Yacht near destruction.

• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  10 August 2011     16:01119784
  #1      
  While having a spot of light lunch and gazing out over the harbour.. I saw this yacht drifting towards the 'oil drums'. There was a very strong cross harbour breeze. I thought nothing of it at first and then I saw the harbour masters boat racing to the scene...and then I realised the yacht had gone adrift from its moorings in the gale and was heading for certain destruction on aforementioned oil drums. There was nobody on board.
  
  
  

  

  
  
  The harbour guys managed to get a line on it and tugged it away from the oil drums.
  
  

  

  
  But were struggling to hold it.
  
  

  

  
  After half an hour or so a small dinghy came racing across the harbour. It was the owners of the yacht. Where they had been gawd knows, but the harbour guys had saved their pride and joy from turning into scrap. You can see the owner standing on the bow of his yacht in dialogue with Harbour Master.
  
  

  

  
  They got the engine running and powered away under their own steam. Hopefully they will buy the harbour personnel a drink or two later!
  email: dover7@msn.com
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  10 August 2011     16:10119785
  #2      
  you're certainly in the right place for the dramatic stuff paul.
  
  we see it all first on here. great stuff from the harbour master.
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  10 August 2011     16:51119798
  #3      
  Yes a drama played out before our eyes..this would have been a nice light feature for the frontpage as it is, but we are inundated with items for the frontpage these times...which is a great problem to have.
  
  The horse story on the frontpage at the moment is amazing for sure. Huge thanks to the guys at the RNLI for that one, even the Lord Warden himself contributing to it. Great story.
  
  But back to the yacht. They yacht in question has moved away, but there are still three others moored in the centre of the open harbour, very vulnerable i would think in this very strong crosswind. Not sure why they dont go on into the marina...
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Brian Dixon

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 23,940
  10 August 2011     16:55119801
  #4      
  paulb,cheaper to park in the harbour than at the marina,as i understand it there are 3 price tarrifs,1 for each part. the inner mariner is the dearist.
• Guest 717

  • Registered: 16 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 468
  10 August 2011     16:56119803
  #5      
  Is the Marina full? I heard on the grapevine they've been getting 200+ yachts in a week the past few. Certainly good for Dover as they will spend money here. Bet Jims been busy at Ye Old Cullans Yard.
  Excellent pictures though. I wonder who reported it. Very lucky owners indeed!
  Keeps politics to myself
• Jan Higgins

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 5 Jul 2010
  • Posts: 13,931
  10 August 2011     16:57119804
  #6      
  Amazing pictures Paul as usual, what a lucky owner and well done to the harbour men involved.
  
  We certainly get a lot of interesting stories on this forum, that horse owner must be so grateful.
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• Brian Dixon

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 23,940
  10 August 2011     16:57119806
  #7      
  there are a few spaces left when i went into town this morning.
• Guest 698

  • Registered: 28 May 2010
  • Posts: 8,664
  10 August 2011     16:59119808
  #8      
  He must have parked with the handbrake off.
  I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
• Guest 715

  • Registered: 9 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2,438
  10 August 2011     17:26119823
  #9      
  Great pictures Paul, the Harbour Launch shows its value again, if it happened in France they would claim salvage rights.
  Audere est facere.
• Guest 663

  • Registered: 20 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 1,136
  10 August 2011     20:05119833
  #10      
  Very good pictures of the yacht i'm sure the owner will be very greatfull, great birds eye view from Boland towers
• Diana Woodridge

  • Location: Dover
  11 August 2011     10:08119908
  #11      
  Reminds me of the time two yachtsman moored in the harbour rowed in at low tide and attached their dinghy to a bit of old groyne just in front of our flats. Obviously not observant of signs of where the tide rises to, because they were gone for about 3 hours and when they came back they had to swim for it. I did laugh...
• Guest 719

  • Registered: 11 Jul 2011
  • Posts: 443
  11 August 2011     20:43120023
  #12      
  Sould have gone to Spec Savers but good photo,s Paul
  Yorkshire Born And Yorkshire Bred