Rescued today in the Solent

Re: Rescued today in the Solent - from a crew member

I agree, I got one of those epirb self release jobs to mount on the pushpit,,, totally-ish foolproof ish. And undoubtedly it will fall off when we get pooped and start beeping away!

We dont really have the room on the pushpit, and one of the other points of moving the raft was to get weight out of the stern to help balance the boat a little better! (Safety sell to swmbo, better handling for me!) actually our bridge deck is high enough and our toe rail low enough with a narrow side deck that I am pretty sure that if she came loose she would go straight over the side! (Which of course is precisely what will happen when we are close hauled on our ear and catch a bit of green water.)

I dont think there are any perfect solutions, but I would feel bloody awfull if something happened and I hadnt taken every reasonable percaution.
 
Re: Rescued today in the Solent - from a crew member

Fantastic news that you are all ok. Given the crew number if you were all on the weather rail and the boat had been underdesigned maybe that had something to do with it? Anyhow, thanks for relating the story here. As to how the captain had an intuition as to what was going to happen I have no clue. As for design - well we can all discuss this in the days to come - but for now God bless you all.
 
Re: Rescued today in the Solent - from a crew member

Really pleased to hear that everyone is safe and well.

I must admit to being a little confused by the crewmember's report posted here though.

I understand the media making their usual mistakes in reporting, but in the crewmember's report they state:

"We were sailing in 18 knots of wind, heading east in the Solent".

"As we were now roughly 2 - 3 miles East of St. Catherines point, the (good) call to don lifejackets was made by the boat Captain, and literally within minutes of that call being made...."

I can't quite figure out how they were heading 'EAST', 'IN' the Solent to be 2 to 3 miles east of St. C?

Also, why would the 'captain' just suggest that lifejackets be worn 'because' they were 2 to 3 miles east of St. C?

I realise that there is always some confusion immediately after an incident like this, but there seem to be as many questions as answers here.

Sorry if I'm being thick and slow here, but I wonder if BC1107 would be good enough to put me out of my misery by perhaps sharing slightly more detail which would clarify these questions and satisfy my professional curiosity?
 
Re: Rescued today in the Solent - from a crew member

OK after reading all the recent reports and now this one - I have a pack of mini flares in my trouser pocket, a torch and whistle in my jacket pocket, a strobe light and spray hood on my life jacket and after the Ouzo a submersible hand held VHF in the other jacket pocket. Looks like I now need to get a zip lock bag for the mobile? At what point does taking precautions become paranoia? Keels falling off do not reassure nervous SWMBO that sailing is for pleasure but I appreciate that it was an even bigger problem for the Bounders Crew!!

The problem with all safety measures is the what if senario. A outside mounted EPIRB is asking to get knicked.

Will definately next get a personal EPIRB instead of paying for the expensive battery replacement of the boat EPIRB that will soon be due.

I noticed yesterday the coastguard were still giving out Bounders position as a hazard to navigation - has it now sunk?
 
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