The wake of the "Ouzo"

[Evadne]

The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

I was making the final plans for the start of my West country excursion this year, i.e. to Weymouth from Chichester harbour tomorrow, outside the IoW, when I realised for the first time that I'll be following their track quite closely. This is a really well used route by hundreds, if not thousands, of yachts each year. Laying flowers etc. is a bit too maudlin for my taste, I certainly wouldn't want it done for me if the positions were reversed, but it's a bit like passing the site of a fatal road accident that you witnessed. Even in the daylight, I'll probably be looking over my shoulder more often each time I head down that way.

 

[VicS]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

I hope you have a good and safe trip. Perhaps though you can answer one question that was asked after the loss of the Ouzo . Why go south of the Island rather than through the Solent? Probably no safer but it feels that way.

It might be a sensible thing to look up the departure (and arrival) times of shipping especially ferries for the time you will be in the "danger zone". I think they are on the Southamton VTS site and possibly also on the Queen's Harbourmaster's site

 

[tcm]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

um, were you related to them or involved in the search? Lots of other boats have sunk in the channel?

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

You'll be better prepared than you ever have been before and ferries will be keeping a good look out. Enjoy your trip and keep safe.

I agree about the flowers being a bit not right, but I'm sure you will be sparing a thought / prayer for the Ouzo crew as you make your way to St. Cats.

 

[capt_courageous]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

Nice one Steve. I think lots of us agree with your sentiments.

 

[Dipper]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

Of course there have been many sailing tragedies over the years but for various reasons the ‘Ouzo’ is the one that has affected me most.

I think it is because the boat was a similar size to mine and crewed by three men younger and fitter than me who were presumably fairly competent sailors (they were off to the Dartmouth Regatta). Despite wearing lifejackets I understand they died of drowning/hypothermia. And it seems that it wasn’t their fault.

As a direct result of this, I reviewed my own safety precautions which, although probably typical, were inadequate. I now have a two piece immersion suit for warmth and buoyancy and have fitted crotch straps and spray hoods to my lifejackets. My VHF has been replaced with a DSC unit linked into a new GPS and my portable VHF and a few flares (including white) will be kept in the cockpit.

You often hear bereaved family members saying that they hope no one else has to suffer the same fate as their loved ones. One of the best ways to pay your respects to those who have died is to make sure you learn from their tragedy.

 

[PaulR]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

the comments about crotch straps on lifejackets made me try mine with straps for all of one part day - in practise I found them constantly a nuisance and uncomfortable - if done up with no slack when I was standing - as soon as I sat down they became slack and then when I stood up again caught on my thighs and had to be helped back into position - the crotch straps on my jacket comprise 2 straps and after half a day I gave up with them and put them back in their bag- by contrast we have for years made it a good practise rule to wear our auto lifejackets when we are sailing - intially to set a good example to our children but since then it has become natural habit like seat belt in car or buoyancy aid when dinghy sailing - the lifejackets are not intrusive or uncomfortable - just the crotch straps!
has anyone got some that are ok for constant use- if so what type please and are they single or double straps ?

 

[aknight]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

I suspect everyone is different, but I have found thigh straps easier than crotch straps. This is purely relative, as all such straps are restrictive to a lesser or greater degree.

As I understand it, crotch- or thigh straps do not need to be adjusted so that they are painfully tight /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. They need to be sufficiently closely fitted that, if you end up in the drink, they restrict the tendency of a lifejacket - which might or might not have been properly fitted across the chest - to ride up and leave you fighting to pull it back down into the correct position at the very time when you may be least able to do so. To have the necessary effect, the crotch- or thigh-straps can be fitted to the nearest centimetre or so, allowing you a bit of, er, essential clearance room. They will soon tighten up when the lifejacket inflates and tries to ride up...

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

When I wear my lifejacket I always use the crotch strap, only tidy thing to do with it. I was concerned that it might be uncomfortable when I fitted it, but it has proven to be no problem at all. Single crotchstrap on SeaGo lifejacket.

 

[dt4134]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

Keep trying with the crotch straps. I found the ones on my lifejacket uncomfortable at first (crewsaver 275N) but after a while I managed to find the right length to be comfortable without being so loose I caught them on cleats etc.

It's sobering to try pulling a lifejacket upwards when wearing it without crotch straps. Most will sit around the top of your head and be pretty near useless.

 

[shamrock]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

yep, on our sea-survival course, the lifejackets that the instructor brought didn't have straps, and I was wearing mine, which did. the difference was amazing, my wife found herself only just floating with a lifejacket bobbing around her ears and next to useless. From now on, if my crew wear a jacket, they wear the straps too.

I also had a chance to test the spray hood, which was a crewsaver one in a pouch on the belt. If you have one of these, they are fine and good for the job but please have a go at putting them on when you have a moment - if the first time you do it is after falling in, you'll struggle but once you've tried it it's easy. For that reason, too, I'll make sure my crew do that before any long passages.

With regard to going past the place where the Ouzo and her crew was lost, sure, flowers aren't really right, but when we went through the Pentland Firth one calm June night a couple of years back, we stopped the engine for half an hour and had a glass of malt, giving one to Neptune to say thanks for letting us through and remember the many poor souls who have been lost there.

safe passage.

Nick

 

[Goodge]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

One of the crew, Jason Downer was a close friend.

On the occasions I have past by St Kat's, (roughly where he was found), I just raise a glass as a toast to him.

Still sadly missed..

 

[sailorgirl]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

[ QUOTE ]
It's sobering to try pulling a lifejacket upwards when wearing it without crotch straps.

[/ QUOTE ]

Several years ago, after hauling our young niece out of the marina we nearly dropped our her back in the water because her crotch straps were not done up.

 

[jimi]

Re: The wake of the \"Ouzo\"

I invested in a personal Epirb with GPS on the basis the being found asap would be critical to survival. I beleive that the crew were discovered with lifejackets and had died from hypothermia not drowning?

 

[beancounter]

Spray Hoods for LJs

Sorry for a bit of Fred Drift, but are there some hoods suitable for all makes of jacket? We've got XM lifejackets, and I've been looking through chandlery sites for XM hoods, but can't seem to find any. Would other makes fit?

 

[shamrock]

Re: Spray Hoods for LJs

certainly the crewsaver ones look pretty universal - you're welcome to borrow one if you want as we both live in Cambridge - pm me if you like.

otherwise give Suffolk Sailing a call and ask, they are very good on all the safety gear and I'm sure Graham could tell you.

n

 

[Dipper]

Re: Spray Hoods for LJs

Baltic sprayhoods are universal fit.

 

[beancounter]

Re: Spray Hoods for LJs

Thanks Nick,

I'll give them a call.

John

 

[beancounter]

Re: Spray Hoods for LJs

Thanks - I'll look up prices