Padstow Yacht aground

[luty]

Took these pics last week when on holiday. There were stories on local news of two yachts in trouble on 25/6. This is a picture of mouth of Camel Estuary looking to Trevose Head on the evening the yacht was in trouble.

In 20 odd years of going to this area I've not seen breaking waves like that going down the Camel Estuary

Came across this yacht aground the next day

I think this was the yacht that had to have crew and RNLI guys taken off for fear of the yacht pitchpoling/broaching on the tow back to Padstow (4nm out), although not sure. It looked like the owners were there clearing out all gear that they could. I've reduced picture massively so not sure if you can see that two anchor lines have been (presumably) rowed out and dropped. I overheard one guy saying they would try and float it on the next tide. Walking back from Padstow to Polzeath later that day took following snap:

They must have been able to turn it round on the tide but couldn't get keel past the rocks. The next day it was gone so presume they were successful (hope they were, beautiful looking yacht).

Was very surprised looking at the hull on starboard side (once it had been turned) that there was no visible damage (i was a fair way off though) apart from rudder, which looked in bad shape. I didn't get any close ups because the owners were there, a small crowd had gathered and it felt awkward taking a couple of snaps of someone's pride and joy in that situation.

Does anyone know extent of damage?

 

[bobgoode]

Heart goes out to them but at least they are safe. ( Been there myself and seen my pride and joy aground and it is not nice.)

 

[Niander]

Surely must be made of steel!

 

[damo]

That looks like "Fly", an Olsen 38 that moors outside Portishead Marina. I heard a rumour that Geoff had gone aground on his return from the Azores recently.

It is a beautiful boat and superbly kept, with a very experienced skipper, so something drastic must have happened.

 

[graham]

I hope it isnt Fly, looks very much like her though. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

She's a lovely shape - designed to fit the waves. I hope she swims still.

 

[luty]

I couldn't see her name but I did see that she was from Portishead.

 

[copterdoctor]

[ QUOTE ]

It is a beautiful boat and superbly kept, with a very experienced skipper, so something drastic must have happened.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm afriad none of the above are a foregone conclusion it just takes a bad day but maybe that's why we keep going back to the sea.

Thirty years of experience in conditions from flat calm to hurricane, plenty of qualifications did not stop me running into another boat in a tideless marine. F***ed if I know why!!

 

[damo]

Resolution isn't good enough to see on the pic, but "Fly" has its name painted on the topsides amidships.

 

[dovekie]

Certainly looks like an Ohlson 38, we've got one and the deck moulding looks identical. It would take some seas to pitchpole one, good sea boats, but I hope I never have to face what the owners must have faced. And best of luck to them.

 

[damo]

Latest (secondhand) info I have is that Geoff was at anchor after having problems, in bad weather. Someone called the lifeboat, which then proceeded to collide with Fly, knocking the skipper into the water, and putting a hole in his boat.
After being nearly run over by the lifeboat he was picked up and choppered to hospital. Meanwhile the boat dragged ashore, but next day he managed to patch the holes and get it afloat after a couple of tides.
It was then sailed to Wadebridge.

 

[wotayottie]

That raises an interesting thought. With all they (voluntarily) do for us, would you claim off the lifeboat for something which (on the info given) sounds like their fault?

 

[DaveNTL]

It's not a case of whether 'you would claim against the RNLI' really is it?

It's up to his insurers.

 

[jenku]

As it's stated that "Someone called the lifeboat" and not the skipper himself, surely if somebody called the lifeboat without me wanting it and the lifeboat then rammed me it is the lifeboat's insurance that has to pay. Different thing if I called them myself of course!

 

[LymingtonPugwash]

I wonder if this detail will see light on the Lifeboat website or on the mcga news site! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bluedragon]

Yes, I wondered about that...it's a big enough incident to warrant a mention on the MCA website. We don't know the first-hand facts here, but IF there was some inappropriate action on the part of the rescue services, then I do hope it will not remain "hidden".

 

[damo]

Re: Padstow Yacht aground - latest news

The news I have from people who have spoken to the skipper is as follows:

"Fly" was at anchor, having just arrived back from the Azores, when Geoff was woken by building seas. He prepared a second anchor, just in case, which required a temporary snubbing line to his main anchor line so he could move it to a cleat out of the way.

In the meantime the lifeboat was returning from a shout and approached to say that he was in danger of going aground. He waved them away, saying he was fine, and had already been there at low water and felt he was in control and could always motor away if he needed to.

The lifeboat hit him very hard - enough to cause significant damage to internal bulkheads and lockers - then managed to hit hard again with its bow. This knocked Geoff into the water after which he was picked up and taken to hospital.

Upon returning to the scene the next day he found Fly on the rocks - the anchor had NOT dragged, but his temporary line had broken, allowing the boat to fall back onto the shore.

There were multiple areas of hull damage, including a punctured fuel tank, so that the interior was flooded with diesel, as well as the major damage inflicted by the lifeboat.

The boat was patched up and floated, and is now in Wadebridge, and the skipper is VERY upset at what is probably a write-off. He considers that the loss of the boat was directly caused by the lifeboat, as he was quite secure where he was, and had actually tried to wave the lifeboat away.

My heart goes out to you Geoff.....

 

[graham]

Re: Padstow Yacht aground - latest news

What a disaster.At least Geoff is alive and well,being rescued out of the water has its own hazards.

I hope the RNLI does the decent thing and sorts this out amicably to Geoffs satisfaction . /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[whipper_snapper]

Re: Padstow Yacht aground - latest news

That is a sickening tale.

I know the RNLI have a God-like status and we are not allowed to criticise, but let's face it, they are just big boys with big toys. The patronising postings here by people whose username includes the words 'lifeboat' demonstrates (IMHO) the worst aspects of the organisation. This incident is another reflection of a holier than thou attitude.

At heart, I still think the RNLI is a great organisation with noble motives. But it has moved so far from its roots that there is a real problem with these guys charging around and 'rescuing' people to inflate their own statistics and egos and with no understanding that some of the people they meet might be better seaman than them.

Come on, if you gave me a super-duper orange boat, plus a little sticker to put in my car to say I was super-hero, I too would love to whizz around saving people. We need to recognise that.

 

[graham]

Re: Padstow Yacht aground - latest news

[ QUOTE ]
know the RNLI have a God-like status and we are not allowed to criticise, but let's face it, they are just big boys with big toys. The patronising postings here by people whose username includes the words 'lifeboat' demonstrates (IMHO) the worst aspects of the organisation. This incident is another reflection of a holier than thou attitude.

[/ QUOTE ]

This rant IMHO is way over the top.

On the facts presented to us and remember these have been passed on a few times before being posted on here, we have no idea how or why the collision occured. We have even less idea of the lifeboat coxswains "attitude". He wouldnt last long as coxswain of an all weather lifeboat operating out of the Camel Estuary without being highly experienced and capable.

I may be wrong but my gut instinct is that the RNLI coxswain will now be feeling bloody awfull about this .

Cock ups occur even to the best people ,on the face of it the RNLI would seem to be responsible,BUT lets not hang this man out to dry until A, we know the full facts .And B ,we know what the RNLIs response to the problem is.

My rant over...