FFS!

Daibheid

http://www.thejournal.ie/three-men-recovered-from-homemade-raft-off-waterford-coast-1012181-Jul2013/?utm_source=facebook_short

A VOLUNTEER LIFEBOAT crew with Tramore RNLI recovered three men travelling on a homemade craft from the sea off the Waterford coast this weekend.
On Friday, the lifeboat crew were called by a member of the public who spotted the three men out at sea on a homemade raft without lifejackets. On arriving at the scene with the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117, the crew managed to convince the three men to return to shore on the lifeboat for their safety.
After the alarm was raised at 6.40pm, the crew used local knowledge to locate the men at Kilfaraissey beach and were then joined on scene by Rescue 117. The RNLI said that the men, who were 600 metres offshore, insisted that they were not in need of help and the lifeboat stood by.
Men agreed to return onboard the lifeboat
Following a discussion with Rescue 115 a decision was made that due to the unsafe structure of the raft and with no lifejackets being worn that the men would have to return to shore with the lifeboat crew. The three men agreed to return onboard the lifeboat and they were taken onboard and brought back to the beach. They were met on their return by members of An Garda Siochana.
“This could have so easily ended in tragedy. The men were a good distance out from the shore and between two islands where there is a racing tide that changes rapidly,” Tramore RNLI crewmember Paul Tuohy said. “The raft was very poorly constructed and the men were unprepared for any change in their circumstances. The raft could have broken up or they could have been thrown from it and with no lifejackets they would have found themselves in trouble very quickly.”
“With the recent drownings we would appeal to everyone to take care in the water and to wear and use the proper equipment including a lifejacket,” added.

tin79

Is there no end to some peoples idiocy?

A while back a friend and I came across two young lads (13-14)out in the middle of a local lake with a homemade "boat". A pretty dangerous lake with depths to 50 feet and rocky shallows.

It was made of pieces of pallets, covered in thin aluminium sheets and joins (nails forced through the aluminium into the wood underneath) covered in tar! It was about 3 feet wide, 6 long and the seats were 3 foot off the water and leaking like hell. The centre of gravity was dangerously high. No life jackets of course and they were wobbling side to side using their "oars" sweeping brushes with bin lids attached!

We talked to then and warned them of the danger - they wouldn't listen. Said it was seriously dangerous and they laughed. Told them we would get it confiscated by the council and they told us to piss off!

We saw where they moored it (with old washing line tied to a bush) so we dragged it out to deeper water and sunk it (the joins just pulled apart and we put a couple of rocks in it) . Best thing we could have done I think.

neris

Sometimes the rnli and coastguards should just leave idiots like that to it and stop wasting their time.

From what ive seen in howth and read on the net there seem to more idiots out and about on the water this year who really dont have a clue about water safety, channel markers, tides or respect for other boat users.

HeidiHeidi

I was on the West Pier for the racing on Saturday, and when the finishes started coming in there was a teeny rib with a few guys fishing, right on the finish line.

They stuck it out for quite a while, and I was just waiting for them to get run over.... you'd think that some shred of self-preservation instinct would kick in when you see a fleet of large keelboats bearing down on you in your little rib... but no.... :eek:

Equally, I had to hail a similar boat (possibly the same one!) that was plonk on our start line a few weeks ago..... they looked mystified and vaguely annoyed at having to shift.

(And yes, I know full well that yotties don't rule the bay by any stretch, and the fishermen have as much right to be there as anyone else, but I refer to my point above about self-preservation )

ETA - as for the OP...... :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Darwin award much?

miss no stars

Hope they get charged with the cost of the call-out. I'm not a huge fan of micro-managing people on the water, or overbearing enforcement presence like the US Coast Guard... But maybe it's time that there were some strictly enforced water-borne leisure activity laws. Things like:

• if you plan to be on a vessel more than 10 meters from shore, or in more than 2 meters of depth (whichever comes sooner), it must be either commercially produced and rated for the type of activity you're doing; or inspected and approved by the RNLI/Coast Guard.
• enforce the buoyancy aid laws.
• And here's the biggie I'd like to see: if you're the person responsible for a vessel on the seas or connected waterways, you MUST pass a basic test on the IRPCS AND hold a basic qualification for that type of vessel (or be under the instruction of a qualified person).

I'm not talking massive amounts of qualification. I mean "can get off the shore, play about in mild conditions and return to shore - all done safely" type qualification. As in, for things like kayaks it'd be a half day course with a bit of "here's how to deal with a capsize, how to deal with current and who gives way to who" sort of thing. Motor boats/jetskis etc, should have a minimum of powerboat level 1 or they just CAN'T get insurance. Basic stuff. That way people like those in the article above could have the book thrown at them and a ban from owning/chartering/using watercraft for 2 years or whatever. Put and end to this nonsense.

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I was on the West Pier for the racing on Saturday, and when the finishes started coming in there was a teeny rib with a few guys fishing, right on the finish line.

They stuck it out for quite a while, and I was just waiting for them to get run over.... you'd think that some shred of self-preservation instinct would kick in when you see a fleet of large keelboats bearing down on you in your little rib... but no.... :eek:

Equally, I had to hail a similar boat (possibly the same one!) that was plonk on our start line a few weeks ago..... they looked mystified and vaguely annoyed at having to shift.

(And yes, I know full well that yotties don't rule the bay by any stretch, and the fishermen have as much right to be there as anyone else, but I refer to my point above about self-preservation )

ETA - as for the OP...... :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Darwin award much?

Eugh. You'd imagine boats bearing down on you would be a bit prompt to movement...


To be fair, some of them actually haven't a notion what's going on or just how close all the boats will be. I've hailed a couple and every time I've found that when it's explained that they have every right to stay there if they want, but that there'll be 20 boats vying for space along the line from here [one end of the line] to there [other end of line] and that they're right on that line and have lines in the water where boats' fins might catch them... but that the boats will all be gone in 10 minutes time... they're fairly happy to move along. A few have hung on outside the line to watch the start and moved straight back. Fair nuffs, bit of entertainment and back to where they were.

Steve

The ironic part of all this is this:
Aboard the raft, they were breaking the law by not wearing PFD's, had they been in the water swimming beside their raft then they were perfectly legal.

It's like the time last year when a small fleet of kids were capsized by a gust near DL harbour. Lifeboats and ambulances ensued, some were brought to hospital, parents needed counselling, it was all over the news etc (some of that main contain traces of exaggeration), point is, there were people (including kids) swimming nearby at the same time and not an eyelid was batted.

I'm not saying I condone the actions of the rafters, yes it was an incredibly dumb thing to do, I'm just frustrated at how it's sensationalized by journo's who don't know the first thing about it.

fergal.b

How it should be done http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-23469810

In his account from "rubbery forum" he tells how close he came to taking a risk that may have had a different ending. Good point about the PLB having received signal it would be comforting to know when your floating about in the sea.

Ps. he made it to Dun Laoghaire and joined up on leg two of the round Ireland


hello all...
as am sure you would like details...here goes.
I arrived Neyland at 11 am just in time to see everyone leaving. I still had to fuel the boat and stow kit so was taking my time. No intention to catch people up, and was going to take my time crossing to conserve fuel.
Set off at 2 pm, after launching, parking car and trailer etc .
Out of the sound I hit the overfalls Paul Glaetzal describes.
Lumpy confused chop, not too dissimilar to conditions off Tynemouth in the North Sea, where I usually boat. It would smooth out, get lumpy again, smooth out etc etc.
I was transiting at around 14 to 28 knots depending on conditions.
We have all been in seas like it ...you have to look 3 crests ahead plot your route etc etc. Had hit a smoother section and got the boat back up to 24 knots from 17.
I had just checked the SOG on the plotter about 20 seconds before coming out of the boat. The crest that caught me out looked no different to those I had been crssing on the journey, except this had the mother of all holes on the other side.
The boat came down off the crest tipped to starboard and just fell, and I fell faster.
The jocky seat wrenched out of the floor with the force. It was held in with 6 stainless dome head M8's. The seat stayed in the boat. I hit shoulder first. Kill cord worked instantly. One of the first things I noticed in the water was it wrapped tightly round my leg, so I started looking for the boat. After the disorientation and initial water swallowing, I pulled the inflator on my jacket. One of the first things my hand touched was the back plate from my Entel Vhf which was not attched to the rest of the unit. The hand held was attached to the right shoulder of the lifejack in the velcro and webbing nest Baltic provide for it, aerial looped through a webbing pocket. It must have disintegrated when I hit the water as apart from that initial piece of plastic from the unit my hand touched I never saw any more bits or parts of it. My PLB - its a GME unit - was attached in to the webbing nest built into the harness of my jacket, I felt for it and it was there. First priority was firing it to let someone know what had happened. I looked at the RIB it seemd to be around 100 metres away from me in the water, but in reality I knew that distance would be further. I also was not going to be able to get to it with lifejacket inflated, just trying to get upright I was worried I would tip onto my face. My Gecko was still attached, I wore it throughout the rescue. Am sure it absorbed some of that initial contact with the water, and as time dragged on it kept my head warm. I firred up the PLB and lay back with it on my chest. It started beeping and flashing. Looked at my watch about 10 minutes after I had gone in, it was 3.45pm. I knew they take up to 30 mins to get a pass from a sat, but was concerned that the impact with the water had possibly damaged the unit. at 4.10pm the unit made a very short set of extended beeps, easy to miss with my Gecko on. This on reflection was the sound of the satellite transmit working (it was a GPS equipped unit) I had been in the water approx 30 mins at that point. The RIB would sometimes come closer and then 2 mins later would seem much further away. After an hour in the water , the temptation to try to get to the boat was massive. I knew it would mean deflating the bladders on the jacket, but I didnt want to let go of the PLB and swimming in the dry suit, jacket, gecko combo is nigh impossible. I floated around in circles, crossed my feet pulled in my arms to my sides. The inflated chambers of the jacket blocked a lot of peripheral view. My view was like a gun barrel down the sides of the chambers, so to look for anything I had to paddle myself through 360 degrees. I saw a yacht around maybe 500 metres off, but couldnt attract its attention. Looked at my watch - it was 5.00 pm. In the water around 1 hr 15 minutes. Water was cold but with really warm pockets and currents flowing through it, sun was shining, the swell was running at around 2 or 3 feet I would estimate. I looked at the watch again at 5.15 pm. Knew it was around one and half hours since I had gone in. With no way of knowing if the PLB signal had been received, I was beginning to get just a little bit concerned. I could sometimes see the Echomax on the A frame of the RIB over the swells, maybe 250 to 300 metres away. at 5.20 pm and just starting to feel a little chill, and getting cramps in my legs, I let some of the air out of my jacket and contemplated getting myself someohow to the RIB. I saw the funnel of the Irish Ferries ship then, maybe 500 to 800 metres behind my rib, and about a minute later heard the Seaking from Chivenor. They positioned themseves round 20 metres off the water, hovering facing me. I made a signal to try to tell them just me (one) and pointed at myself as I expect they were looking for any additonal people in the water. They put the diver in, and he hooked me up and 15 secs later I was in the helo, looking down at all the pax on the Irish ferries boat enjoying the view. I asked the winchman to go back down to my RIB as soon as I was on the helo, they asked about injuries how I felt...I said I was fine, I have a massive dent in my pride but otherwise fine. They conferred with MHCG and then winched me back into my boat.
There was a Dive Boat on scene then and he asked about intentions, I was contemplating keeping going to Kilmore quay until I saw the state of my seat, so I agreed to wait for St Davids lifeboat ad followed that into Milford Haven, where the Angle lifeboat met me and went with me to Neyland. Apart from the seat, the Rib is fine. Apart from a big bruise on my shoulder, I am fine.
I was so cross with myself for the ejection. As I was going over in that split second, it was running through my mind, how am I going to explain this then !
I was disappointed about the VHF but in the circumstances of the impact, makes sense I guess. I woud like PLB/EPIRB manufacturs to install some way of bouncing back a signal to a beacon - some tell tale fool proof way / big red light or something, that is activated on your beacon when your distress signal is received. Another 10 or 15 minutes and I may have attempted to get back to the RIB with a poor result.
Big thanks to the Chivenor crew who I think were a little "surprised" that I wanted to get back on the RIB when they picked me up, the St Davids and Angle crews for the escort and chat, and the Coastguard at Neyland for sorting a berth at the marina (and some fish and chips - hungry business this rescue stuff).
and yes I am lucky - and yes I love my boating kit.

IreJohn

We saw where they moored it (with old washing line tied to a bush) so we dragged it out to deeper water and sunk it (the joins just pulled apart and we put a couple of rocks in it) . Best thing we could have done I think.

If your boat gets vandalized in that area, you will know who the culprits
are.

tin79

IreJohn wrote: »

We saw where they moored it (with old washing line tied to a bush) so we dragged it out to deeper water and sunk it (the joins just pulled apart and we put a couple of rocks in it) . Best thing we could have done I think.

If your boat gets vandalized in that area, you will know who the culprits
are.

Trailered in and out every time so that wont happen unless they track me down and manage to bust the garage door down. Car was parked miles away too

Still I would rather have a vandalized boat to deal with than the inevitable accident that would have happened on my conscience. If they went in the water on the day we saw them with the conditions as they were, the depth of water, close by sharp rocky shallows, silty/marly banks, no lifejackets, water absorbing clothes, inexperience and likely panic it would have been very dangerous if not fatal.

The best place for that deathtrap was on the lake bottom IMO. Better that than floating upturned over two drowned kids. If you can pull a boat apart with your bare hands its not fit to be on the water. Normally I would have given up after we chatted to them but I was genuinely so worried that time that I felt it was the only option.

the beer revolu

We were just about to put our currachs away on the Lee in Cork when a power cruiser came up the river doing about 15 knots despite 6 knot limit signs everywhere, completely ignoring about 15 people roaring their heads off at them.

Knowing exactly where they were headed (Port of Cork City Marina), I decided to drop down for a chat on my way home. Their excuse: "we were very low on fuel and it's very inefficient to drive a boat like this at 6 knots" !!!!!!!!!

Now, I have little experience of power boats but surely that's complete horsesh1t?

Anyone?

As well as a nice chat with them I also called the Port of Cork security office and reported them.:D

I don't know why daddy didn't fill up the boat for them?


Edit: Having done a little research, my gut instinct seems to be correct:
The most economical speed they could have gone at would have been at a displacement speed of under 7 knots.
The next most economical speed would have been just up on a plane.
They were on a half plane thus burning as much fuel as they could bar going flat out and probably creating the biggest wake they could.

Not just arseholes, stupid arseholes who know nothing about their (Daddy's) boat, can't gauge fuel for a trip, and have no consideration for other water users.