Hurricane
Well-Known Member
A couple of days ago, we were anchored in Palma Nova - Mallorca
After a few hours, SWMBO and some lady yachtie friends decided to go snorkelling round the rocks on the south of the bay.
A friend and I joined them later.
To get there quickly, we took his tender.
After a bit of swimming, we decided to head back to Jennywren.
My friend swam back to his tender and I swam on with the girls.
My friend then escorted us through the anchorage.
One of the girls also had one of those "Sub" swim buoys so we were all well marked.
Just as we approached JW, SWMBO and I decided to check on the anchor.
We were within 20m of the boat when suddenly, it seemed from nowhere, a big RIB was on us.
It ran right over me - SWMBO screamed at the driver but it made no difference.
I tell you - it is very scary seeing the underside of a hull coming at you.
I swim round JW all the time so I'm used to pushing away from the hull.
But, I tell you, the scary bit was the sudden realisation that this was was a motor boat under way.
Thinking about it, I must have managed to push away from the hull and, thankfully, I was swimming with fins because as the boat forced me under, I must have instinctively used my fins to keep away from the RIB's centerline.
The next thing I saw was the twin props turning in the water about 12" away.
It all happened very quickly so there wasn't time to ?hit myself.
SWMBO said that I popped out from under the back of the RIB.
Then, to my horour, the RIB stopped and reversed its engines!!!
It seemed that the driver had now seen the problem and wanted to stop his boat.
I apologise now to anyone reading this who was there at the time.
My language was extremely course - I don't often swear like that - SWMBO said it must have been shock.
Initially, the RIB driver didn't show any concern.
When he did say something, I realised that he was English.
This made me swear at him even more.
I then took control, and said that I was OK.
And that he should just leave (?uck off - I think I actually said)
He then lean't over his boat and declared that he was an instructor.
I think he wss trying to blame me.
That made me really mad - and even more rude words came from my mouth - automatically.
I swam bach to JW and he took my advice and ?ucked off.
This incident kind of proves a point that I've often wondered.
Apologies to instructiors on this forum because I know most of you don't fit my following statement but......
It my view is that
IF YOU CAN - YOU DO - IF YOU CAN'T YOU TEACH.
I'm sorry but this case proves my point.
The (so called) instructor in this case was a pillock.
I've been driving RIBs at my sailing club for decades.
We were taught and told many times - "when there is someone in the water the engine must be switched off".
And I still do this - even with our tender.
This guy
A - shouldn't have been going so fast
B - should'nt have been dtiving so close to anchored boats
C - should have kept a good lookout for swimmers
D - should have cut the engine the moment he realised that there was a problem.
E - and NEVER reverse back over the victim.
In hindsight, I hope that he has leaned a lesson.
My friends - some of them top skippers - wanted me to report him.
The RIB did have an SSR number but in the heat of the moment, we didn't write it down.
Also, we didn't notice if he was wearing a kill chord or not.
I feel very very lucky.
I've been run over by a twin engined boat and I've lived go tell the tale.
It could have been a very different outcome.
So my advice is "be careful when swimming round your boat"
After a few hours, SWMBO and some lady yachtie friends decided to go snorkelling round the rocks on the south of the bay.
A friend and I joined them later.
To get there quickly, we took his tender.
After a bit of swimming, we decided to head back to Jennywren.
My friend swam back to his tender and I swam on with the girls.
My friend then escorted us through the anchorage.
One of the girls also had one of those "Sub" swim buoys so we were all well marked.
Just as we approached JW, SWMBO and I decided to check on the anchor.
We were within 20m of the boat when suddenly, it seemed from nowhere, a big RIB was on us.
It ran right over me - SWMBO screamed at the driver but it made no difference.
I tell you - it is very scary seeing the underside of a hull coming at you.
I swim round JW all the time so I'm used to pushing away from the hull.
But, I tell you, the scary bit was the sudden realisation that this was was a motor boat under way.
Thinking about it, I must have managed to push away from the hull and, thankfully, I was swimming with fins because as the boat forced me under, I must have instinctively used my fins to keep away from the RIB's centerline.
The next thing I saw was the twin props turning in the water about 12" away.
It all happened very quickly so there wasn't time to ?hit myself.
SWMBO said that I popped out from under the back of the RIB.
Then, to my horour, the RIB stopped and reversed its engines!!!
It seemed that the driver had now seen the problem and wanted to stop his boat.
I apologise now to anyone reading this who was there at the time.
My language was extremely course - I don't often swear like that - SWMBO said it must have been shock.
Initially, the RIB driver didn't show any concern.
When he did say something, I realised that he was English.
This made me swear at him even more.
I then took control, and said that I was OK.
And that he should just leave (?uck off - I think I actually said)
He then lean't over his boat and declared that he was an instructor.
I think he wss trying to blame me.
That made me really mad - and even more rude words came from my mouth - automatically.
I swam bach to JW and he took my advice and ?ucked off.
This incident kind of proves a point that I've often wondered.
Apologies to instructiors on this forum because I know most of you don't fit my following statement but......
It my view is that
IF YOU CAN - YOU DO - IF YOU CAN'T YOU TEACH.
I'm sorry but this case proves my point.
The (so called) instructor in this case was a pillock.
I've been driving RIBs at my sailing club for decades.
We were taught and told many times - "when there is someone in the water the engine must be switched off".
And I still do this - even with our tender.
This guy
A - shouldn't have been going so fast
B - should'nt have been dtiving so close to anchored boats
C - should have kept a good lookout for swimmers
D - should have cut the engine the moment he realised that there was a problem.
E - and NEVER reverse back over the victim.
In hindsight, I hope that he has leaned a lesson.
My friends - some of them top skippers - wanted me to report him.
The RIB did have an SSR number but in the heat of the moment, we didn't write it down.
Also, we didn't notice if he was wearing a kill chord or not.
I feel very very lucky.
I've been run over by a twin engined boat and I've lived go tell the tale.
It could have been a very different outcome.
So my advice is "be careful when swimming round your boat"
, as opposed to the whistle.
