Under the Rules of the Road, sailing vessels generally have the right of way over motor vessels, unless the motor vessel is limited by an ability to maneuver.  Specifically, “small vessels or sailing vessels must not impede (larger) vessels which can navigate only within a narrow channel.”  This weekend at the races at Cowes there was a demonstration of what happens when these rules are ignored, when the yacht ‘Atlanta of Chester’ appears to have attempted to cut across the path of the UK-flag 174,000 dwt 260-metre Suezmax shuttle tanker Hanne Knutsen.  Fortunately no one was seriously injured.

DRAMATIC COLLISION BETWEEN YACHT AND TANKER

At just after twenty past three this afternoon Solent Coastguard were informed by Hamble Rescue that the yacht ‘Atlanta of Chester’ had collided with the tanker ‘Hanne Knutsen’ off Egypt Point, Isle of Wight.  Two people were thrown overboard by the collision and the yacht lost its mast and rigging.

Yacht dismasted by supertanker off Cowes, Isle of Wight

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