Idiot Armada

[capt. dave]

I was out Saturday anchored at the Spike near the enterence to the Rappahannock River. There were many other boats anchored there in a rather small area. I happened to look across the river and saw a large group of Blow Boats assembled on the north side west of Butlers Hole. It looked like they were all headed in our direction with their sails close hauled. In about a half hour the whole darned bunch of them were right on top of our group of fishing boats. I stared in wonderment as they made their way precariously throught the midst of us. I called to one that was close by and said that was a stupid thing for them to do and were endangering other people. The answer I got was that they were having a race.
They headed south and at some point turned around and came back. Of course they came right through us again even though there were more boats there than before. I watched as one came to within 20 feet of my bow and I had my fingers crossed that it wouldn't foul its keel on my anchor line.
All of my life I have had a more or less live and let live attitude toward Blow Boaters. Most of the time they don't bother me and I give them a wide birth when I running. This was a down right poor example of good seamanship and a blatent disregard for others by those snail boaters to run through the anchored fishing fleet in such close quarters. I guess they have no shame.

[Cutbait]

That sucks. Any spot?

[grover123]

That stinks but I'm not suprised. In the past month I've had a jet ski guy circle me then slow down and ask how the fishing was, a 30 foot go fast boat had 200 yards of channel and passed within 20 yards of me at 60 mph, and the best was a cruiser heading out of the river passing right behind me while I was trolling for spanish. I Just sat there and watched one of my lines go slack while he waved at me. I give up. I consider the idiot armada part of fishing. Just like the wind, tides, and water temp..

[satterly]

As I was going up the Piankatank yesturday morning in my little 14 footer I had a guy in a bass boat fly up behind me and pull a nice nascar style pass about 20 feet off my port side. He had to of been going everybit of fourty MPH while i was getting along as fast as I can with my little 5 horse kicker (needless to say as fast as I can go isn't very fast). I could see if I were out in the channel going so slow that he might have come up on me fast like that, but I was hugging the shoreline to stay out of the way. Some people just don't give a damn about their behavior and the effects it may have on others while on the water.

--John

[capt. dave]

Cutbait, we did get some spots. Some of the other boats didn't do as well so they went over to Butler's Hole. I don't think they did very well over there either.

[Rockfish Man]

I was out trolling for blues and spanish this summer. This one boat was driving like he was the only boat there. He came about 15 feet off the back of my boat and snagged all the lines. I had to cut the lines since the line was shooting and re rig everything :(

[jwas1]

At the risk of getting blasted on my favorite bulletin board, I raced sailboats up and down the Bay for 25 years. The race committee often sets the course months in advance. Other times the starting point is set ahead of time and then the turning marks are set the day of the race depending on wind direction and speed. Once the course is set, like NASCAR or any other type of racing, the aim of each boat is to sail the course as fast as possible. Unfortunately, there is no provision for sailing around fishing fleets. We always tried to keep a safe distance from fishing boats to avoid fouling fishing or anchor lines. Snagging an anchor line is a sure way to lose a race. Our 10,000lb 35 foot sailboat would stop cold if we snagged a crab pot line. Sailboats are a lot quieter under water than the guys who fly up to a fleet at planning speed only to anchor right on your spread so I don't think they would scare the fish. Sailboat racers are used to coming within inches of other boats while maintaining complete control of their boats so what might look very dangerous and inconsiderate to powerboaters of which I am now one, is just an ordinary day of racing to them.

[cwoods]

There were actually people sailing down there!!!? I don't get in that area often, but when I have been there the blowboats from Deltaville almost always are under motor power. It seems like the sails are for status and show-and-tell and the real sailors hang out in Annapolis!

[jinx]

It's one thing you have to remember. It is there world, we are just living in it!

[shellfish]

I to was at the spike when the sailboats came right up on top of everybody what a smart move ..........we did catch afew spot and trout but it was really slow moved to the bridge area still slow ended up in front of the silos and really started to catch nice spot up to 10inchs...........