CG rescues 60 Solent sailors in one w/e

[Guest]

In the Independant today I saw a small article stating that the Coast Guard rescued 60 sailors in the Solent over this past weekend. Among them were casualties from seven yacht races, and an assorted number of jetskiers etc.

What the hell was going on down there?

 

[l'escargot]

On the local teletext, it said 11 yachts were towed back to Southampton. It would suggest to me that the bulk were weekend sailors on charters?
If the standard of crews arriving in Cowes (and the fact that they actually made it over here would perhaps indicate that they were the more competant of the bunch!) is anything to go by, it would seem that those that are currently chartering are more interested in image and personal alcohol capacity, than sailing ability.
When will they learn that salt free oilies and wrap around sunglasses don't impress those that sail all year round.

Regards

 

[davel]

Take a look at the following :
http://www.thisishampshire.net.ti.n...e/archive/2001/07/02/SOTON_NEWS_NEWS08ZM.html

for a bit more detail.

 

[charles_reed]

Let \'em drown, I say

Salutory lesson to the rest.

Or charge them - for the cost of the unneccesary rescue service, as they do in Europe and the Antipodes.