Yachting and Boating World forums: Here's a few more

A quick scan through a couple of lifeboat sites lists calls made to yachts and fishing boats with fouled props and/or rudders.

The www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk site lists
6 Aug 1999 - Gerrans Bay
2 Aug 2002 - Gerrans Bay
13 June 2001 - 1.5 miles SE of Greeb Point

The www.sennen-cove.com site lists
20 July 1990 location not specified
24 July 1992 5 miles NW Longships
6 Dec 1994 2 miles SW Longships
24 Aug 1996 NW Longships
11 July 1999 4 miles W of Gwennap Head
6 Aug 1999 7 miles NW of Pendeen Lighthouse
29 May 2000 location not specified

I had my own prop fouled at mid channel between Falmouth and Treguier, one windless night. It turned out to be a piece of heavy duty fishing net about 1 metre by 5. I managed to clear it next morning from the dinghy using a "tool" made by fixing a carpet cutting (hooked) blade to the end of the deck broom handle.

I once also had the odd pleasure of towing a French fishing boat into Morgat after it had fouled its prop on its own crab pots! As a reward the skipper presented me with a large basket of spider crabs and a bottle of wine, both of which were put back into the sea. However, the wine took the longer route.

In recent years I have sailed in Greek and Turkish waters were nets are normally marked by lights. These are always white(ish) but can be flashing electric, some sort of flare which burns for hours or even hurricane lamps attached to an expanded foam raft.