Sunday, September 18, 2016

RS Aero vs Tall Ship - Yikes!

9 comments:

Jeremiah Blatz said...

Looks like the "so lightweight it blows away from you" is a feature, not a big!

Tillerman said...

LOL. Good point Jeremiah. I didn't think of that. Seems like there are times when it's an advantage to have a boat that can be brushed aside as easily as a feather!

Tillerman said...

Peter Barton - RS Aero International Class Manager left this comment on this video where it was posted in the RS Aero Class Facebook group...

"I had a grandstand view from the riverside and as this international incident unfolded it put me right off my beer! This was at the RS Aero European Champs in Travemunde just before the showcase river race (see the tall ship Passat in the back ground). Power generally gives way to sail but in the confines of this river it could be different. However the tall ship was motoring recklessly fast. They not only had obviously not spotted the sailboat but also must have had little appreciation of its inability to manoeuvre whilst becalmed. RS Aero stuntman, Simonas of Lithuania, played it perfectly using his drive to create the momentum required to save both himself and his boat! He did it so nicely I think he might have practised or done it before? Quite possibly he would also have won an Olympic medal for his swim! Simonas' quick thinking and skills were rewarded two days later when he clinched the Bronze medal at the RS Aero 7 Europeans!No Lithuanian RS Aero sailors or RS Aeros were harmed in the making of this movie."

torrid said...

Cheat the nursing home, die on your RS Aero!

Tillerman said...

LOL torrid. That Lithuanian sailor looks a bit too young to be worrying about the nursing home.

Peter Belenky said...

Actually, it looked as if the sailor was trying to pump across the bow of the ship while the latter was turning to starboard to avoid him, i.e., increasing his own danger. When he failed to sail across the ship's bow, he abandoned his boat to capsize (entirely clear of the turning ship) while he swam across the ship's bow, again increasing his danger. If the perspective isn't deceptive, it seems the ship's helmsman behaved in a perfectly appropriate manner and the sailor was absolutely crazy.

Tillerman said...

Judging by the sculling action 4-5 seconds into the video it looks to me as if the sailor was trying to turn his bow away from the ship. But in almost zero wind he then starts to pump the sail which just propels him forwards towards the ship. Looks like a last minute panic avoidance attempt that didn't succeed.

Sam Chapin said...

Little boats need to stay out of way of big boats and if the big guy is restricted by depth of channel then he has the right of way.

Tillerman said...

Big boat drivers need to keep their eyes open and not motor at high speed through a fleet of sailing dinghies who can't get out of the way quickly on account of there ain't no wind.

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