bigger and did not slow and so I had to take action to avoid him. I should have jumped off but instead tried to sail downwind and behind him, but I had not seen his tender on a long line that was being pulled behind. I hit the rope that was towing the tender and came off. I dived underwater, my sail was run over by the tender and destroyed (pic attached). I was lucky enough not to be harmed and the board is also fine.

After the incident the boat did stop briefly, but only for him to come back and insist that it was all my fault and not his. He then motored off leaving me in the middle of the river with no ability to sail home. Thankfully another boat came past after 10 mins or so, saw me swimming home and offered me a lift. Thought I would share as this is another cautionary tail about the dangers of sailing in the river when boats are about!

Chris