Toph said..

PhoenixStar said..
Am I missing something here? Power gives way to sail. Why would you place yourself in the path of a boat under sail.

But that doesn't give a yacht the right to push the issue. That charter vessel was obviously stationary, and as long as he was not in an exclusion zone, he has every right to be there.

Ironically, the boat that was making way and almost caused a collision was a yacht motoring.


EDIT: Actually watching it again 'One & Only' was clearly an overtaking vessel, and racing or not is obliged to keep clear (assuming no inclusion zone).

Seems like the traffic control vessel was a big part of the problem. He was under way and should have kept clear, 'one and Only' could have pinched up and cleared everybody if he had not been part of the problem. Of course One and Only was obliged to take action if a collision was imminent but things were happening fast. Hard to tell if there was an inclusion zone and if so where was it?

There was no exclusion zone!

Maritime were trying their best to keep the spectator fleet clear of the start area and by the looks of it, they were generally doing a pretty good job. I don't think they expected the yachts to continue to charge into the spectator fleet and were likely wondering WTF Scallywag was going to do. As the commentator on the video said, Scallywag could have called water to avoid the spectator fleet if there was someone to windward (I think Loyal was clear though). Obviously though, tacking was too much admitting defeat!






Very poor judgment on the part of Scallywag. Could easily have been a major bingle that put the boat out of the Sydney Hobart, I wonder what the owner would have thought of that.

Fun race maybe! Still racing for sheep stations and by sailing into the spectator fleet have gained phenomenal sponsor exposure. They are probably smarter people than we give credit for.

That smaller power boat did well to reverse out of the collision ! Good job !