Two years ago during Cowes Race Week, the skipper of a 33′ sailboat cut across the bow of the 120,000 dwt tanker, Hanne Knutson, traveling down channel. It did not end well. The boat was dismasted. Fortunately, no one died, though one of the crew on the sailboat suffered a head injury in the collision.
The case is now in court where the skipper of the sailboat, a Royal Navy lieutenant, Roland Wilson, 32, of Stanley, Perthshire is charged with violating maritime regulations including failing to comply with a “moving prohibited zone” of 1,000m (0.6 miles) in front and 100m (328ft) either side of a vessel greater than 150m (492ft). The Hanne Knutson is 260m (853ft) long. Lt. Wilson denies all charges. Unfortunately for the lieutenant, the collision was caught on video. Take a look and see if you think that the Royal Navy officer maintained a proper distance from the ship.
Having sailed many times in this same area while attending the School of Navigation at Warsash for Second Mates, First Mates and Master FG. There is really no excuse for this. One can only surmise that the denies the charges from the perspective of deliberately steering across the bow of the oncoming tanker. He is clearly identifiable by that pink sail in the video. Perhaps he had a too good Royal Navy lunch beforehand !!
Good Watch.