Two sailboarders rescued from sea

[FullCircle]

From the BBC:
Two sailboarders have been rescued by a lifeboat crew after getting into difficulties off the Kent coast.

The crew of Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat Eleanor was called out by Thames Coastguard to help the sailboarders, both from Kent.

They had got into difficulties off Minster Shingle bank and were found holding on to a buoy. The wind was gusting to gale force eight.

A RNLI spokesman said they were taken ashore and their rigs were recovered.


Unconfirmed scurrilous rumour is that it was Dick Holness and Colin Jarman after a bet following a 5 hour session in the pub at Reculver.

Their passage plan was not featured in Crossing the Estuary.

 

[Fire99]

Strewth. In this weather they'd be across the channel in about 20 minutes.
Rather them that me in the current conditions.

Top marks to the RNLI and co for dragging them out.

 

[MoodySabre]

Unconfirmed scurrilous rumour is that it was Dick Holness and Colin Jarman after a bet following a 5 hour session in the pub at Reculver.

Their passage plan was not featured in Crossing the Estuary.

naughty boy

 

[Cantata]

Err...oh...ummm....b*gger, rumbled.
I blame Colin, it was his idea.

 

[Pye_End]

A couple of years ago I was coming past Margate Hook with a stong SW wind gusting over 35k at deck level. Loads of spray/fetch waves even though they only had a mile or two to build up. Single handed, it was beginning to get a bit strong for my double reefed main (which now has 3 points but didn't then), and there were 2 sail boards + boarders standing on the Hook- presuma bly in trouble. Nutty being out in weather like that. Took in the genoa so that I could get below to contact the coastguard in relative comfort (the tide was on the make so they couldn't stand there forever), and by the time it was furled they had wizzed off at 30k over the Minnis Bay and there there in about 2min. No doubt into the cafe wolfing down cooked breakfast soon after, whereas I was the the cold wet hungry fool with another 6 hours of bouncy sailing yet to do.

 

[stuey_two]

Recent wind conditions have been ideal for suitably equipped and competent windsurfers, so don't assume that a sailboarder standing on a sandbank is neccessarily in trouble, they can be very conveneient places to take a breather.
However, if the strong wind they are enjoying is offshore - as it was off Margate - they need their brains replaced - it is only a matter of time before they suffer a kit failure that will prevent a safe return.