Sailboat crashes into pier in Saint Tropez April 23

Sailboat crashes into the pier in Saint Tropez. It seems that there are problems furling the Genova sail and the skipper's lack of skill, despite the efforts of the port sailors, produces a series of dangerous maneuvers that lead to a collision with the dock. Fortunately there is nothing to regret but damage

[@volkerkonig9376]

Don't know the circumstances. But: 1) don't enter a harbour with sails, especially just for fun or to show your marvellous boat- handling. The damages could be serious and your inshurance is reluctant to pay in such circumstances. 2.)if you have engine- troubles or similar problems get rid of the sails BEFORE the harbour, throw your anchor, call for help by VHF or telephone and wait for the tug- boat. 3.) it was said he had troubles furling the genua. If this happens you often forget in the shock that a furling- sail is an otherwise quite normal sail and you can put it down in the regular way, as we did several times a day before the uprise of the furling sails- technology.

[@davidrockefeller2007]

Might have been a boat they rented and had no experience of sailing. Couldn’t get the motor running and tried to sail in maybe.

[@victor-charlesscafati]

@@davidrockefeller2007 I don't think they rent $500,000 USD boats to people with "no experience sailing." But maybe he misrepresented his experience. Usually they require a certification from the RYA or similar organization.

[@davidrockefeller2007]

@@victor-charlesscafati I know they do ask if they have experience but they might consider having a 15 foot sailboat 30 years ago as experience. They bite off more than they can chew or maybe drunk.

[@victor-charlesscafati]

I can understand "problems furling the genoa." What I don't understand were the "problems letting the genoa luff." I mean, they could have eased it so that they weren't powered up! I know that letting it luff could have eventually ripped it, but that would have been a lot cheaper than hull damage, potentially to multiple boats. I mean, who knows what all the circumstances were, but clearly there was bad judgement in multiple ways.

[@boondog8504]

Perhaps a riding turn (override) on the sheet winch so the sheet could not be eased; perhaps panic, perhaps incompetence. It is after all a charter boat.

[@victor-charlesscafati]

@@boondog8504 You're right.. but in that circumstance, that's what a knife is for.

[@Krumelur]

A furling foresail can be lowered like any sail. Go to the mast, undo the knot and the thing will come down. No need to cut anything.

[@victor-charlesscafati]

@@Krumelur Not if they have a structural furling forestay, which I believe that boat has. But also, cutting the sheet near the clew does minimal damage (you lose a bit of the sheet) and *instantly* depowers the jib, which is what they needed to avoid what was surely serious damage to their hull. I would have sacrificed a few centimeters of sheet in a heartbeat-they needed to lose that backwinding immediately.

[@Krumelur]

@@victor-charlesscafati even with a structural forestay the Genoa would sit on a slider that can be lowered

[@sailorman92704]

It's a charter boat.....skipper had no idea how to handle the windy situation. Charter staff were doing their best but apparently didn't tell the skipper to release the headsail sheet.

[@namechamps]

Come on. Even if you can't lower (or furl) the sail you can ease it, dump the sail it isn't going to produce much power if any. If you had a car where the engine wouldn't turn off it would help to not also have the gas pedal smashed down to the floor. They had the sail powered up.

[@JS-yj7ow]

Just because you can buy nice things, doesn’t mean you deserve nice things.

[@ekuryluk]

Charter customer, unfamiliar boat, doesn't realize the sail could be dropped, or just let the sheets fly. Worst case abort the attempt and call for someone to help him get the boat in. Too bad the video cut short, there had to be more to that incident.

[@andy99ish]

Most probably the boat had engine troubles. Luckily there is a lot of space and the wind does not blow towards land. The genova could have been easily furled under any circumstances - just relax the halyard and gravity will bring the sail down. Help was called in time - that is why there are two big dinghies (port police?) assisting. Skipper did a good job in tacking the boat close to the pier. However he could have maneuvered better with a closely reefed mainsail instead of the genova. And then shot into the wind in some distance from the pier, relaxed the sheets , have long lines brought ashore with the help of the dinghies and fixed there by someone on the pier. Then pull himself towards land with the help of onboard winches (and furled the mainsail). Yachts of this size will carry a couple of 30 - 50 m ropes. This from a skipper of 30+ years of sailing experience who once had such a problem.

[@Mr_K._Face-B]

If you can not turn the geona, you can turn the boat! Once I had the same problem, I just drove in round several times until the genoa was stored!.....

[@sailingwithjacq]

Omg and it’s not even their boat from what I see. I am only into my 3rd year sailing on a Beneteau and living on it in the winter months. But one thing I know I would call to Dock-Master or some other help if I could not bring down any sail before I ever would attempt to dock at the harbour. It’s unfortunate for them that they had to experience this. Just my thoughts and I don’t know exactly what went on to get to this point.

[@philliphogg2329]

Why are your sails up in harbor.?😳✌

[@PillSharks]

Why not? They did it back in the old days but the problem we have here is the skipper hasn’t got a clue unless he’s had something fail.

[@greggbutler9344]

@@PillSharks didn’t have very expensive boats everywhere to crash into in the olden days 😂

[@naimavonemden8101]

No engine i think !

[@Moon-Cay]

Furlex not working

[@ManeldeSagarraPladevall-gx2vs]

Menudo patrón.... Una cosa es un enrrollador atascado y otra no atinar a soltar la escota del génova.....😂😂😂

[@keytothegate68]

He was really going for it. Bullseyes!

[@alexxela754]

I can’t believe why it’s so easy for beginners to rent this expensive boats. Must be some expensive insurance…

[@bernardgourvez3553]

Encore un marin d’eau douce , on a du fric pour acheter un bateau mais faut savoir naviguer on ne manœuvre pas avec un génois déroulé

[@greggbutler9344]

All the gear , but no idea 😂

[@user-zp1lr7vh6y]

un voilier avec du vent et une voile est maneuvrant, encore faut il savoir... le.fric ne donne pas.le savoir

[@Verradonairun]

All he had to do was release the headsail sheets...

[@bernardpatrickmacgowan7050]

Probably a defunct furler . Maybe should have tried to cut the sheets , or the sail at the clew .

[@victor-charlesscafati]

Or sail with a clue! :)

[@firstphotowork8419]

very sad.

[@Sam-W]

Usually I feel bad for people when they damage their boat but here he had it coming.

[@0718dm]

Is that Jim Carey or Jeff Daniels at the helm?

[@jerrypolverino6025]

Docking with a sail up. Hilarious

[@saunieralain31]

Quand on est nul , on n’a pas de bateau comme ça....😂

[@traveliersmusicmountains2180]

No sense !!! No Brain

[@MrTrapper28]

Clueless!

[@user-zp1lr7vh6y]

un voilier est parfaitement manœuvrant avec une voile. encore faut il savoir. l argent n apporte pas tout

[@Fmacian59]

Me pregunto si no podría haber arriando la vela fuera del puerto. Soltar la escota es un poco arriesgado. Seguro que la pilla la hélice (ley de Murphy) y entonces tienes un problema gordo. Arribar el foque sin soltar escota para que no caiga al agua (ni escota ni foque) me parece menos arriesgado.

[@andyb.1026]

Clowns like this are the day's entertainment in St Trop & Antibes etc 😂😮