Girl, 15, dies in Southampton boat crash

[Dutch01527]

We have one of these high speed passenger ribs operating in Cardiff. Bay. I have mixed feelings. The drivers seem to be as considerate/professional as they can be but they are still driving fast with tight turns in a mile long (ish) stretch of water that can be packed with kids in dinghies, bouys and me trying to enjoy a quiet hour on the water.

 

[[178529]]

As to the person calling for high powered craft to be banned... one of the boats I used to work on had twin 350hp engines and took 15 hours to do its scheduled passenger trip. Imagine how long it would have taken with a less powerful boat...!

That's completely misquoting me if it's my post you're referring to. I questioned the safety of 'thrill' rides with multiple passengers not the banning of high powered craft.

 

[Capt Popeye]

I agree it’s unlikely to be prejudicial.

It is likely to be upsetting for thise involved when people post idiotic, ill informed, speculative nonsense of which there is plenty on here already.

I agree the police should look for all information and use it, including camera evidence. What’s that got to do with the validity of speculative nonsense on here?

I agree that the informed views of all water users should be taken into account when considering legislation. What’s that got to do with the validity of speculative nonsense on here? You really think the legislators are going to consider the views of a load of anonymous old men with an axe to grind? Seriously?

Anyway by saying that “anything here is unlikely to be prejudicial” as you do in your first paragraph does make your last paragraph look rather silly.

Your attempts at justification of this poor behaviour just doesn’t stack in my view.

To repeat myself, have a thought for those involved.

Yes but owing to the attraction of these Thrill Rides I suspect that they are aimed at Non Boaters in general, so cannot see that any Yachty Types would be attracted to these rides at all, so the chances of anyone involved, other that the Company Offering these rides, is pretty minimal or non existant

There is I suggest a difference in discussing and making comments about this particular tragic incident and discussing and making comments about the rules /laws etc about this incident in general terms with views about its safety and suitability on open waters where as we know, Jet Skiers are banned from lots of waters or severely restricted, these Jet Skis cannot involve the potential for disasters that Thill and Joy rides with multiple passengers does ?

 

[Blue Sunray]

That's completely misquoting me if it's my post you're referring to. I questioned the safety of 'thrill' rides with multiple passengers not the banning of high powered craft.

Statistically they are considerably safer by several orders of magnitude than taking part in a Clipper RTW race.

 

[TernVI]

Statistically they are considerably safer by several orders of magnitude than taking part in a Clipper RTW race.

But then only consenting adults get to do Clipper RTW 'races'.

 

[TernVI]

Look at around 6min 25s, he turns rapidly towards a passing mobo, to jump the wake. The separation is minimal and an error would have huge consequences . I know the video is from the front passenger (at head height ?) but the visibility directly ahead does seem to be compromised.

On the roads that would be a lot of points on the licence.

 

[sarabande]

Statistically they are considerably safer by several orders of magnitude than taking part in a Clipper RTW race.

What are the data sources on which you make that claim please ?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Statistically they are considerably safer by several orders of magnitude than taking part in a Clipper RTW race.

Yes but, surely the prior training etc required for any competitor in a RTW race really qualifies an applicant better that some general member of the Public spending the £10 quid on a Thrill Spill ride though ?

With any RTW race competitors are or should really know what they are letting themselves in for, and so take the risks, a Punter wanting to spen some Holiday Money in their pockets does not ?

Out of interest, as never been taken for a Ride by the Thrills Spills offers, are any dangers spelt out to the General Public before embarking on a Trip or do they sign any disclaimer for injury /death as a result of taking the Ride ?

 

[SaltIre]

So a troll/idiot/expert has seen the use of a vhf/phone in a staged marketing picture and it is being discussed as if it is relevant/causal in this tragic case.

This thread is a disgrace.

I'm not sure it is fair to blame a thread - some of the posters seem to be doing so irresponsibly, which disrespects Emily's memory.

 

[cstewart37]

I have total respect for Emily & her family but one death on a lethal RIB is too many!!!

This is not the first time:

The 45-year-old victim was on a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) travelling to the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth when it collided with its sister vessel in a high-speed manoeuvre.
She was trapped between the two boats and later had to be put into an induced coma due to the extent of her injuries, which included two broken collar bones, five broken ribs and a punctured lung.

 

[cstewart37]

One more:

SYNOPSIS During the early afternoon of 26 August 2005, an FRM 900, 9.1metre RIB was conducting a high speed, thrill ride in the vicinityof St Ives Bay in Cornwall. There were 12 passengers onboard,6 of whom were children. As the RIB headed back towards theharbour, it came to an abrupt stop as the forward section of thehull split open, immediately flooding the boat. The front benchseat was torn from its deck mountings, throwing two of thechildren into the water. All were rescued and none sufferedserious injury.Both the RIB and operating company were known as Big Yellow. The company hadbeen operating from St Ives harbour since acquiring the RIB in June 2005. Thecompany advertised its trips as the “Ultimate RIB Ride” and passengers expected anexciting, high speed experience. Earlier in the morning of 26 August, the RIB had undertaken one uneventful trip. At1215 the skipper’s fiancée gave a rudimentary safety briefing to the next group ofwaiting passengers. Once embarked, the skipper advised his passengers to raise ahand should they have any difficulties during the trip. The RIB left the West Pier in St Ives harbour at 1230 and headed towards Carbis Bay.The weather conditions were good and there was about a 0.5 metre swell running. Theskipper conducted a number of high speed manoeuvres before heading towards St IvesHead and on to Porthmeor Beach. Once around St Ives Head, the RIB passed thesingle handed fishing vessel Elisha. By now, the swell had increased to between 1 and1.5 metres, and the RIB’s speed was about 25 knots. The passengers were beingbumped about in their bench seats, but none raised a hand to indicate concern.After manoeuvring off Porthmeor Beach, the skipper reversed his course into the now,mainly following sea. Soon after, the RIB stuffed into a trough. The skipper feltsomething unusual in the RIB’s handling, the deck heaved slightly, there was a loudcrack and the forward part of the hull momentarily adopted an angle of about 45degrees from the horizontal. The front bench seat was torn from its deck mountings,plunging two children into the water. They were pulled back onboard soon after. Theskipper rushed forward, heaved the two anchors and liferaft into the water and then setabout accounting for his passengers. Fortunately, the skipper of the fishing vessel Elishasaw what had happened and madehis way towards the RIB. At the same time, the watchman in National CoastwatchInstitution’s lookout at St Ives Head also saw the accident, and alerted the emergencyservices. The lifeguards at Portmeor Beach also saw the accident, and immediatelysent two lifeguards, on a jetski, to provide assistance. Elishaand the jetski evacuatedmost of the passengers, with the remaining being rescued by the St Ives ILB. The StIves ALB and CG rescue helicopter were also despatched to the scene. The ALBtowed the RIB into St Ives harbour, where it was met by the local police, harbourmasterand an MCA representat

 

[RichardS]

Err certainly NOT whilst driving, eh ?

To contact others reduce speed to well inside a safety region / heave to, and concentrate upon driving the Rib /boat

How, on a boat, does one "stop driving"? Drop the anchor, put on the handbrake?

I use my h/h whilst driving my boat all the time without ever heaving too or slowing down. It's all about the boat and the conditions. We know nothing about the speed in the photo under discussion.

Richard

 

[Stemar]

How, on a boat, does one "stop driving"? Drop the anchor, put on the handbrake?

On a cruising yacht in open water, I don't see the need, as long as one maintains a good lookout. On a fast RIB or planing mobo, slow down to idle speed. Maybe not needed mid-channel, but certainly in the Solent or Southampton water. I'd see that as equivalent to driving a car in traffic.

I saw your comment about using the phone at 100+ mph. Please let me know where you do that kind of idiocy, so I can keep my family away from that particular danger. It is well proven that being on the phone, even a hands-free one is a distraction, and at that sort of speed, things happen quickly enough that any distraction is potentially dangerous. If you believe you are an exception, I have just two words for you: Dunning Kruger

 

[CLB]

On the roads that would be a lot of points on the licence.

Really? What for?

 

[RichardS]

I saw your comment about using the phone at 100+ mph. Please let me know where you do that kind of idiocy, so I can keep my family away from that particular danger. It is well proven that being on the phone, even a hands-free one is a distraction, and at that sort of speed, things happen quickly enough that any distraction is potentially dangerous. If you believe you are an exception, I have just two words for you: Dunning Kruger

"Those sort of speeds" are slow over here. I'm in the middle lane most of the time because the quick boys are streaming past at much higher speeds. The UK view of what constitutes fast driving is still rooted somewhere in the 1970's, I'm afraid.

Richard

 

[LONG_KEELER]

"Those sort of speeds" are slow over here. I'm in the middle lane most of the time because the quick boys are streaming past at much higher speeds. The UK view of what constitutes fast driving is still rooted somewhere in the 1970's, I'm afraid.

Richard

I'm interested in the speed limits of Croatia .
Is this correct ?


Quote :

Four general speed limits apply on Croatian roads: 50 km/h (31 mph) within inhabited places, or up to 80 km/h (50 mph) where explicitly permitted. 90 km/h (56 mph) outside inhabited places. 110 km/h (68 mph) on expressways (brza cesta)

 

[RichardS]

I'm interested in the speed limits of Croatia .
Is this correct ?


Quote :

Four general speed limits apply on Croatian roads: 50 km/h (31 mph) within inhabited places, or up to 80 km/h (50 mph) where explicitly permitted. 90 km/h (56 mph) outside inhabited places. 110 km/h (68 mph) on expressways (brza cesta)

I don't know whether the A1 motorway counts as an expressway, but, if it does, then no, it's not correct.

Richard

 

[Capt Popeye]

How, on a boat, does one "stop driving"? Drop the anchor, put on the handbrake?

I use my h/h whilst driving my boat all the time without ever heaving too or slowing down. It's all about the boat and the conditions. We know nothing about the speed in the photo under discussion.

Richard

Where did I state Drop the Anchor ?, Heave To was stated, its a Naughtical Term for putting the craft into Neutral and Taking Stock plus Taking Way Off the craft in an effort to realise whats what, reasses the way ahead, think through the sittuation, before proceeding further on, just the sort of action to take when considering making a Phone Call so that one's attention can be duly given to the Call.

Might ask what the hell you find to talk about on your HH whilst out on the water ? do you just take up the Airwaves with Chatter ?

If so is that not considered to be anti social and aginst the Principles of Good Vhf Use ?

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I don't know whether the A1 motorway counts as an expressway, but, if it does, then no, it's not correct.

Richard

Apparently, it's 68 mph on expressways and 81 mph on freeways.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Might incur some wrath but ere goes ; I have observed that Accidents or Incidents can easily happen when a Driver, Skipper, Helm, of a Car, Mini Bus or Boat gets too involved in enjoying the Thrills n Spills or just banter and jokes amoungst the Passengers on any Vessel or Car/Bus; seen it happen when say a Scout Group are on a Jolly in a Mini Bus and the Driver joins in the Jollies = so not paying sufficient attention to the Driving and Roads ahead.

No way of knowing wether this was a factor in the Incident (certainly not an Accident untill any report states so) then again just hope that any Investigation is Thourough and Detailed plus performed by suitable persons ?

Moral to be learnt so far is most probably, stay off the Mobile or VHF whist at speed, plus do not Hog the Airwaves its not good practice. Whatever some might say ! Also watch out for DH who are using any hand held communication devices