RNLI to the rescue!

ChrisP

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You again demonstrait my argument for better training. It appears that yours still hasn't given you the knowledge to make a judgment of the conditions. Some of the clues were,

All the boats coming in, no Sunday traffic leaving.
Waves breaking over the windward break water.
Boats being blown all over the harbour even when under power.
Prolific safety working on the radio.
Profesionals cancelling trips out in licenced vessels.
Impressive healing of sailboats whilst tied to their moorings.

What more do you need, possibly a policeman on the wall telling you to stop?

How long will it take you to realise that trips to the pier for your mates in that kind of weather is bloody stupid and that all you are asking for is some other bloke to risk his life in a lifeboat just because you don't know when to stay tied up. They've got enugh trouble with the people caught out in it without you adding to the numbers.

Just out of interest how many of you were wearing proper lifejackets and what was the lifeline fixed to while you were playing with the anchor.

Next time you fancy a jolly with your mates, ask yourself what you would say to their widow because your ICC won't be worth a tuppeny toss to them.

All the nice comments about "glad it had a happy ending" are all very nice and friendly but you won't learn anything, at least this may make you think next time and possibly save a life. I call a spade a spade and if you don't like it, then think twice about advertising your more stupid moments.

<hr width=100% size=1>What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!
 

TwoStroke

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Re: remove the urgency...

What did suprise me was how well the anchor held so I know that works - and the two front cleats held well on the towing. Will add two new ones on the stern as the existing ones are really too low down.

Auxillary - am looking into. The bathing platform looks sufficient to take one. As to tender or dingy, she's just under 20ft, so possibly a liferaft is the only thing I can think of as space is sorely limited (highly expensive option though).

But thanks for your thoughts.

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Fire99

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Re: remove the urgency...

Absolutely Duncan..

What i'm saying is carry the best you realistically can.
If you have a single engine and can realistically carry an auxillary then carry one.
If you are unfortunate enough to have a single engined craft and not be able to carry auxillary engines etc. etc., then have the best that is recommended.
The unexpected and unlikely can happen and may happen to you..

cheers,

Nick


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TwoStroke

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Out of interest we were all wearing automatic lifejackets - I do that anyway before anyone goes out in her. Lifelines are now on order.

We were not the only ones going out. And to think you don't think I take this seriously. As soon as I saw it wasn't right I decided to head back. At that moment we were caught. Hindsight is brilliant.

All the boats coming in, no Sunday traffic leaving - sorry boats were still leaving
Waves breaking over the windward break water - never saw that happen
Boats being blown all over the harbour even when under power - those that were out were not in difficulty and she handled without a problem
Prolific safety working on the radio - radio on (and working) but no prolific safety
Profesionals cancelling trips out in licenced vessels - must have missed that one
Impressive healing of sailboats whilst tied to their moorings - not that I saw


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hlb

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Of course. Hind sight is a wonderfull thing. But having had a 21ft sports cuddy thingy. I'd be very carefull at taking one out at all now. My p35 has had masive waves over the deck. With three foot of water sitting on it at one time. As youve found. One little wave over the top. Electrics buggered. No self draining cockpit so water in engine bay. Knacked engine?? For simillar reasons, I would not contemplate even a biggish sports cruiser. Less some one could guarantee all elecrics were sea proof.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

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Solitaire

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I'm afraid I have to agree with ChrisP here. I was on an Advanced Powerboat Course over the weekend. On Saturday the weather was superb and while doing our night exercise the sea was calm and the moon full. Great for us students looking for unmarked buoys - that is untill the instructors decided to send us to a bouy that had been removed earlier in the week! They thought it was very funny to watch two boats circling looking for a non existant racing mark. Anyway I digress, yesterday, Sunday, the weather bode well for the rough weather handling part of the course. Easterly F6-7. Waves we estimated at between 10-15 ft and when you droopped off it was like a roller coaster, both into the sea and with following sea. We were out in 8 meter Scorpion rib with a 300 hp Yanmar diesel. A boat built for those conditions, but I can tell you that we got very wet indeed. The air waves were also crowded with yachts in trouble and all the Poole life boat services were out.

Now we were in a boat capable of handling those conditions, all the "students" bar one who was an ex Royla Marine, were powerboat instructors, the principle instructor was qualified to RNLI helmans level and the we also had an observer who has been around the UK on ribs three times. The general concensus of opinon was that anyone who was out in a small power boat yesterday was asking for trouble. Even the larger passenger" boats were scuttling for cover. I also had a friend who went from the Hamble round to Port Solent yesterday and it took 2 hours and his boat is considerably bigger than yours.

Your actions put not only your friends lives at risk- plus of course your own - but also those of the Life Boat crew as eveidenced when they fowled your anchor line. No small boat should have attempted to go out yesterday afternoon.

An ICC is a very basic "certificate" that says you can in theory handle a small boat in certain conditions. I'm afraid to say that you were totally irresponsible taking a 19ft boat loaded with 4 people out in those conditions. Your only saving grace was that you were so close to the marina, after all any further out with your boat in the condition it was, could have had far more serious consequences.

I had my boat in Poole while on the course and there was no way I was to the Solent last night so I came back this morning. Still an Easterly and I had to be carefull with the tides to maximise for a comfortable and safe journey. So may I suggest you err on the side of caution next time - or perhaps not go public on how you had to make a Mayday call!

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboat-training.co.uk>Serious</A> Fun
 

TwoStroke

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From a previous post - F4-F6 can be different, and have learnt the very hard way here - and what the boat can and cannot do. There are things I will do now to ensure it doesn't happen again and keep well within the boat's and my limits.

Am grateful to the RNLI in their expertise and assistance which was what this thread was originally about.

Time we moved on.

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TwoStroke

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Sorry Solitaire - eveidenced when they fowled your anchor line. I think you read it wrong, they got their own tow rope wrapped around their own props.

But point taken.

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oldgit

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Think chrisP is having a go for best of reasons.We have all been there just the once,that is usually enough.Had planned to take trip up Whistable on Sunday after boat club workparty(raising sunken yacht for Nov 5th disposal).That wind came up in very short time.Took one look at wind over tide lumps in the very sheltered Swale then went home to spend afternoon on settee./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.
 

oldgit

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Think chrisP is having a go for best of reasons.We have all been there just the once,once is usually enough.
Had planned to take trip over to Whitstable on Sunday after boat club workparty(raising sunken yacht for Nov 5th disposal).
That horrid wind came up in very short time.Took one look at wind over tide lumps in the very sheltered Swale then went home to spend afternoon on settee./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.
 

duncan

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Re: agree and here\'s more evidence...

Oops.jpg


this happened Sunday inside a confined marina and experience may just have been a factor as the story was past on to me ..............

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oldgit

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Re: agree and here\'s more evidence...

Oooooo rats poo.What happened?

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.
 

longjohnsilver

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i don't know Brighton but expect thar easterlies there are potentially bad news as they are at my home port. I know from experience that anything over an E F3 will be nasty so stay at home. Suggest that you take a more careful look at the forecasts, all last week it was pretty cleasr that saturday was going to be good wit fairly strong easterlies forecast for early sunday.

The most accurate site I've found is windguru, over 90¬curate from my experience, I check it every day for best part of a week before going out. I can't afford to be caught out as I've usually got divers over the side and don't want to lose them.

You've been lucky and by your own admission have learnt a good lesson, but you could equally have been v unlucky and dead. Let's hope others also learn from your experience. Maybe do a bit more training, an ICC is hardly worth the paper it's written on. I've done it and it's a joke.

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Renegade_Master

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Agree with LJS ICC all well and good but really need 4 day Day Skipper course

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>
 

Renegade_Master

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ljs

I take it thats windguru.com is it lj, and do they cover the Med?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>
 

longjohnsilver

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Re: ljs

windguru.cz And yes they cover the Med Clive, seems to be almost worldwide, how they get the accuracy beats me, but it's the best forecast site I've ever seen.

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ChrisP

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I've taken the family out to sea for nearly 20 years and never frightened them yet.

I've also pulled out enough stiffs to maintain a healthy respect for water in all its forms.

Maybe thats what needs to be added to the ICC sylabus to make it's holders a little more respectfull of the sea. Or possibly the trip to the mortuary, a postmortem, an inquest or just knocking on the door to tell the parent you've just pulled their dead child out.

All the thing you say you wern't aware of were there you just didn't look. You say the life lines are on order, didn't the instruction course leading to your ICC mention them? Yet you still go to sea in an ENE 6 without the correct safety equipment through a harbour entrance that is known to be difficult in any weather with an easterly wind factor.

You've been stupid and lucky this time. Learn from it instead of crowing about it.



<hr width=100% size=1>What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!
 

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