Surviving adrift in the Aegean - thanks to boiled sweets.
- Thread starter Irish Rover
- Start date
rotrax
Well-Known Member
I think it was a real case, but 40 hours in early Autumn is not really that severe.
In these days of media frenzy, it is to be expected that it gets bigged up a bit.
No worse than some of the migrants attempting to reach the EU in rubber dinghys.
I suspect in the latter case at least they can huddle together for warmth!
newtothis
Well-Known Member
Still a useful reminder to keep your dinghy oars on board, or learn to scull with the one remaining oar if that is even possible in a rubber dinghy.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
It’s a sobering story. How many of us have our inflatable oars attached to the boat?
prv
Well-Known Member
It's possible, just, but with no keel it really doesn't work very well. I find paddling over the bow a more effective way to use a single oar.
Mine are, that's just how the rowlocks are made. They clamp around the oar and then clip into the boat.
I always fit the oars (and the engine, but that's mostly because it's easier to do so on deck than dangling over the side) before launching the dinghy.
As a small child I was taught never to get into a dinghy without the oars, and it's one of those things that has stuck.
Pete
Porthandbuoy
Well-Known Member
Looks like the oars should have been captive in the rowlocks. Difficult to see how she could have done anything with just one, other than keep warm rowing round in circles..
prv
Well-Known Member
Unscrew the rounded knob on top and the oar will come free. Then it could at least be used as a paddle.
Pete
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
"Kushila messaged the skipper, Mike, late on Friday afternoon to say she was ready to head back to the boat, a Rival 34 yacht, but when she still hadn't appeared after a couple of hours, he assumed she'd decided to stay ashore a bit longer. "
So how did she message him and why didn't she message again when she lost her oar?
So how did she message him and why didn't she message again when she lost her oar?
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Guessing, from the use of the word “messaged”, that she was using a cellphone at the limit of range rather than a hand held VHF. But only guessing.
Porthandbuoy
Well-Known Member
True, but more than likely futile against wind and current.
RichardS
N/A
I don't believe a word of it! 
The yacht is at anchor and she decides to row the dinghy over to the island they were anchored next to to "stretch her legs". On the way rowing back after her walk, having "messaged" the Skipper to tell him she was returning, she loses an oar so then begins to drift out to sea for two days.
Just think about it for 10 seconds.
Richard
The yacht is at anchor and she decides to row the dinghy over to the island they were anchored next to to "stretch her legs". On the way rowing back after her walk, having "messaged" the Skipper to tell him she was returning, she loses an oar so then begins to drift out to sea for two days.
Just think about it for 10 seconds.
Richard
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Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
So he was anchored off this island. How far off? Was she out of sight of the yacht? Strip off and swim back and use the yacht to recover the dinghy. Water temp still over 20C in my area and probably a bit higher further south.
Hadn't read Richard S when posting. We are in total agreement.
Hadn't read Richard S when posting. We are in total agreement.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
I don't believe a word of it!
The yacht is at anchor and she decides to row the dinghy over to the island they were anchored next to to "stretch her legs". On the way rowing back after her walk, having "messaged" the Skipper to tell him she was returning, she loses an oar so then begins to drift out to sea for two days. Just think about it for 10 seconds.
Richard
If skipper was not awake or paying attention she might well have drifted out of sight before the alarm was raised. Mobile phones not suited for marine usage in remote areas so coverage might be limited. Or she might be exaggerating 37 minutes in 37 hours
I have been nearly there and got damp tee shirt. I took more precautions - age and experience trumping youthful enthusiasm. But my oar broke when rowing back to boat in strong tideway in Lynmouth Bay after going ashore to speak to locals about access to harbour and I was unable to make headway back to the boat using bow paddling. Fortunately I had my handheld and called up Navigator but she had great difficulty getting anchor up as she is weaker than I, anchor now pulling strongly as tide floods, and our handwinch very hard to use so I drifted someway before she motored up to me. Obviously I could have called up Coastguard myself if all else failed and I was swept past the headland etc
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The boiled sweets are irrelevant, since nobody starves in two days, but they may have helped keep her mouth moist and boosted her morale.
I suffered a broken oar once when rowing to my boat on a windy day. Fortunately, it was in a muddy creek and I was able to drift ashore. Unfortunately, it is not often possible to 'yuloh' a small dinghy with one oar, though I have done it sideways in an Avon a short way.
I suffered a broken oar once when rowing to my boat on a windy day. Fortunately, it was in a muddy creek and I was able to drift ashore. Unfortunately, it is not often possible to 'yuloh' a small dinghy with one oar, though I have done it sideways in an Avon a short way.
RichardS
N/A
The boat is anchored off a small island. How far away do you think it might be if she decides to row over for a walk?
She "messages" the skipper (possibly just shouting a bit) to tell him she's coming back. After 2 hours she's not appeared so he decides to go to bed.
It's nonsense.
Richard
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
And somebody is working very hard (and effectively) to get media coverage. It was on the BBC news app this morning.The boat is anchored off a small island. How far away do you think it might be if she decides to row over for a walk?
She "messages" the skipper (possibly just shouting a bit) to tell him she's coming back. After 2 hours she's not appeared so he decides to go to bed.
It's nonsense.
Richard
newtothis
Well-Known Member
The boat is anchored off a small island. How far away do you think it might be if she decides to row over for a walk?
She "messages" the skipper (possibly just shouting a bit) to tell him she's coming back. After 2 hours she's not appeared so he decides to go to bed.
It's nonsense.
Richard
I'm dying to know what the real conspiracy is here. But for now, from the comfort of my armchair, I'm just going to take it at face value.
RichardS
N/A
My guess would be that it's the old story. Man and woman alone at sea. Someone has chanced their arm, someone has been rebuffed, someone has stormed off in a huff and, for both, its all got out of hand.
Now there's embarrassment all round and nobody wants to say what really led to her taking to the dinghy.
It's a story as old as the human race. :encouragement:
Richard
newtothis
Well-Known Member
My guess would be that it's the old story. Man and woman alone at sea. Someone has chanced their arm, someone has been rebuffed, someone has stormed off in a huff and, for both, its all got out of hand.
Now there's embarrassment all round and nobody wants to say what really led to her taking to the dinghy.
It's a story as old as the human race. :encouragement:
Richard
The book I'm reading at the moment is on the science of story telling. It points out that humans have a compulsion to fill in what they don't understand with a narrative. Normal meteorological conditions over Mount Olympus become the gods throwing spears at each other, etc.
As society has advanced, we've understood more, but still have the urge to create narratives, even, quite possibly, when they are not necessary.
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
Very profound but whatever the story the one they told the media is a load of manure.