Bluebell of Warsash - Hit by an unknown ship 23 miles off the Needles
A ship's bulbous bow struck the yacht Bluebell of Warsash on her starboard side; one watchkeeper leapt clear just before impact, three crew were injured, and the ship was never identified.
What happened.
On 7 August 1999 the yacht Bluebell of Warsash was struck on her starboard side by the bulbous bow of an unidentified ship about 23 miles south of The Needles, Isle of Wight. One of the four crew threw himself over the side just before impact and was recovered; three crew were injured, two airlifted to hospital. The yacht reached the Needles, met an RNLI lifeboat, and was towed to Yarmouth. The ship was never identified.
On 7 August 1999, the sailing yacht Bluebell of Warsash, with four crew aboard, was struck about 23 miles south of The Needles, Isle of Wight, by the bulbous bow of an unidentified ship on her starboard side. Two of the crew were on deck keeping a navigation watch at the time; one watchkeeper threw himself over the port side just before the impact. After recovering that man overboard, the yacht was able to make for The Needles and rendezvous with an RNLI lifeboat. Three of the crew were injured, two of them airlifted to hospital, and the yacht was towed to Yarmouth. Despite a number of enquiries, the ship involved was never identified. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that the ship had failed to take avoiding action as the give-way vessel under the collision regulations, and that the two watchkeepers on the yacht had not appreciated early enough that the ship was on a collision course to take effective avoiding action. No safety recommendations were made.
What it teaches.
- 1
- 2Spot a collision course early — watch the bearing. Both yacht watchkeepers were on deck but did not realise the ship was closing to collision in time to act. A steady compass bearing on an approaching ship means you will hit: check it on every contact and alter while you still have room.
- 3A ship can hit you and never know it — be seen and assume the worst. The vessel that struck Bluebell was never traced and may not even have registered the contact. Make yourself a strong radar and AIS target, and never assume a large ship has seen you or will stop.
- 4Fast thinking and a drilled recovery save lives. A watchkeeper threw himself clear just before impact and the crew recovered him before making for the Needles. Practise man-overboard recovery and keep the gear to hand — seconds decide it, and a person in the water may be your first sign you have been struck.
Where this comes from.
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Procedures involved.
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