Rambler crew rescue

Adonnante said:
RTE has made available here...http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1116550 an excellent documentary on the rescue of the crew of Rambler during the Fastnet. Many useful topics covered and should be of interest of all of us that go offshore.

Peter.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Of interest most definitely - hypothermia nearly took at least one life it seems. Just think how different the outcome would have been further offshore or in the dark - and Rambler had been raced across the Atlantic a few weeks previously. An incredible boat but I don't think high tech swing keels are for me thanks, even if I had the money!
 
One guy was able to get on upturned hull without going in the water. Would the rest of the crew have been able to get back on if he wasn't there to help them up? Might have been very different outcome if all 21 were in the water.
 
jpd85 said:
One guy was able to get on upturned hull without going in the water. Would the rest of the crew have been able to get back on if he wasn't there to help them up? Might have been very different outcome if all 21 were in the water.
Click to expand...

yes. and if one didn't have a personal epirb.
 
It makes you wonder how most of us would survive with a basic level of safety equipment: lifejackets without spray hoods, non sealing water proofs (no neck, wrist or ankle seals).

They were lucky because if it had happened on the return leg after dark and when the wind had picked up, the outcome may not have been so good.

It just shows though that even with all the safety gear and a well prepared crew , good rescue services and a certain amount of fortuitous timing, the American Lady was close to death after only a couple of hours.
 
Read the story In Yachting. Several PLBs went off but it wasn't immediately clear what bot they were on and many were registered in other people names.

What is more concerning is given the propensity of these on-the-edge racing vessels with their canting keels is why the lift rafts were positions such they they could not or did not release in the event of a lost keel.

losing a keel has to be the number 1 hazard on these boats other than hitting a 260+ ft tanker that came out of nowhere.
 
Thanks RTE.
Lessons for us ordinary sailors?
1. Carry a PLB
2. Get the best lifejacket possible, with light & built in sprayhood.
3. Wear it tight, don't slip down out of it - seems to make a couple of hours difference in hypothermia.
4. Have leg straps that lift your legs in the foetal position.
5. Practice all this in the water.

Any other thoughts?
 
PLB more expensive than miniflares, but I don't suppose cost is an issue here. But would the PLB alert the passing yachts?
 
Seven Spades said:
Read the story In Yachting. Several PLBs went off but it wasn't immediately clear what bot they were on and many were registered in other people names.

What is more concerning is given the propensity of these on-the-edge racing vessels with their canting keels is why the lift rafts were positions such they they could not or did not release in the event of a lost keel.

losing a keel has to be the number 1 hazard on these boats other than hitting a 260+ ft tanker that came out of nowhere.
Click to expand...

Excellent point - both lliferaft and epirb were made useless by poor positioning.
 
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