GL: Sunken yacht in ICW

[Bill Allen]

As someone thats owns aboat capable of running at 25 kts theres two problems 
happening in a narrow chanell. Or even outside. I hit a sumbreged object 25+ 
many miles off shore never saw what we hit. The damage to my gear was 
amazing pretty much cleaned the whole running gear away. The second more 
troublesome is it's almost impossible to stay in a narrow chanel at high 
speed. With good electronics, radar and visible markers the distance 
traveled and how fast you move out of the chanel is amazing. Despite 
watching a marker approach due to currents wind and wakes you may be 
approaching the marker but out of the channel. Look down at the gps or grab 
the radio and it can be over. They'll be NO  easy back out, you're  bent and 
staring at a large repair bill. Speeds a great thing if you just wish to 
cover a bunch of distance, but speed has it's costs. Least of all is the 
boat that cuts in front of you unaware of how fast your approach is, 
collision risk goes way up. When running fast you need no distractions, 
narrow channels are NOT an area of no distractions. Get out in safe open 
water you can run hard if you must. My wake from this boat will be less at 
this speed than when I slow down at least till I get to hull speed. But you 
still have to be aware of how fast you come up on objects and how fast 
things go wrong. I took my hatteras 43 dcmy to Fl. and ran almost 
exculsivelly at hull speed. Most of the trip this is a good speed to travel, 
plenty of time to react and move if required. Plenty of time to keep an eye 
on your electronics and plotter. I can't imagine how dangerous it would be 
to be in my Topaz  at 25 kts. cruising the icw. Least of all how intense and 
unpleasurable a trip it would have been. Speed can be very dangerous in 
restricted areas like the ICW. The only way to cope around these guys is 
stay alert both on the radio and looking around your boat. Give a shout on 
the radio and try and stay out of there  way for your own safety. I was 
waked up on a bar with the hatt by a Fast Sportfish boat on the way down. 
Partially my fault for not watching closely enough as he overtook me.
----- Original Message -----