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1981capri
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts
Initially Posted - 05/19/2008 :  14:39:35  Show Profile
We had the best sail of the season so far this weekend. Saturday in Portland, Oregon on the Columbia River was 90 degrees and a 12 to 15 mph south to southwest wind with peak gust to 21. That allowed us to sail straight upriver to the east on a single tack on beam to broad reach from the I-5 bridge to buoy 18 at the I-205 bridge. We fell in with a C32, San Juan 28 and a Cal 25 and stayed pretty much together upriver. The C32 rounded the buoy first and then we followed with the other two close behind. Just as we rounded we could see a barge heading down river just coming into site upriver under the 205 bridge. We started planning our tacks so we would be out of the channel when they got down to us. We were flying back down river close haul. That is when we started getting the peak gusts. With the 135 and full main, I was playing the traveler and the main sheet to try and keep her on her feet. I was so proud of the Admiral on helm. The first time we put the rail in the water on a tack I dumped the main sheet. On the next tack as the rail was going in and I was reaching for the sheet she said sternly, don't touch that sheet until I get a course set and the boat back up to speed. That is a whole new level for us. I don't have any pictures of that point because I was to busy to think of getting the camera back out. Anyway, we stayed right with the C32 and made it back down to the I-5 bridge before the barge caught up to us. In the last picture we are out of the channel and the barge is about to make a turn to starboard at the point to go under the bridge.
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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts
Response Posted - 05/19/2008 :  16:44:39  Show Profile
I remember ducking those darn barges (down here we call them "tows" - although I'm not sure why as they are always pushed!) when racing the SixPak with Gary Bruner and the Nationals with Alice Patten. Definitely added an extra dimension to your tactics!
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 05/19/2008 :  17:29:13  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Derek Crawford</i>
<br />...down here we call them "tows" - although I'm not sure why as they are always pushed...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...because when they do a long run in big water (gulf, sound, ocean...) they'll switch to towing on a looooooooong cable (like a half mile). Never get between a tug and is tow! It's a common cause of night-time catastrophes.
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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts
Response Posted - 05/20/2008 :  08:24:51  Show Profile  Visit DaveR's Homepage
It seems to me that when inshore and against a tide Skippers will pull and with a tide they push the barge, or at least that's what I've seen, but I <i>haven't seen</i> the written protocol.

Oh, and thanks for the pics, looks like it was a fun day!
Edited by - DaveR on 05/20/2008 08:26:33
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 05/20/2008 :  13:00:31  Show Profile
They push where they need to maneuver and stop. They pull on open seas where wind and swells might be a factor. They use about a half-mile cable so if the tug stops (let's say due to engine trouble), the barge doesn't run it over and sink it. I've seen one pulling where it should've been pushing on a curving river in Norwalk, CT, and the barge ran into a marina dock outside of my office.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.