Unknown Ship - What are your intentions?!?

This story took place while offhore on a passage from NC to Charleston. I was cruising aboard Charbonneau (IP40-132) at the time and the weather couldn't have been more perfect: small seas with 15 knots on the beam.

As day turned to evening, we began being more diligent about checking radar for vessels lurking over the horizon on what was a very dark night. It was my shift and I had already avoided a ship or two when I saw another light coming over the horizon.

The light, which started out as a dim glow, was getting brighter and closer by the second. The problem was, I couldn't find it on our radar. I began calling the vessel, giving our position and course, and asking what the vessels intentions were so that we could properly maneuver.

I must have called 4 or 5 times. One time, I even cursed at them to answer me - all the while, the light kept getting closer and was bright enough that I just knew it was a cruise ship on it's way to somewhere. And I was directly in its path.

Well, just about the time I was going to wake up the crew, the lights became very, very clear! My heart sank. I had spent the last 30 minutes frantically calling the MOON!

Yes, I felt like an idiot. But after all my years at sea, I have learned that everyone does something stupid like this eventually. I have done more than my share. This is just one story I'm willing to share.

Nice one, I have heard a similar story involving a US aircraft carrier, they noticed at dusk an extremely bright light that seemed to be following the ship and shadowing their movements. It didn't always follow directly behind when the ship altered course to port and then starboard, but when the ship returned to the original course the unidentified "object" would take up station directly astern. Subsequently the "UFO" was determined to be Venus.

Hi Blaine, I think I have one you'll like. When I was 16 growing up in Va beach I'd sail my 14' sloop off the beach, when it was hot we would go over the side and tow behind the boat to cool off. The boat speed would drop from 4kts to 0.5kts, and we'd get back in. Great fun.

Fast forward to I'm 44 on a catamaran in the BVI's headed up wind to the Baths at 8.5 kts, I get the great idea to jump off the stern holding a rope to show the 3 other couples how to cool off. The boat speed dropped to 8.25kts when my swim suit deployed like a sea anchor around my ankles. It then took all the strength I had to get back over the sugar scoop with my pants down while observers documented the activity on their digital cameras. Not great fun.

Did mention that I was the only one who new how to sail? My wife was not impressed.

I feel better already

Mike:
That is really funny, I can relate and I can see this happening. I cracked up when you told it.

Blaine:
I too have tried to radar a star or the moon....it can be so freaky at night. Your senses are so wired and any light you see you think it is running you down and will hit you. Funny stories. Thanks for sharing these...

Hayden

Blaine, I was doing a night training flight for a navigator between Jacksonville and Bermuda. It was a crystal clear night and I was real impressed with the new navigator's skill when I spotted the " lights" of Bermuda a little over 200 miles out. They turned out to be a crescent moon.