Two boats collide near Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour

www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-01/two-boats-collide-in-sydney-harbour/7063326

Correct that to read "Idiot going too fast in power boat rams into yacht, then fails to render assistance and leaves the scene of the incident."

What a prick and I'll bet he was drunk!!

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cisco said...

Correct that to read "Idiot going too fast in power boat rams into yacht, then fails to render assistance and leaves the scene of the incident."

What a prick and I'll bet he was drunk!!

Did you actually read the article Cisco?
I didn't take it as speed being an issue, by the type of operation the boat was used for I doubt alcohol was an issue and I certainly didn't read that the skipper left the scene without rendering assistance.

Pretty weird that a boat assist boat would crash into a yacht .id be pretty upset if that was my yacht .saw 2 guys recently near there fishing and drifting. Alot of wind and while 1 remained fishing the other was trying to start engine. Meanwhile i saw them bounce off 4 boats as they were blown into them. Syd harbour is full of these idiots and gets a wide berth from me til silly seasons done.

I read on a news feed somewhere yesterday that the boat tee-boned the yacht at 10 kts . the driver of the power boat was waving to a person on a third vessel. and was distracted . the power boat was stuck in the side of the yacht !


its very easy to hit stuff on the water , so we have to keep watch ALL THE TIME .


one trap for sailing vessels is stuff "sneaking up on you" from behind your Genoa

Yeah hit at 10knots supposedly. Left a gaping hole in side of what looks like a pretty nice bene or something. Power boat drivers are the most complacent on the harbour from what ive seen. Its baffling Considering they must be licensed etc. Im constantly manouvering myself and looking out for whats around. With no AP/constantly on the tiller and sails up its hard work in the harbour especially on a busy day.

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Toph said..


Did you actually read the article Cisco?
I didn't take it as speed being an issue, by the type of operation the boat was used for I doubt alcohol was an issue and I certainly didn't read that the skipper left the scene without rendering assistance.

Yep, I did read the full article and watch the vid. At the end of the article it says:-

"It was stuck there for a few minutes before other boats came to the scene and the two boats came apart."Soon after that the smaller boat left the scene."Police and the boat company both declined to comment.

Sounds sus to me.

The power boat was lodged into the yacht. Thats why they were stuck. Not too sus. Sounds like he was motoring at about 10knots not looking where he's going. Happens all the time. People focused on everything else except what theyre doing in the present time.
Then theres those that dont care. Just in front of cockatoo theres quite a big expanse of water. I went out 1 day in 30+knots in the bluebird double reefs number 4 sail to show the new buyer how well she went in that kinda weather. not 1 boat to be seen anywhere. From the harbour comes a big charter launch. Captains with lapels and officers shirts on motoring straight into my path, not respecting the starboard rule or the sails up rule at all. he came within metres off my bow. Not another vessel in sight but he just couldnt be arsed to change course slightly for us. All too common and its the only thing that makes the harbour tedious. Otherwise its a pretty special place to sail.

I'm not saying the pwr boat isn't at fault. I just think calling him a drunken prick that was speeding is a bit of a stretch. Inattension certainly seems to be a factor.

Without seeing a video of the actual collision, it looks to me like the sails are all nicely furled and Main too neatly in its bag to suggest it was under sail. That says to me that the pwr boat was the stand-on vessel (yes I'm aware that that doesn't translate to right of way/give way). The yacht here could well be the culprit of this accident.

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Toph said..
I'm not saying the pwr boat isn't at fault. I just think calling him a drunken prick that was speeding is a bit of a stretch. Inattension certainly seems to be a factor.

Without seeing a video of the actual collision, it looks to me like the sails are all nicely furled and Main too neatly in its bag to suggest it was under sail. That says to me that the pwr boat was the stand-on vessel (yes I'm aware that that doesn't translate to right of way/give way). The yacht here could well be the culprit of this accident.

Good point. the yacht maybe in the wrong. By the sounds of the punters at cockatoo, the driver of boat assist was looking elsewhere. i really do wonder though who would be at fault - legally.

I imagine Sydney harbour has a lot of traffic on it and you would feed to keep a constant lookout

We have the same issues down here on the Huon





Regards Don

Dont complain too much about power boat drivers, they come in handy when one runs aground

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Toph said..

That's priceless Toph....but lets see if HE"S still laughing when you knock on his door.

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Toph said..
I'm not saying the pwr boat isn't at fault. I just think calling him a drunken prick that was speeding is a bit of a stretch. Inattension certainly seems to be a factor.

Without seeing a video of the actual collision, it looks to me like the sails are all nicely furled and Main too neatly in its bag to suggest it was under sail. That says to me that the pwr boat was the stand-on vessel (yes I'm aware that that doesn't translate to right of way/give way). The yacht here could well be the culprit of this accident.

Forgetting whose at fault here am I correct in saying that the only way the stand on vessel can be at fault is if she changed course where a collision was immenent and the change of course was not to avoid a collision.

Hard to know what happened here. I suspect the power boat might have approached the yacht from abaft the beam of the yacht. Overtaking rules maybe?
The give way vessel should manoeuvre to avoid collision. The stand on vessel should stand on until a collision appears imminent unless it manoeuvres to avoid it when it is obliged to avoid the collision. It is a tricky situation and often not clearcut.

I think Ill fit a Swanson 400 under the bow spit

or a Tyfon 425

or a pair of these bad boys Sands


or the three queens

Hg thats a ...........................GREAT VID !!!!!

you have inspired me to checkout the honker i have in the shed

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SandS said..
Hg thats a ...........................GREAT VID !!!!!

you have inspired me to checkout the honker i have in the shed

I think Shaggy will need one Sands on his bow Specially when hes planing

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MorningBird said...
The give way vessel should manoeuvre to avoid collision. The stand on vessel should stand on until a collision appears imminent unless it manoeuvres to avoid it when it is obliged to avoid the collision. It is a tricky situation and often not clearcut.

The other thing you missed in the rule you quoted above is that the stand on vessel may take such action by its manoeuvre alone to avoid collision (as soon as it becomes apparent the other vessel is not taking sufficient avoiding action).
And, then if the two vessels are so close as collision can not be avoided by the actions of the give way vessel alone the stand on shall take such action as to aid in the avoidance of collision.

The other one that will get you is:

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International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea said... Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

It's likely both could be somewhat at fault and it would result in apportioned liability.

heres a couple of good articles from the UK

www.fslawstudies.com/articles/article%203.pdf

in this one, the stand on vessel was apportioned 20% liability.

www.gard.no/web/updates/content/51929/english-law-apportionment-of-liability-in-collision-cases-and-the-dilemma-of-the-stand-on-vessel

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Toph said..
I'm not saying the pwr boat isn't at fault. I just think calling him a drunken prick that was speeding is a bit of a stretch. Inattension certainly seems to be a factor.

Without seeing a video of the actual collision, it looks to me like the sails are all nicely furled and Main too neatly in its bag to suggest it was under sail. That says to me that the pwr boat was the stand-on vessel (yes I'm aware that that doesn't translate to right of way/give way). The yacht here could well be the culprit of this accident.

Regardless of the right of way rules it is the duty of all vessel masters to take whatever measures necessary to avoid collisions.

The yacht was not moving under sail alone and therefore is classified as a motor vessel. The other vessel approached it from it's starboard side presenting it's port side which indicates the yacht is the give way vessel.

However with that approach configuration, the speed of the motor boat at 10 knots, the impossibility of the yacht travelling at 10 knots, the indication is that the motor boat was an overtaking vessel approaching the other vessel from abaft the other vessel's beam thereby being the give way vessel.

One must ask the question, were the masters of both vessels tested for breath alcohol levels immediately after the incident??? I am sure whichever insurance companies are involved will be asking that question.

I think it is highly unlikely that the behaviour of the master of the yacht is the cause of this incident.

Its difficult to know who is "most" to blame here.

I guess its just a blessing no one was seriously hurt or killed.

Its interesting the water police are staying silent

Did the Caribbean on Disney Magic. Unfortunately as seen in this video, the older Magic only knows one song. Great spot though, Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, Disney's private Island which was a former drug runners stop.

This was always going to happen there-

www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes



Very sad to see injuries. ..one serious.

Jet skis really need a space just for them

Can't stand the things....i get bored of riding 1 in no time.

+1^ :)

Golden rule is if your boat is involved in collision yo have breached the colregs. Not a good look for Boat Assist which took over when SeaTow closed down. Ruined the day for the yachtie and I wonder if the BoatAssist employee still has a job.

Golden rule is if your boat is involved in collision yo have breached the colregs. Not a good look for Boat Assist which took over when SeaTow closed down. Ruined the day for the yachtie and I wonder if the BoatAssist employee still has a job. Both boats are under motor.