| A cruising yachtsmans' worst nightmare is being run | | | | mystery of the sea. However, it was known that |
| down by a merchant vessel, particularly at night, far | | | | 'Ouzo' did carry a radar reflector - whether it was in |
| offshore. Statistics however, show us that this is far | | | | position at the time is not known. There is an |
| more likely to happen close to shore in busy shipping | | | | interesting report you can read on the internet which |
| lanes where the density of these large vessels is | | | | you can find easily enough by tapping in |
| much greater. | | | | ‘Ouzo’collision report. |
| A radar reflector therefore, is a piece of equipment | | | | Fully effective they may not be, but under the heading |
| that all cruising sailboats should have. Recent tests | | | | of any additional equipment that can alert an |
| have shown that they are not necessarily that | | | | approaching merchant vessel, having a reflector |
| effective, depending on their positioning in the rigging, | | | | clamped to your cap shroud above the top spreader |
| heel of your vessel, other clutter in the area and the | | | | is best seamanship practice and no cruiser should put |
| sensitivity of ships receivers close by to name a few. | | | | to sea without one. |
| There is much written on this subject which you can | | | | They come in two basic shapes - one is made up of |
| research. | | | | segments (octahedral) which can be assembled and |
| Nonetheless, a reflector permanently installed high in | | | | hung in the rigging - not ideal for long passages. The |
| your rigging is an additional item that can assist in | | | | other, and to my mind, the better option for cruisers is |
| alerting approaching shipping that you are in the same | | | | the tubular type which you can clamp on to your upper |
| quadrant of water as they are. Many other factors | | | | shroud and leave in position permanently. I positioned |
| come into play such as has the other ship recorded | | | | mine on the starboard cap shroud above the top |
| your presence? is there a watch in their radio room at | | | | spreader. There are a number of manufacturers |
| the time? is your boat heeling? etc. All of these could | | | | making these reflectors and you can view the range |
| hinder the chances of the other shipping seeing you. | | | | at any quality chandler. You can appraise them initially |
| There has been much written about a tragic incident | | | | on the internet where you will find illustrations and |
| near the Isle of Wight in August 2006 between the | | | | prices for your local market. |
| yacht 'Ouzo' and a large P&O ferry. The collision | | | | Obviously radar and more recently AIS(Automatic |
| or near collision resulted in the sinking of the yacht and | | | | Identification System) would be part of a modern day |
| the drowning of the three crew. As the yacht itself | | | | Cruisers 'onboard package', but that is another subject. |
| has never been recovered, this incident remains a | | | | |