Helicopter Rescue off Dover

fireball

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QUOTE....
"The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Qualification Panel decided to withdraw Mr Sturrock's qualification for 12 weeks, when he will have to retake the Yachtmaster exam in order to regain the certificate."

This decision has fallen short of what it should have been imho .

QUOTE....
" 'We had concerns with the decision to depart given the weather forecast, specifically passage planning, the interpretation of the weather forecast and the decision-making that goes along with that.' "

It is part of the Day Skipper theory exam to have a basic understanding of this and Mr Shurrock has surely failed to have such understanding and ability?
Just how long should punishment last?
On the face of it it seems a fairly light "sentence" - 12 weeks suspension in what is probably the quietest time for instructors isn't much of a punishment - but following the suspension he will have to resit the YM exam to regain the certificate - it isn't a given that he will regain it (although probably most likely) - and I have to say that I think that is fair - the guy made a mistake - ok, a big mistake that most of us would've never made - hopefully he's learnt from that and will be more mindful of his responsibilities to his crew, vessel and others in future.
 

Scotty_Tradewind

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Hi Fireball
not sure it's a case of 'punishment' rather than retraining.

The point I made was that Mr Sturrock seems to have retained little of the information he has learnt since his Day Skipper.

'Mistake', I would rather say 'serious lack of judgement.'

It would be better perhaps for him to start from DS to make sure that when he gets to Yacht Master with his endorsment, he has in fact absorbed all the relevant information showing that he is extremely unlikely to put his charges when using his commercial ticket, into a life threatening situation.

s.
 
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fireball

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Hi Fireball
not sure it's a case of 'punishment' rather than retraining.

The point I made was that Mr Sturrock seems to have retained little of the information he has learnt since his Day Skipper.

'Mistake', I would rather say 'serious lack of judgement.'

It would be better perhaps for him to start from DS to make sure that when he gets to Yacht Master with his endorsment, he has in fact absorbed all the relevant information showing that he is extremely unlikely to put his charges when using his commercial ticket, into a life threatening situation.

s.
Personally I think he'd be better off learning how to teach dominoes ... ;)

I have no intention of defending either what he did or the RYA response to it!

I've always been choosy about my instructors - no intention of changing that!
 

Keen_Ed

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One wonders who on earth would hire him now, even after he's passed his YM again?

And I would think that the examiner is going to need a lot of convincing that he's passed....
 

Old Troll

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Old Troll

The punishment is only a token gesture handed out by the RYA so as not to discourage people to go on their RYA courses. Nothing has really been proven against the Skipper such is the nature of the business. I have on occasion taken chance such as this man and got away with "it". Whatever " it " means?
Its actually a cheep shot as far as the RYA are concerned.
 

toad_oftoadhall

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The punishment is only a token gesture handed out by the RYA so as not to discourage people to go on their RYA courses. Nothing has really been proven against the Skipper such is the nature of the business. I have on occasion taken chance such as this man and got away with "it". Whatever " it " means?
Its actually a cheep shot as far as the RYA are concerned.

+1

We've all pushed weather windows & (from the only first hand accounts we have) the decisions these guys made were nothing like as bad as the initial "trial by internet conjecture" suggested.

...but why spoil a good old hysterical witch hunt with facts?
 

maxi77

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+1

We've all pushed weather windows & (from the only first hand accounts we have) the decisions these guys made were nothing like as bad as the initial "trial by internet conjecture" suggested.

...but why spoil a good old hysterical witch hunt with facts?

Mind you I suspect few have pushed it quite as far as he did. Have you read the RNLI citations for their crew? Equally those of us who have have managed perhaps through skill not to get caught, especially quite so publicly so clearly were better at being skipper than he was.

The man made a serious error and rightly is paying the price.
 

Tidewaiter2

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Mind you I suspect few have pushed it quite as far as he did. Have you read the RNLI citations for their crew? Equally those of us who have have managed perhaps through skill not to get caught, especially quite so publicly so clearly were better at being skipper than he was.

The man made a serious error and rightly is paying the price.

+1,you are only ever as good as the last time you went out.
 
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Scotty_Tradewind

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+1

We've all pushed weather windows & (from the only first hand accounts we have) the decisions these guys made were nothing like as bad as the initial "trial by internet conjecture" suggested.

...but why spoil a good old hysterical witch hunt with facts?

If he'd had any of my family on board who were only Competant Crew he'd now have more to worry about than losing his YM for a few weeks.... ;)
 

Thistle

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The heading
"Hot Liquid Sailing Limited
The London Gazette Nbr. 60068, February 23, 2012 › Corporate Insolvency"
probably says it all.

(OK, I know I'm a bit slow!)
 
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Angele

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To be reborn next week under a different trading name?

You don't need to go insolvent to do that. A simple "change of name" would suffice.

Whilst insolvency provides a clearer break, it could also be a sign of greater woes. I suspect having your RYA sailing school certification suspended wouldn't help.
 
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