Yacht hit by tanker off Cowes, Isle of Wight

Whilst the Extreme Racing series was entertaining the crowds at this years' Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, the supertanker hit a yacht which was then dismasted as its spinnaker sail was snagged by the ship's anchor.

The Marine Knutsen supertanker was being guided by a pilot boat into Southampton docks and was making its presence known by repeatedly sounding its horn. By one yacht didn't seem to give itself enough time to clear the massive boat and was hit before having its mast and rigging ripped off when one of its sail got caught in the supertankers anchor.

The yacht was quickly attended by several vessels offering assistance. It's not know if anyone was hurt.

The incident was captured by Tim Addison for COWES.co.uk

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• cowes
• week
• 2011
• aberdeen
• asset
• management
• isle
• of
• wight
• solent
• supertanker
• dismasted
• yacht
• tim addison
• tanker

[cjeam9199]

@MegaNinjasquirrels Nope. The tanker was being led by a pilot boat, it warned the other vessels, it's restricted by its draft, it can't carry out any manoeuvres or stop. The yatch tried to cross the bow way too late and literally had the wind taken out of its sails. The tanker probably didn't even know it had hit anything.

[nikolausmunich]

@ESEAvid Applicable are the local Southampton Harbour Bye-laws which give ships over 150m a "moving prohibited zone" which extends 1000m ahead and 150m either side. Only excuse would be, if the sailing boat had lost navigation before entering the mpz.

[sakahowdah]

Um, common sense would tell me that's a pretty dumb-ass place to sail. Especially race.

[wcresponder]

was that a man overboard @ 0:20 ?

[857frank]

@phil01104 No casual violence, punishment shall be administered in accordance with club rules viz. the tying of the accused to the mast, delivering controlled lashes in the presence of a doctor until agreement is extracted that the yacht club has priority in the Solent.

[VanissarN]

@phil01104 I doubt he would knock me out. Wouldn't want to get his hands dirty. And I don't think he could anyway. I stand 6"3 after all, even if I am slim. I'm not easy to KO.

I'm not exactly going to shy away from someone who refers to himself as "my good self" and his fellows as "club member"s.

+ He's just being an antagonistic bastard, see his use of "busy" in his latest comment. He plainly has no idea how much it costs to run a ship of that size and how not being on schedule costs.

[phil01104]

@VanissarN tell you what mate wether a pleb,upper class prick or troll i bet he'd knock fuck out of you for calling him that,mind you you wouldn't face to face would ya.........Frank what a fucking name says it all Tosser!

[857frank]

@VanissarN The "flattening" or attempt to flatten my good self or any club member by a tanker would result in the captain's instant dismissal and suspension of the company's activities and is not a thing to be wished.

The club has moved to introduce a 1000m prohibited zone around races in future which should resolve the issue as working class vessels incorporate the new rule into their "busy" schedules.

That is the end of the matter and it is not subject to impertinent back-chat.

[VanissarN]

@857frank You are a fucking pleb. You are either a troll or a upper class prick who expects tankers to stand on their bow while you pass a meter in front of them drinking Pimms.

The tanker was in the right here. She was limited by her draft and moveability, she's being steered by a local pilot with a pilot boat in front and a tug roped astern. Everything there is right.

On your point, the clubs have no power to deny vessels access to the Solent. I'd like to see you flattened by a tanker.

[VanissarN]

@MrHunsch1 She's running backwards. That's not to assist in turning, that's to use her power to stop the Tanker.She can't assist turning in that position, she would have to be at the front.

[ephoricone]

@cjeam9199 This is the correct answer. Sailboats may have the "right of way" but a tanker is restricted by draft and is FORCED to stay within the channel to prevent running aground. The sounds of the ship's horn show that they know that stupid sailboat is in the way, they are standing on the bridge wings and can see down the side of the ship.

When I've carried sensitive cargo the pilot will tell the Coast Guard escorts to remove sailboats from the channel by towing or whatever means needed.

[181dirk]

saw this boat in hambul before the the fastnet not a scratch on her... structural damage.. im sure, but no visible scratches of orange on her