AirCraft Carrier Crashes Into Sailing Yacht - HOW???

[@PaulCashman]

Regarding "looking out the window" being so important.... I've done the behind-the-scenes tour on about ten Carnival cruise ships and a visit to the bridge is included in the tour. Every time, I've seen a watch-stander with really good binoculars keeping an eye out forward; they seem to be very diligent, which is good. My bridge tour aboard Carnival Conquest was about a week after a small freighter had sunk in a storm east of the Bahamas, and we were close to that spot at the time. Conquest had been the ONLY commercial vessel to spot any debris from the sunken ship. I mentioned that to the Captain and congratulated him and the ship...and the watch-stander turned around and gave me a big grin. It had been HE who spotted the debris during their previous transit. Good job!

[@Kapnwill]

They also knew the tour was coming.

[@PaulCashman]

@@Kapnwill I've been on two Carnival ships in busy shipping lanes (Cozumel - Miami, just north of Cuba) with ships all around us when WE spotted a wrecked small-boat and then an unoccupied jet-ski. Either we were keeping a better watch, or the other ships were woefully negligent...or both.

[@RolfMikkelson]

I was crew on a J-30 (30 feet, ~10 meters) sailboat on Lake Ontario. We occasionally crossed path with large cargo carriers bound for nearby ports. Even if we had right of way, since we were under sail power alone, we would keep a _very_ wide distance away from them. The cargo ships have a huge wind shadow!

[@ElainCorrine]

As a sometimes solo sailor, I have a simple philosophy when it comes to larger vessels. If you are a big ship (cargo, tanker, military, yacht), regardless of the rules of the sea, I'm giving you leeway. You're bigger than me, and can squish me like a bug. I prefer NOT to be that bug. *edit* It costs me little time to give way, and makes the waters safer for me, as well as others. There is nothing, in my mind, so urgent, short of a medical emergency, that is worth risking my, or others lives.

[@josephallen8044]

It sounds like the person of the sailing vessel was taking a little nap

[@sedatkasrat]

the unwritten rule of everything: It's better to be safe & alive than to be right at the post-case inspection reports LOL

[@bas6983]

Many thanks for this mindset!

[@Tomm9y]

It would be helpful to see the full report on this, presumably there was one. Even if the yacht had checked the horizon 10-15 minutes previoulsy, I wonder if the Aircraft Carrier had changed course/speed in the intervening time. I understand a carrier can reach speeds 20+ knots. Observing signals would be tricky from a small boat in conditions of poor light.

[@jackfntwist]

The issue is that neither saw the other. Not that they were unwilling to yield.

[@bylandbysea]

Good video. A couple of things I think need to be added…. The carrier was doing training. That could be any type of training. Officer of the watch, fire drills, man-overboard. I don’t know that we can assume flight training. If she was doing flight training, the she should have been showing the correct lights as this was before dawn. I would also assume that the noise of low flying aircraft would also be apparent. How many watch keepers on the bridge missed the sail boat. As a former OOW we had to report any vessel within a certain distance of the ship regardless of size. Someone wasn’t keeping a proper lookout on both vessels. It also blows my mind sometime that sailing vessels always assume they have the right of way, regardless of what is heading towards them. It will be interesting to see what the official log book on the carrier says - if it ever gets released…

[@YachtBuoy]

I served on an aircraft carrier (ops room) for just under two years (HMS Invincible) and am also a former RNLI lifeboatman. What I would say is that there is a radar and visual blindspot around an aircraft carrier (from the aircraft carriers perspective) Generally speaking, the aircraft carrier's nav radar will have a blind arc of around 0.5nm from the ship. Most of the other radars on an aircraft carrier's main masts are for medium to long-range tracking and a/c detection & control. If the sailing yacht was hardly moving (low wind etc) then even if it did generate a radar return, radar operators/nav teams on the bridge and in the ops room might have thought that, before it entered the ship's blind spot, that it was a false return or something else (clutter etc) as a slow-moving sailing vessel of that size will not always produce a visual track on a radar display. Either way, if you are operating a small boat and you spot a massive aircraft carrier, then just assume that they cannot see you and stay out of their way or call them up on channel 16 and let them know that you are there. An officer of the watch on the bridge of the aircraft carrier will always acknowledge you. Thanks for the vid!

[@derekstuart5234]

I'm sure we all appreciate the technical analysis. I certainly did. But regardless of who, what, why, when, surely there is no reason that a civilian vessel should be allowed to enter the defensive screen of the carrier. Presumably even the French use support vessels alongside the carrier. What if the yacht had been packed with explosives? They could have had a nice big hole in the hull as a result, like the US Destroyer that was attacked a few years back off Iran.

[@rocketsciencemusic5398]

Thanks for the info. I guess there would be exceptions to an officer of the watch acknowledging you? perhaps they are radio silent or maybe it's just a Russian vessel. (obviously not in the scenario above but from what I've heard the Russian navy isn't very courteous?)

[@fanfeck2844]

I’m with Derek on this. Wouldn’t you be very concerned another craft got that close to your aircraft carrier?

[@jamarie1972]

Thank you Yacht Bouy for your years of service protecting our shores, also for your time with the RNLI. Hello from Southwest England

[@YachtBuoy]

@@derekstuart5234 completely agree. I remember the USS Cole in Yemen being struck by a suicide bomber. Like you said, it is worrying that a vessel was able to get that close to such an important military asset.

[@scottcole7282]

Having the right way does not mean much when a 100,000 ton CVN drawing well over 30 foot of water and requiring massive space to turn is bearing down on you. I have been a pleasure boater for 50 years. The answer is simple small craft need to stay out of the way of large vessels. Technically a 7' sailing pram has right of way over the biggest ship on Earth, but only an idiot would ever force the issue....

[@marksapollo]

Exactly! A 200,000 ton container ship isn't going to stop on a dime or turn instantly! Forget the rules and just stay out of the way of giant ships. You'll live longer..

[@norarivkis2513]

A sailing craft isn't going to turn on a dime either. That's WHY they have the right of way -- they can't maneuver the way power vessels do.

[@Matt-yg8ub]

@@norarivkis2513 I don’t care what sailing vessel you are on, it’s almost universally going to maneuver better than an aircraft carrier :-)

[@norarivkis2513]

@@Matt-yg8ub I'm sure that's true. But that doesn't mean you can assume the sailboat could have done any better than it did. Since both vessels were very difficult things to maneuver, I have to lean on the better trained crew and the better instruments for identifying other nearby objects... both of which would point to the carrier. It's very likely that, from close range, neither one had a prayer of getting out of the way... but the carrier might have had a way to avoid getting into that situation in the first place that a professional crew stuff good instruments could have made use of, and a one-man crew on a boat with nothing but the basics couldn't.

[@richardgiles2484]

@@norarivkis2513 you can't really miss an aircraft carrier can you. I would have been sailing well clear before I could see the crew on the bridge 🤣🤣🤣

[@kcted]

Makes a good case for all boats having AIS transceivers. I guess the sailboat could have had a receive only, and the carrier turned theirs off as part of the training. Even if no one on either boat were paying attention, an AIS would have sounded an alarm. Maybe a carrier's radar can't ping a small glass boat, but a sailboat's radar would have surely alarmed on something the size of a carrier.

[@mikemurel1917]

My wife and I got the opportunity to tour San Diego bay by 36ft Maine lobster boat a few years ago. We each were able to take the helm for a few minutes. It seems incomprehensible to be anywhere near a carrier for any reason!! Yes, all the ships were docked, but, they were definitely not approachable. Another time we were sea trialing our 35 ft Chris Craft in the Milwaukee breakwater when a large cargo ship came out of the river departing the harbor. It was huge, (300 to 400 feet) and we immediately changed course to not encounter any possible problems. I just don't see how this happened. Your videos are so informative and a testament to your dedication and professionalism. A reminder that you can never slack off as a captain.

[@armorguy1108]

Irrespective of COLREGs and such I would observe that the Marine Nationale has to be embarrassed that the vessels that escort CdG (which I would expect would be a number of frigates and even a submarine) allowed this vessel to get *that* lose to France's flagship. Carriers do not wander the seas alone...they have escorts and somehow this sailing vessel got past them.

[@jackfntwist]

Somehow, like a little too much vino.

[@michaelsullo3698]

@@jackfntwist I have served on four aircraft carriers in my US navy career and during aircraft training missions we were, for the most part, alone. Our helicopters served as sea-air rescue. There have been many times where where we have have pleasure craft and yachts have obstructed passage, especially in narrow channels coming in and out of port , with numerous near collisions..

[@Hegde-]

French carrier do not always travel with battle group like american ones do. Most of the times she works alone.

[@vincelardner330]

Shreekar Hegde is correct, CdG is often without an escort group, but it would still be an embarrassment to the Marine Nationale because flight ops should not be a distraction to the Officer or Officers of the Watch or the bridge lookouts as they have no involvement in the actual flight ops, their role is keep the carrier pointed in the right direction and safe. If at the time of the accident CdG did have one or more escorts, it is also possible that they were not from the MN, and there was breakdown in control structures or language difficult.

[@Hegde-]

@@vincelardner330 There was error from the people on the bridge . But there is little they can do to manoeuvre the ship because they are required to always point in the direction of the wind because of the aircraft launches. So they must be busy watching wind direction and position of the ship and they would have thought this small boat would get out of the way seeing a massive ship heading its way which happens everyday. But as it turned out their assumptions were wrong. Im not saying they were right to ignore a small boat but we have to understand small boats always get in the way of these militery ships and when they see they just veer off their course and make way for the militery vessels. So the guys on the bridge must have thought the same thing will happen this time too.

[@pquodling]

Years ago, was on a 100ft Steel hulled sailing ketch - she was big and relatively cumbersome - There were a bunch of little 18ft cats racing each other.They had right of way but had been tacking back and forth to catch the light wind, and as such were hard to predict. (being on a starboard tack, as I recall) and were screaming "Starboard". The skipper of the ketch picked up the microphone to his loudhailer and said calmly "Steel - 300 tons of it and I turn like an elephant dancing - take your chances..." The 18ft'ers tacked away again... :-)

[@Panoz57]

I am just a recreational boater.When I took my training course offered by the USCGAux they taught all the rules regarding rights of way etc. But made it clear that in general the smaller boat should get out of the way of the bigger boat (especially very big ships).

[@mikebrown6774]

Tristan FYI - Radar reflectors on sailing yachts is pretty standard these days

[@captainb6104]

Awol was missing one for years, until the flag state inspector pointed it out during inspection, I believe that's why Tristan now always remember radar reflectors.

[@markstowe3087]

Another great vid - still waiting on when and where you will be the Captain of ???

[@dm1927]

Same here 👍

[@dam1108]

We are all waiting!!

[@SuperPete0815]

Jep we‘re all waiting.

[@niranthbanks3595]

I believe there is an opening for a captain on the Utopia IV. /s

[@MYTOYMAKERZ]

I have been ill for a few months and I must have missed something about the captain an AWOL. Would someone briefly remark on this topic or the approx time frame I try and locate the video if there is one. Thank You Captain and I pray this New Year is the best one anyone has ever had that can read this. Cheers

[@bradtaylor6415]

It is also a little true that small boats are often cautious to contact Navy ships via radio. Usually radio contact would be made and intended movements shared between the two vessels.

[@fredscribner3688]

The rule that sailing vessels have the right of way goes out the window when something the size of a skyscraper and about as responsive is bearing down on you.

[@jimmiller5600]

And you're only a SV if you're only using your sails.

[@kevinc8387]

Also if both are on engine?

[@captainjim6300]

At least twice I have had sailing vessels argue about who has the right of way. In one instance I was in a narrow channel and could not have moved out of the channel without running aground. I was pushing a loaded tow 570 ft by 100 ft. I simply told him he did not have time to cross my bow and put us at risk of an immediate collision just so he could make better use of the wind. He had no problem going astern of me although it may have cost him 5 minutes. He could see me miles before I could see him and could easily altered his course where he would pass astern without causing him much if any delay. I recommended he think twice about where and when he would cut across a busy ship channel as ships were much faster than I was. I was pushing 4 Barges with a total of 10,000 tons of aggravate so I could not stop in less than a 1/4 mile when the tide was in my favor. I could technically throw both engines in reverse but all that would happen is I run over the vessel at a slower speed. I would normally tell them it is not a very good idea to insist you have the right of way if it is going to kill you, well maybe your family gets some insurance at best. I once had a Shrimp boat almost collide with me twice in maybe 15 minutes. It was not until the second time that I began to realize he wanted to cause some type of collision. I don't know if he was looking for a lawsuit or suicidal. The entire time maybe 30 minutes total he was not answering my repeated radio calls on either 16 or 13 or even the radio channel most shrimpers worked on. I had radios set on all 3 channels so he could contact me. The Vessel was not fishing no nets in the water. I finally tried one last message that if we collided and he went under my tow they would have to scrape what was left of his vessel off the bottom because it was same size tow loaded with 10,000 tons. I simply stated any collision could flatten his vessel to size of a pancake. That evidently worked he quit circling around and left the area without ever answering. lol

[@alluraambrose2978]

I don't need a rulebook to just stay clear of behemoth militarily vessels.

[@Morpheus187]

If I was in a boat or a sailing ship I will give away to an aircraft carrier. You’re not going to do much damage to it only to yourself . But of course the sailing ship knew it was a French military Vessel so he automatically assumed the carrier would surrender his position to a much smaller ship

[@se4g4e]

😄

[@susanandrew5240]

😂 were they all drunk on the sail boat !

[@marred2277]

Just because it's an aircraft carrier doesn't make it 24x7 a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver. "Engaged in" means actively doing. The same as a cable laying vessel wouldn't be restricted, unless they were actually laying cable. So I'm not sure if you're making an assumption there, or if it's 100% clear that aircraft operations were going on at the time of the accident.

[@juliannoble8526]

There is an old ditty or poem about a steamer collision long ago. 'He was right dead right as he sailed along, but he is just as dead as if he was wrong". Give way to the big things

[@isabellerouquier214]

To give more details, the skipper confirmed to journalists that he was having a rest inside his boat, he didn't see the aircraft carrier arriving, and he said also that the aircraft carrier tryied to avoid collision but it was too late ... They saw him too late. Presse articles mention also the sea was with quite big vawes and wind (not surprisingly in November in Med.) But most important, Tristan thanks a lot for your videos !

[@BillBigelow]

I served aboard a carrier that collided with a freighter while performing war-time maneuvers; running without navigation lights or radar in formation with other ships of war. It has been my assumption that all ships of war are given the right-of-way as they are not just "out for a joy ride", but training and not necessarily performing flight ops.

[@kelemir]

They also declare/broadcast navtex days ahead so all civil vessels are aware of the dangers in that area.

[@georgeburns7251]

This is not a good assumption

[@chaersi71]

@@georgeburns7251 That's probably why his carrier collided with a freighter..

[@Matt-yg8ub]

@@georgeburns7251 In general principle, assuming that the giant (will crush you like a bug) war ship has the right away, is a very good assumption to make, it will almost universally work in your favor

[@anaolivier8528]

Thank you....good to have you back on air...have you bought your island yet?

[@ToddWardRocks]

Would love to know if a) the sailing vessel had AIS and b) if the aircraft carrier was stealthing their position as sometimes military vessels do. It may not be right, but many solo sailors rely on AIS collision alarms when making multi-day offshore passages to allow for blocks of sleep. I set an alarm on my phone every 15 mins to remind me to look. It’s awful rest, but it’s better than nothing. Fundamentally, it is every boat owners’ responsibility to avoid a collision in any waterway. No one wants the chaos that ensues. Assigning blame may be important for insurance companies & military agencies, etc, but in the end, this was quite the terrifying incident I’m sure. I’m glad the sailor survived it.

[@ChrisSidwellSmith]

Good point. However if the sailing vessel had AIS, then even if the carrier wasn't transmitting AIS it could still receive AIS? If the sailing vessel skipper was doing nap/on watch/nap/on watch rotation than AIS is his or her's main alarm mechanism for alerting of problems in the sleep cycle. I suspect that maybe the skipper of the sailing vessel didn't have AIS and was in a nap cycle so the lookout of the carrier was the only thing preventing a collision. Radar reflector might not have been fitted or not give a strong enough return. be in a blind spot. TL:DR use AIS if you sail seriously.

[@ToddWardRocks]

@@ChrisSidwellSmith Two types of AIS devices: one that receives targets only (much cheaper) and one that receives targets and transmits your data (the type required for all commercial vessels). I have the receive only kind and it cost $100 usd. The class A transponders are $600+ usd and is worth every penny if you go offshore a lot, but it’s not what I have. I do have a radar reflector, though.

[@rjlavallee3575]

Military vessels are not compelled to have AIS active when performing operations.

[@StephenZ827]

@@ToddWardRocks As I mention above...on one video a sailor went down to fix lunch or something, came up and a ship was passing " danger close". It was about a 20 minute window he clams. Being the speed of ones vessel, the current, winds, and speed of an approaching vessel. All play a part, and as he put it, inside of 20 minutes out at sea things can change drastically. He gave a through look before going below and he points out as he is low in the water, the view of the horizon was ( given wave size ) might be 15 to 20 miles. Not very much when a container ship is barreling along at 20 knots on a near collision course. So your 15 minutes is right on....

[@jamesmusters7639]

@@rjlavallee3575 Which is an issue, because if your AIS is not active you better keep a good lookout.

[@russjam121]

You said the report said the carrier was likely engaged in training exercises but that doesn't mean they were actually physically recovering aircraft at the time. It just means they were on exercise. Now I suspect they will say that to make them less responsible for the crash due to the inability to manoeuvre regulation. However it could be being used to hide the fact that they messed up. We will never know the truth but Its a highly likely scenario.

[@pete9501]

Quite, if they were not involved in launch or recovery of aircraft does this alter the situation somewhat? perhaps but the yacht once a collision was likely is also required to take action. I believe the A/C skipper is now looking for a new job. He can join the queue behind the US Admiral who commanded the US Pacific fleet until two of his destroyers had fatal collisions a couple of years ago.

[@normanboyes4983]

Have you made an assumption here? An aircraft carrier is not always engaged in flying operations and so does not have a universal let out to be permanently stand on vessel, it would only be considered as being constrained to manoeuvre when actively conducting flying operations. Or did I miss the crucial evidence in your video? Edit: I have trawled the interweb and can find no definitive evidence that CDG was engaged in flying operations in the timeframe leading up to the collision, the constant reference (or form of words) is that CDG was in the sea area conducting training activities and that may have included flying ops but it is not necessarily the case. I can assure you from personal experience that not all aircraft carrier exercise activities include flying ops. So, the jury has to be out on that.

[@martynrae8285]

LOokouts are so important. Many years ago, as a merchant navy cadet, I was on the bridge with my 3rd mate. I was 17 years old and it was my second ship. We were many days out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean with very high swells. It was night, and visibility was reasonable. I spotted an object 2 points to port, and when I double-checked there was nothing. I looked for a third time to spot it again, and it was there. I informed my 3rd mate and he looked thinking I was imagining things. Finally, he did see it and although there was no chance of collision, my 3rd mate radioed them to ask it everything was ok. They replied yes!

[@lemd49]

In training we spend hours learning and being tested on the COLREGs (RIPA in Spain) and then forgetting. I found, in addition of see and avoid, the safest practice advice as a leisure small craft master is to “stay away from lots of lights”

[@pookatim]

Not directly about this particular incident, but part of our duties with the USCGAux. was named "clear channel". Our job was to keep the shipping channels around NY Harbor clear for the large ships. People sometimes anchor in the channel thinking they have plenty of time to recover the anchor and move out of the way when a large ship approaches etc. But by far the biggest pain in the ass was people with sail boats. When a sail boat is using its engine it is no longer a "sailing vessel" it is a power boat. Yet, they would constantly cause conflicts with everything from power boats to cargo ships thinking their status as a "sailing vessel" gives them supremacy of the sea. We were the Coast Guard for crying out loud and yet these "skippers" would stand there arguing regulations with us. Some of these guys would even have their sails up, flapping in the breeze while running on the engine to try to fool everyone. The only thing more annoying than sail boats are jet skis. That's a whole different topic!

[@duny2]

I am about to take my Yachtmaster Exam with an intention to attempt to find employment, this is a reminder of the importance of having an actual detailed working understanding Col Regs. A basic knowledge can only get you so far.

[@grafvonau5641]

Glad to have you back in your old form!! great video

[@DeadRpoetry1167]

My late uncle was royal navy then merchant seaman all his life. The thing that stood out was that seamen look out for seaman. Even enemies. They look out for one another. Brothers in a desert of water.

[@MikePhDPEGC]

massive props to Tristan for getting through the entire video without once laughing or making a joke about how the huge ass ship has the right of way

[@kokomo9764]

Have you ever tried to turn a carrier while landing and launching planes? It is quite clear from the regulations that the carrier did have the right of way in this situation. The carrier could not change course so the sail boat was required to change course and failed to do so.

[@dierkrieger]

I remember when a sailboat ran into the USS Midway in San Diego and that aircraft carrier was sitting still.

[@jrob67]

I grew up sailing out of Los Angeles in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. One morning my father and I were on a passage to Catalina and our radio direction finder (before radar was ubiquitous) and VHF would go nuts with interference every 10 seconds or so for about 20 minutes. We couldn’t figure it out for the life of us why until all of the sudden, the newly refit and recommissioned USS New Jersey came visible out of the fog at about 2 miles. Every time her surface radar array would come around, we were getting hammered with RFI. Was both scary and impressive all at once. Had I been asleep on a solo passage, the VHF squelch alone would have woken me up in time to take evasive action.

[@oceanfroggie]

Agree 100% look out the window and not at displays

[@briansmyla8696]

Looking out the window. I'm a truck driver. So many mishaps in trucking are the result of drivers relying on their GPS directions, when the mishap could have been prevented by simply looking out the window. So yes, I can relate to this.

[@pavelavietor1]

Hello that is the reason I don’t have a sailboat, I will never sleep on a crossing of an ocean. Nice presentation. Saludos

[@jamarie1972]

Cheers for this great explanation, Happy new year and here’s to a better 2022

[@tugboats79]

In maritime school my navigation teacher used to say that, if you want to avoid problems keep VERY clear of fishing vessels (because they are looking for fish and not looking out), small pleasure crafts and navy vessels ( last 2 because most of the time they have no idea what they are doing and so you will never know what manouvers they are going to do)... I am not happy to say that but I have to agree with him...

[@KB1TBL]

Here's a few questions I think need to be answered before we can determine who was at fault. 1 was the aircraft carrier actually actively engaged in launching or recovery of aircraft, Or was it just on maneuvers. 2 the red light that they are supposed to have on indicating that they are restricted in their ability to maneuver actually on. Was it turned on or had the bulb failed? It is certainly understandable that an aircraft carrier in low light conditions may not see a 30-foot vessel however the sailboat should not have a problem even in low light conditions see a vehicle that's over 800 ft long

[@chrisardern4594]

Omg at last the French navy have managed to nearly take out a foreign intruder. Lol

[@ralphfeatherstone7813]

Several valid points were presented by commenters. Thank you once again for an informative and well-reasoned explanation of the event. I suppose I am among your many followers who want to know of your next command and continued vlogs. Well done and thanks.

[@stephenburnage7687]

One reason I have added an AIS transmitter to my 34ft sailboat. Also added the biggest radar reflector i could buy at the top of the mast.

[@danfd26233]

The aircraft carrier promptly surrounded the the captain of the sail boat 🤣

[@samingosailing]

I have about 40k miles single-handed. Fingers crossed so far ... I have not come close to a collision. In the open ocean I sleep 20 minutes every hour. I set a radar and AIS guard around my ship, both of which have an audible alarm that does wake me up. I do not sleep close to land and traffic which means finding a safe haven to sleep when on a long coastal passage.

[@williamburns5591]

Last I checked, putting "may" in a sentence means "allowed", not "required". So by the rules, the stand-on vessel is allowed to maneuver to avoid contact, but isn't required to.

[@dilligafwoftam985]

You make a jump from 'carrier may have been engsged in exercises' to 'was engaged' and couldn't manoeuvre with no proof. Colregs 'ignore' 1) solo sailers sleep hours and 2) rowing sculls with no lights and looking backward. One has to assume the yacht skipper was below decks for quite some time or had a death sish to try to pull right of way on a carrier - or any big ship for that matter.

[@Alex-vq9vj]

I wondered about that jump from "may have launched aircrafts" to "definitely was engaged in launching aircrafts" without further explanation or information that this had been established as a fact. As I understand it colregs are only for commercial vessels, with the watch and rest requirements stated. A 1-person sailing yacht OTOH sounds like the epitome of a pleasure boat - nothing to do with commercial. Pretty sure they were resting. Thus not able to overlook that giant carrier...

[@dilligafwoftam985]

@@Alex-vq9vj No the colregs apply to all vessels - there are no exceptions. According to the COLREGS, the rules "apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.". I had to pass an exam in the Colregs for my Yachtmaster.

[@ArtVanAuggie]

This is very important and significant as this is one of the few battles the French have ever won.

[@lindadoerr7919]

So very interesting. Good to hear from you Tristan. Thank you!

[@forgeustiss6667]

I have raced sailboats in a busy harbour that is full of sail, power, container ships, and tug and tows. We had many close calls but the only collisions were at the mark when my now ex-husband was stubbornly insisting on remaining stand on. Once, I fell off the boat.

[@MrCheeto01]

France and Poland, I’m surprised this isn’t a weekly occurrence

[@anniekirts6621]

Very Lucy! Especially with all that radar tech on board...x two!

[@barrishenriksen]

My question as well, the fact that any other craft could have got so close to a Aircraft carrier is a cause for a BIG concern.

[@rp1645]

Some people and the video presenter talked about this. A Fiberglass Sailboat, not great return on Radar. Especially if it has NO reflection built in. The lookouts on Aircraft Carrie are watching Air operations. They don't expect STUPID blow boat Captain to get that close, that no one can see them on Aircraft Carrie. There is a huge blind spot right around hull of these super size vessels. Next time you stroll the walk around Deck of a super size cruise ship. You will see small (RADAR) tee, rotation working. That is to help cruise ships see vessels at close quarters to hull of larger vessel.

[@Starboatbuilder]

Hi Great to see you again : the main thing to find out is DID THE SAILIN BOAT CALL "starboard". When are you getting a Captain job? Miss you

[@csjrogerson2377]

Hi Tristram. Good video, but there is one point I'd like to make and it refers to your use of the term "Give Way Vessel". This term ONLY applies to power driven vessels under Rules 14-16 (17 in certain situations) and dictates the actions of the Give Way and Stand-on vessels and DOES NOT APPLY to Rules 12, 13 and 18 which uses Keep Clear. This is important because the requirement to Keep Clear does not dictate which way the vessel keeping clear must or may turn. This lack of understanding causes many OOW's to think they must turn to stbd to avoid a sailing vessel, or indeed other vessels under Rule 18, when that is not the case. I used to insist that OOW's used the appropriate term (I am the Give Way/Stand-on or Keep Clear vessel) when giving shipping reports, thus ensuring they knew which Rule was being applied. (RN Warfare Officer and RN Command qualified (22 yrs), MCA3000gt and superyacht Capt 16 yrs.) PS, Was it ever established as to what "engaged in training activities" actually meant, because all warships ever do is training and its not always RAM.

[@richardgiles2484]

Really well explained 👏 Maybe the yacht didn't see the aircraft carrier 🤔 I remember years ago doing a delivery of a large yacht off Brixham with the owner. I was down below about to get up for my watch and the owner was at the wheel. Before I got back on deck the owner Tee boned a 60 foot fishing trawler in perfect visibility. When got on deck I said to the owner in a few choice words. Didn't you see the trawler to which he replied. Yes but I had right of way. I won't repeat what my reply was 👹

[@stanthology]

"Right of Way" One of the fastest directions if your destination is "Up Shit Creek"!

[@richardgiles2484]

@@stanthology yes it really tickes me off when people say they had right of way weather it's a boat or a car. Being right is not a lot of good when the put you in a box. No-one will care about you being right 🤣

[@MonkPetite]

Very possible, sailers don’t not see others vessels on time. Obviously some think they have a right.. wat is stupid on its self . You don’t own it . But the right of way is granted by the other vessel.

[@allsearpw3829]

Hi , it happens all over the place , sailors think they have the right of way , the number who have hit a chain ferry , on the entrance to Poole and Cowes week is a night mare . Nice video , Captain .

[@nerblebun]

My first sailboat was a 26ft Balboa docked 40 miles inland along the Deep Water Channel from San Fransisco Bay. Ocean going Cargo Ships frequently use the Deep Water Channel to the inland Port of Stockton & Port of Sacramento where I worked. Inland rules state whichever vessel has the least power has the right of way; however, when you're in a 26ft. sailboat with several thousand tons of cargo ship bearing down on you.... that particular rule flies out the hatch in a hurry.

[@rjlavallee3575]

Restricted ability to maneuver always trumps the lesser power rule.

[@missinggravitas]

​@@rjlavallee3575 There is no "lesser power" rule, nor are those cargo ships RAM. There are rules about narrow channels, which apply to SF Bay, and that's why small boats are required not to impede larger vessels there. There are additional regulations (33 CFR § 162.205) that cover Suisun Bay to Stockton/Sacramento, but they don't really change things much.

[@rjlavallee3575]

@@missinggravitas I know there's no "lesser power" rule, but clarification is never a bad thing; I was addressing PirateChucker's comment about "least power." Also brings up the interesting intersection between Inland Rules, International Rules, and special rules applied to local waterways.

[@diegolichi2386]

off topic question if you were to jump in a sailing boat the same size as awol is it the same (i dont have any boating or sailing exp)

[@edbrumbaugh9202]

Good explanation ... as a retired Navy Officer, I've stood more hours as Officer of the Deck than I care to remember ... have had all kinds of situations arise during watches and operations. The bottom-line, regardless of who is stand-on or give way, the law of gross tonnage applies.

[@marksapollo]

Exactly, I'm no mariner but surely it's just simple physics??? At the end of the day. If it's big and weighs several thousand tons it isn't going to stop suddenly...

[@dutchglobetrotter4513]

As a first mate on a small 60ft sailing yacht, I agree wholeheartedly. I just helm to pass at the stern of them big metal beasts. And when in doubt I pick up the VHF and hail them, so far every big ship has answered.

[@j.brianbobiak12]

Gross tonnage of the Military Vessel or Megaton yield from the nuclear device onboard the potentially rogue "sailing vessel" that managed to make it trough the carrier task force and to the aircraft carrier?? A procedure inquiry should be undertaken in the French Navy.

[@craigmeyer5291]

@@dutchglobetrotter4513 I sailed in and around San Francisco Bay for years. Conditions were often challenging. In addition to heavy Commercial traffic, we had US Navy Aircraft Carriers and other ships based at Alameda and Submarines in transit to Marre Island. The rule above all other rules was stay outa their way. The sound of a collision with a plastic boat is akin to the crinkling of an aluminum drink can. True, you can hail the Big Boy and even get an answer. When I do I identify myself and ask them where they want me to go. Sometimes they warn of severe prop wash and suggest running parallel and away. These vessels are often under the command of a Pilot and are restricted by draft and clearance conditions and everybody is really busy. Stay out of the way and live to sail another day---PERIOD! No pleasure boat skipper sleeps while sailing solo in coastal waters. There are too many places to find a sheltered anchorage or dock if they're really that tired. Which they usually aren't because they're out for a pleasure ride.

[@northerncaptain855]

During a nearly 50 year career as a Deck Officer and Master of large commercial vessels including VLCC’s that dwarf that wee little French Aircraft Carrier. I’d echo your comment regarding keeping a good visual watch. Small vessels are often poor radar targets and under certain light and weather conditions damned hard to pick out against the sea.

[@edwardgrahamiv4566]

Good review. I will only quibble with your comment on running lights. I would challenge anyone to find the running lights on a carrier conducting flight ops. They are lit-up like a Christmas tree.

[@stephenburnage7687]

There are large parts of the world where COREGS are widely ignored or not even understood. There are also large parts of the wold where the helm is routinely unmanned. My first rule of survival is therefore to make sure I am able to trigger a potential collision alarm on the approaching vessel (through AIS, radar or VHF). Even if the bridge is manned, it is very easy to miss a small sailboat, in daylight or night.

[@CaptainReverendo]

What if they were not conducting aircraft ops but we’re doing some other training. Seems like that might change things a bit?

[@teapot27]

HI Tristen,i hope you and GIV have had a good Christmas..have you any news on a new boat yet? I scroll through you tube every day hoping for a SYC update.I herd they were looking for a Hawkshead to Windermere Helmsman..take care and please keep us In the loop!

[@Grimberian72]

the small round reflectors are crap! much safer to go with the cylindar reflectors, that being said watch clearly wasn't keeping watch! i've been on a few vessal where they was only relying on the electronic equipment to warn them and i didn't sleep well off my watch ;(

[@athommen1]

I saw a couple of videos in French about the Charles de Gaulle and am surprised that they didn't see the sailing boat. I understand that a "plastic" boat is hard to recognize on a radar screen but, those guys are trained to fight pirates coming on zodiacs/williams boats and see them coming ways before they're close to them. Like other comments, I'm surprised that with all the body guard vessels and I know that for the Charles de Gaulle there's at least one submarine, nobody saw the certainly tired skipper, being in the wrong place. Anyways, thanks for sharing this topic with us and a huge thank you to all the guys who served the Marine and commented this topic.

[@gregoryflores8754]

I suspect the sailing vessel is not a commercial vessel. I beyond referenced the minimum rest time of 10 in 24 and applied that requirement to the sailing vessel. If it is not a commercial vessel and the single handing skipper could not meet the commercial rule for rest, what rule would apply? Thanks

[@EamonnSeoigh]

How does a sail boat and an aircraft carrier collide? The sailboat didn't get out of the way.

[@joehayward2631]

I was lucky when I was in the Marines and got stationed on the USS MISSOURI BB63 , end of 80s. I was at my post om the bridge standing behind the Captain of the ship. This is when I learned about BIG FISH & LITTLE FISH, little fish moves for big fish. The new Lt on the bridge wanted to change course because a SMALL frigate was slowly cutting infront of the battleship. Ships were far apart. The Ships Captain informed the young Lt. About the FISH story. Also a battleships will only change course for a aircraft carriers.

[@jimkreiling9166]

Very educational and informative. Thanks Triston.

[@lknanml]

We have had a 28 ft Catalina since 81. Docked at the Long Beach Naval yard till it closed. Dad had 22 years in the USAF. I'm on 12 years Army Aviation so we had access to some perks like the docks..The Battleships Missouri and New Jersey were stationed there along with random ships and Helicarriers. Battleships are long. Most know that. What most don't experience is just how holy crap wide they are especially when you are behind them on the water. Pictures just don't do it justice. Same goes for the Carriers. So tiny us sailing amongst naval and container ships. Get it wrong and your wind is gone as a WALL of ship goes by. We got a little too close to the Battleships a few times and a few men in tiny boats came over to say hi..... One day we were sailing around and a navy sub arrived. Really low in the water. So we sailed over for a look and passed like two ships in the afternoon.... That was cool lets do it again. HELMS ALEE!! Let the Jib release. Boom over and we started our turn right as the wind died along with our speed. The wake from the sub started to turn the bow when I looked over and my brain said there's something you don't see every day. A big black fin sticking out of the water. A big black fin that is going to 100% cross our path. Numbers were racing around my head. How long is our Keel? How close to the surface does the rear section of a sub get? The numbers were not good.. CRAP CRAP CRAP. In true Darwinian form we pulled on the motor and nope. Pulled gain. nope.. CRAP CRAP CRAP. Nice men on tiny boats showed up out of nowhere. First they yelled then they helped by tossing a rope and pulling us away. They knew we lost the wind as everywhere you looked you only saw glass. We didn't get in trouble because we really did lose the motor and had to replace it. Goodtimes. Goodtimes....

[@itsverygreen532]

Regardless of what it may say in the COLREGS, as the skipper of a small yacht, I find the best way of keeping safe is to keep well away from large vessels. If I simply elect not to place myself in position where avoiding action needs to be taken, then its not really a problem.

[@DramaticallyMiddleAged]

I’m more confused as to the position of your spectacles… surely they only have efficacy when positioned in front of your eyeballs?

[@rauldempaire5330]

Big failure of security, if you allow any vessel to collide with the flagship, anything can happen!

[@jgriff3218]

Had the sailing vessel been loaded with explosives this would have been devastating. I agree that the naval vessel should have a visual watch persons.

[@davezxtt]

Great informational video. Although i was thinking should you still be wearing the AWOL logo on your videos seeing as you now no longer represent the actual yatch?.

[@michaelbayliss1794]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@triprobinson2808]

Good stuff Captain. How about that collision in the Bahamas???

[@Bogdan.Pantir]

Happy New Year Tristan!

[@allenkassebaum1292]

I think this has been asked a couple of times, but I'm not sure it was adequately answered. The rule on rest you cited in the MLC referenced commercial vessel. Does it define commercial vessel? Is a privately owned and operated vessel a commercial vessel subject to the MLC?

[@carolo987]

Very happy to see some new posts -- I'm wondering where you are going next? Home for a spell? Baby??? New Yacht coming up -- I miss your posts. Hope you will tell us when you can. Best wishes for the New Year.

[@alanblasczyk1779]

So good to see you Tristen my friend.

[@rafesaunders3373]

What about VHF call to the vessel from the carrier - one would think they would have tried that too...

[@BuddhaAfterDark]

one important detail missed… its a FRENCH military vessel… so who is surprised :P Thanks for the video Captain! :D

[@sedatkasrat]

as the aircraft pilots says about night and/or foggy condutions, checking the surroundings from the windows once is better than monitoring the cursos/indicators ten times...

[@ah244895]

Good rule of thumb: Give way to any vessel who's anchor would crush you and not even slow down on its way. Also, give way to any vessel with armed aircraft aboard.

[@ryano.5149]

"If it's big and gray, stay away!"

[@joke989]

Is it possible that the aircraft carrier was in no light mode do to the training exercise? That is what happened with the Norwegian navy ship that collided the a crude tanker.

[@noyfub]

I helped a friend on a Transatlantic crossing for just crossing for just this reason. Just to make sure he didn't get run over in the middle of the night. It was a 14 meter sailboat.

[@firstlast1047]

I operated commercial support vessels 41/102 ft in the area of the San Diego, California Naval facilities. When carriers were conducting aircraft launch/retrieval exercises, they would periodically broadcast a Securite message indicating an exclusion zone...sometimes up to 20 nm surrounding the carrier.

[@bradtaylor6415]

More importantly when do we get an update on AWOL and what your future plans are. I'm dying to know.

[@JCrook1028]

Awol has sold months ago. Go back and watch the videos.

[@bradtaylor6415]

@@JCrook1028 I know it sold. I watched him cross the pond with it. Curious to know what will happen to her is all. The Skipper is also still wearing the AWOL uniform so I am guessing he may be conducting turnover of the ship. That is why I would love an update!!

[@JCrook1028]

@@bradtaylor6415 Ship was turned over months ago.

[@WelshVilliageDad]

Why are you wearing the AWOL uniform ?

[@jamesgraham6122]

Having been many years a professional skipper, both as a yacht delivery skipper before moving to large privately owned motor yachts, I have also, with my own sailing yachts undertaken long passages single-handed. I would take issue with the statement that it's not possible when single-handed to maintain an adequate lookout at all times. Whenever there was even a remote chance of another vessel being in the vicinity I would never not be making a good check around the horizon every 30 min. Based on the principle that any large vessel, even a fast-moving container ship, cannot cover more than 15 miles in 30 minutes. 15 miles is a reasonable visual and radar (if fitted) range from the deck of even a small sailing yacht based on the size of a large ship with high mounted steaming lights. By strapping my sleeping bag under the cockpit cover and by use of an old-fashioned, wind-up alarm clock with a loud bell, I would doze off and be awakened every 30 min. You also state that you'd be surprised if a sailing yacht had a radar reflector.. a very strange comment. I don't know that I've ever seen a cruising sailing yacht without one. I'm not talking AIS here, just a simple metal reflector mounted high in the rigging. As for visually detecting the sailing yacht, that's difficult to say, at a reasonable distance it should have been possible but once under the bow it's extremely unlikely. As you'll know as a skipper of a large MY, your visibility forward is very restricted by the bow. In any case, any small sailing yacht skipper thinking it's safe to play chicken with an aircraft carrier needs to be escorted to a quiet room and played soft music while waiting to be sectioned.

[@JamieRobinsonCanada]

Restricted in ability to manoeuvre only applies to the aircraft carrier during launch or recovery of aircraft. If it is not performing those operations, than it wouldn’t apply.

[@rocketsciencemusic5398]

The fact that a foreign vessel (not within the carriers Strike Group/Escort), of any kind, got within touching distance of La Royale's Flagship Charles De Gaulle is a formidable joke to the French and it's navy. shocking

[@SCBiscuit13]

Great analysis, however, there were some things omitted. First of all, radar reflector's are required on sailing vessels if they are used commercially, however 99% of them are not really working. Second of all, vessels used by the military are not visible on AIS, so the solo sailor if he was asleep, would not hear any warning sounds coming from the onboard chart plotter, informing about the collision course. From what I remember the solo sailor was asleep during the collision.

[@markwiddicombe5594]

Another point not appreciated by the navigators of small craft is that they are extremely hard to see from the bridge of a large vessel. A container ship with her bridge aft and containers stacked four or five high on the foredeck has severely limited visibilty dead ahead, and in anything over force 5 a white sail is difficult to spot. Also, in any appreciable sea state, the radar reflection of a GRP boat often gets lost amongst the sea clutter. I now navigate a 34' sloop rather than a 125,000 GRT container ship. I carry a radar reflector mounted high in the rigging, and never sail single-handed, but am still wary of not being seen by ships at sea. Just be poised and ready to take action in case you are not seen, even if you think you are the stand-on vessel.

[@santamulligan676]

Well most small yachts have radar reflectors,and a radio and ais these days ,catknapping is what you do with the passive Radar or ais alarm turned on.Difficult to believe that you can’t see an aircraft carrier but with sails set and on your course you have to remember to bare away to see what might be there.I know because I nearly pinged off the Arco Scheldt off Brighton, my rule it’s anything bigger I go behind or heave too until they pass,remember you steer yours from the sharp end, I am all the way back at the blunt end

[@frankmoore3598]

Was the sailing vessel commercial operated or owner operator .

[@tonytango6676]

Did the ceiling Russell have any lights on? I don’t think you mentioned that one way or another.

[@10lauset]

I remember a Mad Magazine segment of exactly this situation...still hilarious.

[@kokomo9764]

From a purely military perspective I find it inconceivable that any vessel could actually run into a warship. The US/Russia/Chinese chicken matches not withstanding. But in every day operations it is astounding to me. Frankly several deck officers on the carrier should be relieved of duty.

[@Matt-yg8ub]

But you would basically be scrubbing all of the active officers of the entire task force at that point. If nobody on multiple vessels detected the sailboat, the failure probably originated with Policy or limits of technology.

[@jackfntwist]

But they're French. Lol

[@FatGuyInaTruck]

@@Matt-yg8ub Those officers would have been relieved anyways had this sailboat turned out to be something OTHER than an innocent vessel. Watch officers are held responsible regardless

[@Matt-yg8ub]

@@FatGuyInaTruck Sure they are, but in many cases unreasonably so.

[@Hegde-]

@@Matt-yg8ub Thats french aircraft carrier. Not american. Most of the times it works alone.