August 17 was a bad day for paddleboarders

[Concerto]

On the 17 August the RNLI were called out to about 30 incidents involving paddleboards and inflatables in North West England alone. I wonder how few calls were made to yachts and motorboats.

Yet more pleas for paddleboarder safety after 30 rescues on one day - Marine Industry News

 

[CrossedThreads]

I also imagine there is a large discrepancy between the % of paddle boarders who are members of the RNLI and the % of boat owners who are members.

 

[Dellquay13]

Not the same day, but 4 calls to yachts by Milford Haven RNLI on the 18th.
First to a 55’ wooden yacht sunk on the rocks off Dale fort, once to a yacht near Lundy and twice to a yacht washed onto Dale beach, the 2nd time it washed up after the LB had put it back on a more sheltered mooring.

 

[DownWest]

I do wonder about the number of people who set off on paddle boards and other basic boating ideas, without really thinking the possible results.
Back when I started sailing, there was no possibility of getting help and we didn't expect it. Now it is the norm. 'Don't worry if you screw up, the RNLI will fish you out'

 

[Bodach na mara]

As i grew up I came to believe that only an idiot would stand up in a dinghy, and by that I mean a substantial clinker built boat of 12 or more feet in length. When I first heard of paddle boards it was in connection with exploring ditches or getting across flooded fields. I never imagined that anyone would stand up on one in anything other than shallow sheltered water.

 

[Juan Twothree]

A paddleboard is going to cost someone their life very soon, if it hasn't already.

I've been to a couple of jobs now where, due to exhaustion and sea state, they couldn't even climb back onto the board, let alone stand up.

I tried to explain to one of the casualties about the effect of an offshore wind, but I think she was so frightened and tearful that she won't go out on it again anyway.

 

[Sandy]

Had dinner with a local RNLI coxswain a few weeks back and he was saying very much the same thing.

 

[jlavery]

A paddleboard is going to cost someone their life very soon, if it hasn't already.

I've been to a couple of jobs now where, due to exhaustion and sea state, they couldn't even climb back onto the board, let alone stand up.

I tried to explain to one of the casualties about the effect of an offshore wind, but I think she was so frightened and tearful that she won't go out on it again anyway.

Paddleboards already have, sadly. Worse that it was an organised, commercial trip.

We saw the canoeists (Canadian style canoes) in this incident paddle out past us in Mallaig. My wife commented that it surely was too rough to be going out in those.

Then saw them being brought in by RNLI 2 hours later. Again, a commercial organisation - surely should be a "lessons learned" from this one. I'd love to know what the punters thought, and what words were had afterwards.

 

[RivalRedwing]

Paddleboards already have, sadly. Worse that it was an organised, commercial trip.

We saw the canoeists (Canadian style canoes) in this incident paddle out past us in Mallaig. My wife commented that it surely was too rough to be going out in those.

Then saw them being brought in by RNLI 2 hours later. Again, a commercial organisation - surely should be a "lessons learned" from this one. I'd love to know what the punters thought, and what words were had afterwards.

decent of them to go back and pick up the canoes, I guess it avoids a false shout later but...

 

[Juan Twothree]

Paddleboards already have, sadly. Worse that it was an organised, commercial trip.

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about that one.
Thanks.

 

[jlavery]

decent of them to go back and pick up the canoes, I guess it avoids a false shout later but...

Yes - luckily the incident was about mile from the harbour (round in the loch). Looked like they retrieved most if their kit, too.

 

[wonkywinch]

Try looking at the "Inflatable Kayaking in the UK" Facebook page - Inflatable Kayaking in the UK | Facebook

Every day someone posts a "look what I bought in Aldi for £99" and a picture of themselves, kids included, bobbing around on some body of water without a flotation device in sight.

 

[ylop]

I also imagine there is a large discrepancy between the % of paddle boarders who are members of the RNLI and the % of boat owners who are members.

Interesting assumption. I’ve never really understood the concept of “membership” of the RNLI. But I suspect that the % of people who own a paddle board who actually get in difficulty with it over their lifetime is smaller than the % of yachties who eventually end up using the RNLI, because the denominator is much bigger and frequency of use is lawyer.

I do wonder about the number of people who set off on paddle boards and other basic boating ideas, without really thinking the possible results.

I own a paddle board. I took some basic training when I bought it because of/despite a lifetime spent on or around various floating craft. I have constantly been amazed how many people don’t even get an hour of instruction/guiding.

'Don't worry if you screw up, the RNLI will fish you out'

I’ve never heard anyone, from any water sport say that.

As i grew up I came to believe that only an idiot would stand up in a dinghy, and by that I mean a substantial clinker built boat of 12 or more feet in length. When I first heard of paddle boards it was in connection with exploring ditches or getting across flooded fields. I never imagined that anyone would stand up on one in anything other than shallow sheltered water.

They were invented as a means to get to bigger surf waves so certainly can be used in challenging conditions. Actually not that hard to stand up on one and in many ways more stable than a typical dinghy. But massive windage and anything other than mucking about on a beach with an onshore wind needs probably more planning than I do in the yacht. For actually going from a-b under paddle a sea kayak is better in almost every regard.

Surfers use them without a PFD and tethered to the board you have a giant float (just as most windsurfers do). It’s against everything ingrained into me in other sports so I always wear a PFD but it’s notable that it is actually quite a bit harder to haul yourself back on the bird with a bulky pfd in the way.

I’m delighted to see more people using the water in any type of craft. Almost certainly more people die through physical inactivity on any day than die from paddle boarding.

 

[mrming]

In the UK, and particularly here on the East coast, I’ve always wondered if the average paddle boarder understands the tidal currents in the area they’re setting out into.

 

[snowbird30ds]

I've slowed down and veered off course to check a paddleboarder before out in the Stanford channel south of lowestoft before, got a thumbs up so carried on but called into lowestoft to let them know he was there.
You can't rescue someone that's not yet in trouble unless they ask.
Must have been a couple of miles offshore.
Rnli membership is not really a membership for anything more than a regular copy of their magazine, it's just a standing order donation really, we've had it since start of sea going, it's just the fuzzy feeling of having covered the diesel if you need them.

 

[DownWest]

I’ve never heard anyone, from any water sport say that.

They were invented as a means to get to bigger surf waves so certainly can be used in challenging conditions. Actually not that hard to stand up on one and in many ways more stable than a typical dinghy. But massive windage and anything other than mucking about on a beach with an onshore wind needs probably more planning than I do in the yacht. For actually going from a-b under paddle a sea kayak is better in almost every regard.

'Back a bit there was an idiot that went out conditions he couldn't handle and was dragged out by the RNLI on nearly every trip. Captain Calamity ? He certainly expected the RNLI to fish him out, often..


Whatever paddle boards were invented for, they became a fashionable way to get on the water, often by people without a full understanding of the risks. A certain element of looking 'right' with the kit involved too..

 

[Dellquay13]

I’ve seen SUPs off Skomer in Pembrokeshire, so unless they were careful or lucky enough to choose the brief period of slack water, they would be crossing Jack Sound and Little Sound with their standing waves and 4-6kt races

 

[Juan Twothree]

Rnli membership is not really a membership for anything more than a regular copy of their magazine, it's just a standing order donation really, we've had it since start of sea going, it's just the fuzzy feeling of having covered the diesel if you need them.

Thank you, much appreciated

 

[Stemar]

Surfers use them without a PFD and tethered to the board you have a giant float

Also known as a cosh.