Another tragedy.

[tom52]

Is there anything that can be done to avoid this kind of tragedy ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/6908537.stm

First reports suggested that the rib had gone full tilt into Bembridge Ledge.

 

[Malcb]

Also reports suggest that they wern't wearing lifejackets. I've seen countless RIB's and small fast sports-boats in the Solent wher there were no lifejackets being worn.

This photo is so typical

Taken outside Langstone harbour last year.

 

[Aeolus]

Do you want more rules, laws, regulation?

If adults go out in boats then they should take responsibility for themselves. If you want to avoid all risk, don't venture out in a boat. If you are prepared to accept some level of risk, then make up your own mind how many precautions you wish to take and get on with it.

Where there is risk, sometimes things will go wrong and people may die. That is the way it works. It cannot be prevented unless you eliminate all risk. How boring!

In any case, deaths related to recreational use of boats are incredibly rare (unless you include those killed on the roads whilst travelling to their boats).

 

[searover]

sometimes the the way some replys are worded, really wories me at times. dont make judgment untill the enquiry, the lobster pot line tells me something, but obviously not everyone...... have a nice day you never know when its your last...

 

[Habebty]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you want more rules, laws, regulation?

If adults go out in boats then they should take responsibility for themselves. If you want to avoid all risk, don't venture out in a boat. If you are prepared to accept some level of risk, then make up your own mind how many precautions you wish to take and get on with it.

Where there is risk, sometimes things will go wrong and people may die. That is the way it works. It cannot be prevented unless you eliminate all risk. How boring!

In any case, deaths related to recreational use of boats are incredibly rare (unless you include those killed on the roads whilst travelling to their boats).

[/ QUOTE ]


Here here.
Keep the nanny state and the Health and Safety police away from my leisure time. As long as I'm not putting any body else at risk let me get on with it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Having said that, I'll always wear a lifejacket in the tender and not just in case a pub visit is involved. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MapisM]

I'm with you in principle, except when you suggest that the fun is somehow associated with the risk.
Boating wouldn't be less fun (or "boring") if we could eliminate all the associated risks.
But as a matter of fact, that's either impossible or impractical.

 

[Aeolus]

-------------------------------------------------------
...dont make judgment untill the enquiry,
--------------------------------------------------------
I didn't think I had made a judgement. My comments were aimed at the person who suggested that accidents shouldn't happen at sea.

I have no idea what happened to the two (?) people on the boat - the BBC item is very opaque - and I am very sorry for the loss of the two people. However it is a risk that all of us take when we mess about in boats and we should accept that.

---------------------------------------------------------------
...except when you suggest that the fun is somehow associated with the risk.
---------------------------------------------------------------

If sailing was made completely risk free, I think it would be less enjoyable. The uncertainties of weather, sea, equipment failures, human limitations and the challenges of having to cope with somtimes serious situations are all part of what motivates me to go sailing.

 

[Sixpence]

Also agree that there's too much of this 'wrap em up in cotton wool' mentality these days , it's personal choice or follow the skippers rules , whichever is appropriate . I'm out over the weekend and will wear a lifejacket on the move because that's the skippers rules and I'm happy with that . But to make it across the board is just daft . I've been on tenders sober and not so sober before , without a lifejacket /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif it's my choice so I accept the risk the same as I always have /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Sybarite]

Re: Yet another tragedy.

What about the 50 or so Africans lost at sea near the Canaries? They should get a mention and a thought from us too.

John

 

[Rob_Webb]

Notwithstanding this specific incident (cause unclear), if stupid people kill themselves in boats that's fine with me. Improves the gene pool no end.

But if you insist on doing something, put contraceptive chemicals into all drinking water and couples wanting to pro-create have to pass an IQ test before being given an antidote pill so they can sprog.

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
But if you insist on doing something, put contraceptive chemicals into all drinking water and couples wanting to pro-create have to pass an IQ test before being given an antidote pill so they can sprog.

[/ QUOTE ]
I believe Hitler had a fairly high IQ . . .

 

[MapisM]

[ QUOTE ]
If sailing was made completely risk free, I think it would be less enjoyable. The uncertainties... are all part of what motivates me to go sailing.

[/ QUOTE ]Respectable viewpoint, though I'm sure most salty dogs would disagree.
The uncertainties you mention are part of the game, and obviously must be accepted if you want to play it.
But thinking that serious situations at sea are part of the enjoyment, that's something different.
I wish you not to encounter a situation serious enough to review your approach...

 

[simon_sluggett]

Surely there's some case for legislation in regards to high speed ribs, which seem to be the craft of choice for these type of idiots, that and jet skis.

Quickly ducks for cover................

 

[DaveS]

While I have sympathy with this view, the trouble is that that's not how it operates. As a result of a couple of dramatic high speed mobo accidents a year or two ago we're now all under drink limit legislation. Absolutely no correlation between cause and effect, but legislators tend to be lawyers rather than engineers or scientists so no surprise there.

And the really annoying bit is that the politicians probably genuinely believe that they are acting for the common good and get a resulting nice warm glow...

 

[DeeGee]

With no knowledge of the life-jacket situation, my first reaction on reading this was simply that this couple had been bombing along and suddenly thrown out when the boat came to a very sudden stop, with one of those wonderful pot-buoys (we all know and love) grabbing the prop and leg. The surprise is that they didn't survive. Hopefully the enquiry will manage to shed some light?

 

[oldharry]

<<...politicians probably genuinely believe...>>> Oxymoron! 'politician' and 'genuine' can NEVER appear in the same sentence.

<<acting for the common good and get a resulting nice warm glow... >>>
should read 'hoping for more publicity and votes'

 

[Sailfree]

Just an aside.

I recently completed the Powerboat level 2 course so that I could do rescue boat duties at the club. High speed runs into waves/across waves /surfing down waves definately interesting. MOB at speed also interesting. Behaviour of a rib under wind and tide to come alongside a casualty definately different.

Phoned the rya to see whether this counts for any change to my YM Comm qualification to be told I was already qualified by YM for power boats up to 10m!

On reflection I think I would have managed most stuff without the course but at a slower pace and with a fair degree of caution but what would I recommend to others (that I cared about) ??

Do the course - driving a high powered rib is no comparison to handing a yacht under power or the dinghy with an outboard.

It raises the question though are the RYA guilty of not emphasising enough the difference betwen different types of motor boats or should it just be left to our own common sense? Is there a risk of skippers thinking they are more capable than they are ??