licence should be mandatory!!

[Frank]

OK OK...this isn't really funny...but I'm human. I like ultimate fighting..we all slow down to look at a traffic accident....I found this 'entertaining'. At around 10pm last night,I just happened to be walking over by the fuel dock when this huge (the dark blue one),almost workboat looking private yacht came in. You come straight in then turn right to enter the marina proper.It was blowing real hard..over 25knts. This guy wasn't turning??...he was literally coming in sideways with the wind.He seemed to be trying thrusters but it didn't turn....in sideways he kept coming.The marina attendant was yelling frantically....the 2 guys on deck were yelling back/forth with walkie talkies...the 'captain?' kept trying things. Realizing he couldn't turn..he backed up to not hit the huge white mega yacht to the right.The darl blue one is 85ft long...there isn't much more than that between the fuel dock and the white yacht.As he backed up..more yelling..he crunched the dock!! Then forward..towards the white one again....more yelling...this time I thought he WAS going into it...I'm sure they could have shook hands boat to boat!!Then..huge reverse blast..rammed the dock again, kept it in reverse and the wind FINALLY brought the bow around to where you see it tied. "don't try this at home..I'm a trained professional". The captain/owner comes down and says  "gee..that was close eh...I thought I'd have to get my checkbook out"..and proceeded to tell me he left Ft Lauderdale with only one engine..didn't figure it would matter and that he always has a hard time figuring out the thrusters. WOW....imagine if you were in a small craft with this guy docking near you!! The boat is steel hulled,a beautiful fair job, with alum. superstructure. Too much $$$ Not enough skill!! They really should make licencing mandatory on anything even close to that size!! In the end..no loss of blood or fiberglass and was the high light of my evening. That whole attitude is just bizarre....guess they don't always have radar on OR know how to use it. See...I'm keeping my cooking timer for cat naps ;-)    sent a pic for Kurt to post for me

[CharlieJ]

If that yacht is over 65 feet and is US documented or registered,  he is REQUIRED to have a coast guard licensed skipper aboard or he's not supposed to move it.

So a license IS required for that boat.

[Frank]

If this dude was licensed....thats SCARY!!!  I'm taking a walk to see where its from/registered

[Frank]

Charlie...The 1st letter was blocked by a tarp...but boats name is  " ?ortaleza"...no numbers...no flag. They spoke Italion I think on their walkie talkies while docking.Said they had left Ft Lauderdale????

[Frank]

Ok  Charlie...I've been investigating.Boat name is Fortaleza...flag is British Virgian Islans ;-)

[AdriftAtSea]

They're also in violation of the COLREGS if they have radar and aren't using it...  So they're incompetent and ignorant...

[CharlieJ]

Probably very different rules then. May be a case where "money talks"

And if you break something, just throw some money at it- it'll go away. Yeah right!!!