Today's Darwin award

[AndyL]

Today\'s Darwin award

Two men who have been missing in a boat off the Kent coast since Friday, have been found in French waters.
A search operation was launched after the men phoned friends to say they had run out of fuel after leaving the Herne Bay area going to the Isle of Sheppey.

A merchant ship saw the men's yacht 24 miles east of Ramsgate and a Belgian rescue helicopter went to their aid.

They were airlifted to safety and taken to Dover, where they were arrested on suspicion of stealing the boat. . . . . .
. . . . . .Kent Police said the men, who had no seamanship skills, had no oars on the boat when they were found on Sunday morning.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[A1Sailor]

Re: Today\'s Darwin award

From the MCA site:

At 09.00 this morning (Sunday 19th September) two Kent men were rescued from their 20 ft sailing yacht 24 miles east of Ramsgate, after spending the night drifting off the Kent coast and into the busy shipping lanes.

Thames Coastguard who coordinated the incident were alerted at lunch time Saturday by concerned relatives of the men who believed they could be in difficulties off Herne Bay, North Kent following a number of failed cellular phone calls.

Extensive investigations and enquires were conducted along the North Kent Coast and the Isle of Sheppey during Saturday, but nothing untoward was found, along with a search of the inner Thames Estuary by the Whitstable and Sheerness Lifeboats and Rescue Helicopter 125 from RAF Wattisham.

The search recommenced at first light this morning, with an expanded search area covering 1400 sq miles across the Thames Estuary with RNLI Lifeboats from Walton, Sheerness, Margate and Whitstable, Coastguard search teams from Margate, Herne Bay and Sheppey, RAF Rescue Helicopter 125 and Coastguard spotter plane ‘Echo November’ from Manston.

At approx 09.00 this morning a merchant vessel on transit through the Dover straits sighted the casualties, who were waving for help, and alerted the Belgium Authorities. Belgium Rescue Helicopter 92 was scrambled from Koksijde and airlifted the casualties from their craft.

Belgium Rescue Helicopter 92 transferred and landed the casualties at Dover Coastguard where the casualties are now been questioned by Kent Police.

Thames Coastguard Watch Manager Anthony Mayhew says;

“ These gentlemen were extremely lucky to be picked up safe and well. They had very favourable weather conditions over night and were fortunate to be spotted by a passing merchant ship after drifting for some 40 miles.”


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jenku]

Re: Today\'s Darwin award

Run out of fuel? Drifted? 20 foot sailboat? Favorable weather conditions? Wasn't there any wind at all?

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.sail.to/alacrity

 

[bobnewbury]

Re: Today\'s Darwin award

I could have understood that level of idiocy if they were coming from the Isle of Sheppey.

<hr width=100% size=1>