Sail Boats have the Right of Way?

[wassachu]

A few years back I fished off of Benica, CA in the straights of the beginning of the Sacramento River. I fished on the channels edge where the water depth went from 120' to 20'. We anchored and fished the bottom for Sturgeon and Stripers using different types of shrimp. On several occasions, sail boats would either cut across our bow near the anchor line or right across our stern around where our fishing lines were. I mean they were close. They don't have the right of way when I'm anchored. I felt like throwing something. The only good sail boat is the one without a vertical stick on it.!!!

[austin ensor]

I HATE SAIL BOATS!!!!!!!!

[john gov.]

Ha, that's funny. The sailboat doing about four knots with no engine sound and if he's tacking out the chanel it might seem close to you but to the sailor your just another object that he has to get around. You might as well be a rock or a dock so if he's tryimg to go against the wind you might be in his angle of attack, and he's going to fall of only as much as he has to. He probably has noticed the angle of you anchor line and knowing what his draft is he can cut it pretty close and make you pretty nervous. Same with the stern shot. Some wise ass just making up for all those large wakes thrown up by sportfishermen. You dish it out one way they dish it out another.
Me, I just love all boats except the ugly ones.
Have fun!
john gov.

[giggyfish]

Explain to me why sailboats have the need to tack on sail power in the inner harbors and channels when they can motor out into the open bay and then sail to their hearts content. I love watching sail boats tack over my lobster trap buoys (not in the channel) and watch them dissapear.
I lose 4-6 traps a year from these idiots who are sipping drinks in the back of their boats not watching where they are going. I don't want to pick on every sailboat but you should see the idiots that come out of hingham harbor.

[wassachu]

To John Gov., I "Always" respect the Right of Way to Sail Boats but When I'm a ANCHOR there's is no reason, no reason to come within 15 20 feet of my boat either to the bow or stern. There is plenty of room out there and ALL skippers should pay attension to what's ahead of them. I expect the same consideration from Sail Boaters as I give them.

[seavee capt]

To John Gov., I "Always" respect the Right of Way to Sail Boats but When I'm a ANCHOR there's is no reason, no reason to come within 15 20 feet of my boat either to the bow or stern. There is plenty of room out there and ALL skippers should pay attension to what's ahead of them. I expect the same consideration from Sail Boaters as I give them.

Amen to that, you hit it square on the nuts.

[john gov.]

man, what was I thinking to try explain sailboat behavior on a fishing site. I'm not making excuses for the guys that go to close and piss you off. If they have a motor that's different than if they are strictly sail so if he's going out the chanel and the wind is blowing in he will have to tack. He has to zig and zag to go straight and he's probably wondering why you with a powerboat, with all the places there are to be fishing, have to be anchored right here on the edge of the channel right in his way. I'm sure he's not thinking you are there because that's where the fish are.
As far as losing lobster pots it seems like a lot would get run down by powerboats on night runs. The last thing a sailboater wants to do is get his rudder caught up on a lobster pot so you may be looking in the wrong direction as to what's taking out your traps.
I'm not looking to get into the power/sail argument. What you have and what you like is your business only. I have a powerboat because it suits my needs but I don't hate sailboats. I hate some people but I pick and chose them carefully and don't hate whole categories.
Actually I try to keep things lite...lifes too short to carry much anger.
John Gov.

[tunakiller 4 hire]

I love sail boats they are great places to fish when they sink they have great relief off the bottom.

[giantfan]

I have a funny story about almost the same thing.

A few years back we were fishing anchored right next to the 31 can in New York Harbor ( Great spot by the way, right under the Statue of Liberty)

Out of no where, here comes a fleet of sail boat (wafi's we call them) must have been over 40 boats, HEADING RIGHT AT US!!!!!

Were anchored, so we just sit there and watch. Well here they are, some in the anchor line, some fending off the boat, others all tangled up in the can which is 15 feet away from us. Just a big Mess!!! Here comes the main hey dude in his rib, gets the boats untangled and tries to get the wafi's off on their way again.

As they are trying to untangle the mess, some of the people start yelling at us "YOUR IN OUR COURSE" "WERE CALLING THE COAST GAURD ON YOU"
crap like that. Some pretty foul language coming from the upper crust

Well not eveyone on the boat is a saint like myself

Here goes the cut bunker all over the white sails. Women screaming, children crying, I't a blood bath.

I turn the VHF to channel 16 due to the threats of them calling the CG because "we are in their race course". (figured we would get a kick out of hearing them tell the CG that New York Harbor is their own priviate course)

Well, as I tune in they are in the process of calling the CG and telling them that we are throwing beer bottles at them and that we are assaulting them.

CG comes over and asks whats going on and wants to look in the cooler to see if we have any empty beer bottles. (I only allow cans on the boat) and we had our fair share of empties in the garbage can to prove it.

We tell them the story and they get a laugh and go off to see the blood stains all over the sails.


I HATE (most) WAFFI'S

W ind
A ssited
F ******
I diots

[giantfan]

Well while I'm at it.

Ever notice that when your cleaning fish the blow boaters always have a nasty comment as they walk by. "thats disgusting" "how can you do that"

But when your cutting tuna steaks, they are as nice as can be. "can I have one of those, I love tuna"