Lost yachtsman rescued TWICE after using a ROAD ATLAS to navigate.

[Roberto]

There's one every year!

absolutely, I remember one other that was "rescued" for the 5th, 6th or 7th time a number of years ago, IIRC he sailed between the west coast and Ireland and called the RNLI when he was "feeling lost", usually in fair weather

RNLI smiled at it at that time, maybe they eventually bought him a chart


(I think it was in the late 90s so cannot vouch for the accuracy of details)



Addition
Indeed, I just found this on the internet


Who is Captain Calamity?
In an attempt to sail round Britain in a 4.5-metre boat, Mr Stuart Hill had to be rescued five times by RNLI lifeboats, and twice by helicopters in the summer of 2001. The papers at the time called him ‘Captain Calamity'. Similarly, in the year 2000, another sailor had to be rescued more than five times in the Irish Sea – he was using a road map for directions!

Whatever the situation, whatever the weather, the work of the RNLI volunteers continues, day and night, 365 days a year.

 

[Sandgrounder]

Plus, it ain't even their money, it's ours, Joe Public's!

This sort of criticism of an individual boater in the public domain doesn't aid their cause,

Afterall he's just another satisfied customer

Yes it is theirs: when you, or anyone gives them money ownership transfers - it's the basic idea of a gift.

 

[Fire99]

Sounds like a bit of sensationalism going on though the 'Sailor' might want to have a bit of a think before his next sailing attempt.

 

[Beadle]

OK

So he's a bit foolhardy although if running aground going into Wells is the measure of plonkerism there are going to be lots of them around.

At least he had the spherical objects to go out and have a go - twice.

One hopes he will move onward and upwards and perhaps learn to match his AA road map with a compass. I'll bet he has learned a lot about seamanship in the last few days. It should set him in good stead.

As for the RNLI - I can see their point, but I think it would have been better for the coxswain or Hon Sec to have quietly put a arm round his shoulder and told him his fortune - and left it at that.

Involving the press helps no-one.

 

[AndrewB]

Incidentally, there isn't a blue-water cruiser going, who hasn't at some remote spot been reduced to navigating using a road atlas, tourist pamphlet, or by asking another vessel. It happens, and believe it or not, people cope.

We are talking about common-sense here, without it, all the charts in the world won't turn an idiot into a wise man.

 

[elioti]

i am told the richest charity in the uk

I visited exmouth rnli a while ago, all of the inside of the roof is finished in fancy woodwork, wouldnt be surprised if it was teak! To me this was a complete waste of money, this must have cost thousands! all of our lifegueards are driving around in brand new expensive 4 x 4 `s, i just think they waste money!

 

[Roberto]

Incidentally, there isn't a blue-water cruiser going, who hasn't at some remote spot been reduced to navigating using a road atlas, tourist pamphlet, or by asking another vessel. It happens, and believe it or not, people cope.

We are talking about common-sense here, without it, all the charts in the world won't turn an idiot into a wise man.

+1

 

[Madhatter]

All the gear and no idea?!

Could you navigate around the coast of the UK using a road atlas? Ok - a road atlas AND a compass?

So, this guy gets a lambasting for having no kit - yet we have a famous mariner who got lost despite having at least 2 chart plotters onboard, flares, lifejackets, liferaft etc etc - and still required the services of the local LB ...

Ok - this guy is obviously a bit of a twot - but not having the kit doesn't make him the twot - not having a clue as to what he's doing does that ...

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Very easy to call the guy foolhardy etc, but it is quite possible that he is/was mentally ill and not in full control of his senses.

Very sad, but there are a number of people around who are ill in this way.

 

[KevO]

Post deleted by KevO

The incident I described in this post obviously caused great concern to the organisation and they quite rightly wish to investigate it thoroughly. We have spoken directly.

I should make it clear that I never had any intention of causing any damage to their well-deserved public image and on honest reflection it would probably have been better if I had kept the matter to myself. I apologise unreservedly that, in recounting the story, I publicised a silly historical incident that should not reflect on the current organisation in any way.

 

[sailorman]

I was in a certain bar in Cornwall late one afternoon when a bunch of the RNLI lads came in (nice sunny day, hadn't just come back from a nightmare shout they were lucky to survive etc) and they broke into the lifeboat collection box on the bar with much laughter and back slapping all round and bought themselves a round of drinks with the contents.

i would have been on the phone to HQ pdq

 

[KevO]

I knew some of 'em quite well (being a local boy too), told 'em what I thought, and have never put a coin in a box like that since.

 

[skodster]

There may have have been a genuine and serious emergency that this idiot may have been distracting the RNLI from.

One lifeboat can't be divided into two! Whilst this cretin was f*cking about on a sandbank with his road atlas, lives could have been lost elsewhere. It's not really about the money IMHO.

 

[Hermit]

He added that Mr Brown appeared to be ‘using a road atlas to navigate’ rather than GPS and charts and was relying on a mobile phone to liaise with the coastguard.

God forbid anyone who goes to sea without a GPS.....

 

[Babylon]

There may have have been a genuine and serious emergency that this idiot may have been distracting the RNLI from.

One lifeboat can't be divided into two! Whilst this cretin was f*cking about on a sandbank with his road atlas, lives could have been lost elsewhere. It's not really about the money IMHO.

That's the first sensible thing I've read on this thread so far.

 

[robertj]

Yarp... there are already loads of people making 'comments' that there must/should be laws making sure that boats can only be handled by people with 'proper' qualifications and licences...

NO regulation!!!

 

[robertj]

The quoted costs of the rescues are interesting.I suspect they take the entire cost of running the RNLI then divide it by the number of rescues they do per year.

The fact is that a lifeboat costs a fortune to run wether it goes out or not.The only additional costs are the fuel used and a bit of extra engine servicing. Unlikely to add up to an additional cost of £3500 per rescue IMHO.

If that figure were true then the crews weekly training exercise would also cost £3500.

totally agree typical accountants way of costing.
No wages just fuel

 

[Rivers & creeks]

No regulation would stop someone like this from setting out, people still drive over the alcohol limit or speed recklessly or break any number of regulations.

 

[mcframe]

Could you navigate around the coast of the UK using a road atlas? Ok - a road atlas AND a compass?

That sounds a leetle bit like a "Coastal Barefoot Navigator" challenge - could I bodge a lead line and service my own engine beforehand?
Any hints allowed on tides, or do I have to watch the moon and work it out from first principles? ;-)

 

[elioti]

if thats true ( not suggesting its not ) is pretty poor!