The trouble is Joe public with mobile phones, they see something that looks a bit dodgy, next thing you know there is a lifeboat demanding they tow you back to harbour for your own safety.I have no information on this other than what I've seen on the (conflicting) media reports, but....
- there's no evidence he was ever "lost".
- he may or may not have had a PLB on board. If he did, he might have reckoned that it was inappropriate as he was not in "grave and imminent danger".
He might be one of those Captains Calamity that we all like to scoff at. Or he might be an otherwise competent seaman with a broken engine, who was happy to drift about until the breeze returned.
Nice looking boat, what I can see of it
especially as the tide flow will create a wind on it's own, albeit only very light so won't be easy to work with for MABs maybe?Bobbing about for a few days is my idea of heaven right now, although maybe not in the Dover Strait.
I must say, it seems odd that there was no wind at all, for three days, in that area. Maybe.
I wonder if he forgot his mobile phone? I understand that at that part of La manche there is a signal all the way to the mainland.
Clearly no ferry traffic to spot him.
Why would they cross, we have left Europe.Well very supprised that there was no Illegals crossing at that time, they could have given him a tow in ?
Would that be classed as a legitimate use? Unless he'd run out of drinking water or no food for days I'd say not really. A handheld VHF though for sureA PLB might have been handy.
Dozens were rescued/ferried in over the weekend, but the desperate starving refugees must have had better comms. than the experienced yachtsman..Why would the cross, we have left Europe.
I was confused by this tweet "Unfortunately, due to his engine failing, he had no power to his radio." but then I realised he must have run the battery down trying to get it started. But then they said "The yacht is his home so there are no issues re. Covid." so I'm thinking surely he had a leisure battery? But maybe he ran that down before thinking to use the radio. A lesson worth remembering to always keep a bit of juice in reserve. Then I'm thinking why didn't he McGyver 8 AA/AAA batteries with some gaffer tape into a 12v batteryDozens were rescued/ferried in over the weekend, but the desperate starving refugees must have had better comms. than the experienced yachtsman..
Oh, are the refugees mostly Remainers?Why would they cross, we have left Europe.