Lets all cheer up.

[capnsensible]

At least seeing a chunky rib rolled when beam to sea might make those with enquiring minds consider there options a bit more carefully.

 

[Habebty]

No idea what’s going on here apart from some crazy dudes moving dirt from one place to another, but bonkers.

 

[Greenheart]

Hmm, really quite repetitious, too. I kept thinking something different would happen.

It looks really dangerous - I daresay it is - but a part of me was hoping some horrifying denouement would get on and happen.

Glad it didn't, of course. That's fifteen minutes I'll never get back. ? ?

 

[JumbleDuck]

It's what they are designed to do with ballast pockets and drogues. Plus people. A sea survival course answers many fears people have about life rafts. Horrible, sea sick inducing, stinky, violently moving, cold, wet misery.....and your best shot at living. IMO.

Hmm. I'm sure these things help, but I do wonder how immune they are to inversion if a big wave gets under one. And, if they do invert, how do you right them?

 

[Greenheart]

Indeed.

Perhaps three or four friends can arrange to be fitted inside one of those big clear plastic balls that kiddies float along in, and have it chucked down a rapid stretch of the Zambezi, a few times. Just so they know what to expect.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Hmm. I'm sure these things help, but I do wonder how immune they are to inversion if a big wave gets under one. And, if they do invert, how do you right them?

Some of the life rafts, at least in the commercial sector are reversible and will work anyway up. The ones that are not reversible have righting lines. In the early days of "Offshore Survival" we had to right the liferaft in a pool, but not anymore. I dont know about the ones aimed at the leisure market.

 

[wully1]

Hmm. I'm sure these things help, but I do wonder how immune they are to inversion if a big wave gets under one. And, if they do invert, how do you right them?

‘Modern’ ones have ballast pockets that resist capsizing. They can be righted easily enough if you are fit and/ or desperate but in any kind of heavy wind they might just blow away once the ballast pockets are empty. There should be a webbing ladder on the underside you use to haul yourself onto the bottom of the raft you then right it like you would with a sailing dinghy jib sheet. I’ve done it several times in an environmental pool with a 20 man raft (I think it was) during survival training. The most difficult part of the whole exercise was being the first into the empty raft with an inflated life jacket
They would be miserable places to be on a cold, dark, windy night- but better by far than being in the water.

 

[JumbleDuck]

‘Modern’ ones have ballast pockets that resist capsizing. They can be righted easily enough if you are fit and/ or desperate but in any kind of heavy wind they might just blow away once the ballast pockets are empty. There should be a webbing ladder on the underside you use to haul yourself onto the bottom of the raft you then right it like you would with a sailing dinghy jib sheet. I’ve done it several times in an environmental pool with a 20 man raft (I think it was) during survival training. The most difficult part of the whole exercise was being the first into the empty raft with an inflated life jacket
They would be miserable places to be on a cold, dark, windy night- but better by far than being in the water.

Thanks. Yachts, of course, have geet big lumps of lead to stop them going upside down and it still happens, so it's more what happens after inversion which interests me. And I completely take the point that "You don't fall out" is one of these. But with, say, five people sitting on the canopy, can they be got upright?

Purely academic interest. I have no intention of ever being anywhere with waves that size ...

 

[wully1]

Thanks. Yachts, of course, have geet big lumps of lead to stop them going upside down and it still happens, so it's more what happens after inversion which interests me. And I completely take the point that "You don't fall out" is one of these. But with, say, five people sitting on the canopy, can they be got upright?

Purely academic interest. I have no intention of ever being anywhere with waves that size ...

I doubt anyone let alone 5 folk could climb on the canopy- it would collapse or burst... if they were inside I doubt it would flip but with them inside.. they could probably right it from inside by doing a hamster on a wheel kind of move...I’m sure they’ll be a video on YouTube..

 

[Greenheart]

I’m sure there’ll be a video on YouTube...

Fewer than I expected. Some simulations in swimming pools, whose organisers' idea of storm conditions is pretty tame. What's the advice for all the singlehanders/couples? The article said liferafts aren't stable without their designed complement aboard.

I have no intention of ever being anywhere with waves that size...

Echo that.

Even if I buy a boat with a raft, I'll never go to sea in remotely poor weather, or if it is distantly forecast. So, £1,000 for a floating vomit-tent, purposely intended for climbing into in conditions that have sunk the yacht, isn't sensible for me to prioritise.

A raft may be nice to have...or at least, to say you have...less nice to pay for, to keep serviced, and horrific ever to use.

A decent tender will be needed on every trip. On inshore waters during the fair conditions I sail in, a small RIB would allow a quick escape, and may enable full self-rescue. Thankfully we're allowed to decide what we're persuaded by.

I wonder how much less blithely, skippers would passage-plan, without their vomit-tents to abandon ship into?

Now gentlemen, as this thread suggested...let's all cheer up and watch berks abusing boats and earning reproach:

 

[Zagato]

Only one life raft found floating in this incident (but sadly nobody found in it) the others stayed with their yachts for various reasons. Perhaps a ball shaped life raft, designed for self righting with passengers able to strap in would be more suitable!

Actually being rescued was one of the most dangerous aspects of the whole event!

 

[wully1]

Fewer than I expected. Some simulations in swimming pools, whose organisers' idea of storm conditions is pretty tame. What's the advice for all the singlehanders/couples? The article said liferafts aren't stable without their designed complement aboard.

On one of the Sailing Uma episodes they inflate their old life raft , try to capsize it and spent a night aboard - in calm conditions. An interesting watch.

 

[newtothis]

Perhaps a ball shaped life raft, designed for self righting with passengers able to strap in would be more suitable!

Like this? Would work, but a bit hard to store on the average cruising yacht.

Floating pods to offer tsunami shelter

 

[Greenheart]

Good grief! Yeah, that'll be nice and stable. ? Epiphany: I'll take a liferaft, thanks.