Helicopter Rescue off Dover

I dont think that you can get away from the fact that this company are putting people who trust them into these positions for a profit.
 
topline said:
Skipper quoted that the Helmsman was slammed against the wheel but didn't receive major injuries, what else would you call a broken shoulder and jaw! What a T@%t.
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Blimey! When the "skipper" (note little S) said he (the helm) wasn't badly injured I took that to mean bruising and perhaps a cut ... shocked would be understandable...
broken bones ... that's not minor ... !!
 
Something really doesnt add up here. minor injuries to me are cuts, bruises and scrapes. if the helm has a broken shoulder and jaw that doesnt sound minor to me! on the other hand, it maybe minor to a doctor who deals with life and death every day?

Whatever happens, i agree with the majority that putting to sea with this blow forecast was foolish at best and dangerous as it turns out.

If i had anything to do with the company i would be telling the skipper to keep quiet until i had received a full de-brief and putting out a company line to stick to. i would be VERY concerned about the future implications of this not so isolated incident!

well done and thank you to the life boat and rescue teams who have recovered the situation, i am sure the crew will think very highly of them, as for the skipper, that remains to be seen....
 
!!!! I say chaps. !!!! That was sooooo amazingly wicked!!!!!

Glad to report that apart from some minor scratches to my ego, I am ready to get out there again and get it on, all hot chocolate, brown underwear and sticky like. like proper sailing, like.

Anyone fancy some phwooawwww sailing from Kent up to London, prob catch the last bit of a show too,
I can guarantee loadsa press interest!!!!, so this could be your jaw dropping big break into ruffytuffy sailing rockjock land...

D'you fancy mixing it up a bit , Im offering a once in a lifetime chance, grab a bargin, 50 quid a head yeah and does anyone know anything about tillers and one in a million big waves? Apply in person @xxxxx by the lifeboat station, Ramsbottom
 
Blueboatman said:
Im offering a once in a lifetime chance, grab a bargin, 50 quid a head yeah and does anyone know anything about tillers and one in a million big waves? Apply in person @xxxxx by the lifeboat station, Ramsbottom
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:)

Does this include the free trip in a helicopter?

If so, count me in.
 
Searush said:
The trouble with running downwind in a big SW wind in the Channel is that you have virtually no options left. Turning upwind, heaving to or lying ahull are probably not viable due to lack of sea room, other traffic or sea conditions.

There is no plan B available, to me that's the key issue, when plan A failed due to sea state (wind over tide?) his only option was to call for help. Sorry, but I don't see that as exciting fun so much as poor planning.
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Coming back to a ? I posed earlier: is tucking in behind Dungeness an option in these conditions. I've done it when things have been far more benign, just to wait out a foul tide. Does it work in a hoolie?
 
Personally speaking, I would like to see this guy's commercial license revoked, and the injured crew taking the company to court for negligence.

We could do without [removed] like this in the industry.
 
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Bobc said:
Personally speaking, I would like to see this guy's commercial license revoked, and the injured crew taking the company to court for negligence.

We could do without [removed by admin] like this in the industry.
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+1.

May I suggest that those of us who feel that way make a point of letting the MCA Enforcement Division know?
 
snooks said:
It wouldn't have helped his crew who thought they were dying...or the injured crew member
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No - but if it was just the 20 knots he said they had then it would've been perfectly possible ... actually - as it isn't a wheel autopilot it would've been possible to just turn the AP on to regain a semblence of control whilst the emergency tiller was rigged.
 
fireball said:
No - but if it was just the 20 knots he said they had then it would've been perfectly possible ... actually - as it isn't a wheel autopilot it would've been possible to just turn the AP on to regain a semblence of control whilst the emergency tiller was rigged.
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A rather moot point, but if the wheel is in someway jammed - spokes over the binnacle etc, then to use either the AP or an emergency tiller you will of course have to cut/remove the wires from the quadrant.
 
flaming said:
A rather moot point, but if the wheel is in someway jammed - spokes over the binnacle etc, then to use either the AP or an emergency tiller you will of course have to cut/remove the wires from the quadrant.
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Or just undo the nut that's holding the wheel on and remove the wheel ... mine can be removed with a winch handle ...

But - if you've got a crew member with a bust shoulder in those conditions then that's probably a Panpan call in itself ...
 
Plan B

Have seen various comments about having a plan B or C, but in this case I don't believe this is necessary as Plan A should be - Listen to the forecast the day before and stay in port. This was no ordinary gale, Dover and Felixstowe ports were closed and this weather was well forecast! :mad:
 
Searush said:
The trouble with running downwind in a big SW wind in the Channel is that you have virtually no options left. Turning upwind, heaving to or lying ahull are probably not viable due to lack of sea room, other traffic or sea conditions.

There is no plan B available, to me that's the key issue, when plan A failed due to sea state (wind over tide?) his only option was to call for help. Sorry, but I don't see that as exciting fun so much as poor planning.
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I was always taught, if the boat journey involved a run downwind in big winds, to make sure you were happy if you had to go back the other way.

I tried this once coming back from Scilly in a F6/7 SW in a 5.5m RIB in my younger, and more gung-ho, foolhardy youth. It was fun running with the wind - 25+ knots SOG and lots of air time, but when we turned to face it we couldn't make more than 8 knots safely (and even that was dubious). I learnt a lesson that day.

He had no plan B other than push the big red button marked help. Complete and utter Tw@t.
 
fireball said:
Or just undo the nut that's holding the wheel on and remove the wheel ... mine can be removed with a winch handle ...

But - if you've got a crew member with a bust shoulder in those conditions then that's probably a Panpan call in itself ...
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Either way, simply hitting the AP button or pluggin in the tiller isn't going to regain control of the boat without getting the tools out.
 
photodog said:
Hot liquid sailing should do the decent thing... they should shut down temporarily at least and have a complete appraisal of their operations....


Hot liquid needs to review what went wrong before they offer any more courses or sail training.
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I suspect that their ability to run further Sail Training under the banner of the RYA has already been pulled or is about to be. As I understand it a full investigation is pending.
 
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