This blog went astry - from 11 June
Sitting having dinner in the cockpit the radar alarm buzzes. And there
on the horizon coming at me is a large ship its definitely on a
converging course. and I do know why. I am within 50 miles of the limit
of sea ice so he will be heading for the same waypoint!! As I consume
the chicken and mushroom risotto he keeps coming, so hurrying down the
last few mouthfuls, I put on my radar and get a fix. The MARPA gives a
closest point of approach of 0.01m and as his radar is at the back of
the ship his bow will be a bit closer. At 1.5 miles range I can cover
the ship with my thumb but it still looks big and approaching at 32 knots.
At least with modern electronics I have his name and call on ch16. his
immediate response is yes he has seen me and will avoid me. This is not
a lot of consolation as I sail across his bow at 1 mile distance, but as
his masts align I detect he is altering course and he passes 1/4 miles
astern, at this distance I need more than a hand to obscure the ship.
I would have been happier if he idea of a clear distance was 1.5 miles,
I doubt that he would pass another ships that close but may I be wrong,
and in some conditions I do not hold a stable course with the wind
fluctuations and waves pushing flamingo off course.
If it was not for the Mer Ville radar detector I could easily be asleep,
he is horizon to horizon in 1/2 an hour and what I would not want is to
wake to the sound of his prop. I assume that my radar blip is big
enough for him to see amongst the clutter.
Where we met on 10 June lat:42.48.08,lon:44.41.06
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