'Foolhardy' five

[codprawn]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8253797.stm

Well according to the BBC and the MCA they were........

2 RIBs went "missing" crossing the channel. They were caught in a F8 and didn't wear proper clothes.

"At least one of the vessels had a portable VHF marine band radio on board, but unfortunately did not use it to call the coastguard and did not respond to the urgency broadcast we made."

Could it be that they didn't realise there was a problem and that is why they didn't use the VHF?

Anyone know any more???

[Markyboyo]

I know the BBC's editing isn't what it was!

"Dover Coastguard said the party was "extremely foolhardy" to venture out without "inadequate" clothing. "

[SeaSkills]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Could it be that they didn't realise there was a problem and that is why they didn't use the VHF?

Anyone know any more???

At ten minutes past six, Dover Coastguard received a telephone call from a concerned lady.

The lady reported that her husband was one of a party of five adults and four children travelling on two 8.5 metre RIBs from Boulogne to Dover. Her husband had called her on the telephone and had said that they had lost the other RIB, although they had set out together from Boulogne.

Dover Coastguard called out the Langdon Coastguard rescue team, requested the launch of the Dover RNLI lifeboat and scrambled the Coastguard spotter plane based at Manston. The Coastguard Tug Anglian Monarch and Dover Harbour board police were also tasked to assist in the search.

The weather forecast was North Easterly Force 5-7, gusting Gale Force 8.

Dover Coastguard made a pan pan (Urgency) broadcast to all shipping in the Dover Strait and received a response from a motor tanker who reported that they had seen a RIB fitting the description on their port side.

The Coastguard aircraft was able to fly to this last known position and from the air was able to spot the two RIBs and direct the lifeboat to them

[spartacus]

It was widely reported on the MET and BBC weather forecasts that the Dover area had a severe gale force warning in place on Saturday/Sunday. Even with 8.5m RIBS, this does seem foolhardy, especially with children onboard.

[Rogue Wave]

Agreed,

It's a good c ase for an IQ test before being allowed to buy a boat

[JSP]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Agreed,

It's a good c ase for an IQ test before being allowed to buy a boat

That's me knackered then!

[Rogue Wave]

copy that

[Pablo]

From what I understand they didn't actually ask for help. What exactly does "got lost" mean ? Were they really in difficulty ? They just couldn't see each other from what I can understand of the article. It's not really surprising they couldn't see each other in those sort of conditions is it?

[Daniel]

personaly i dont think the issue here is the conditions or boat or owner.

it's lack of passage information submitted to CG, lack of monitoring (a fixed / DSC) VHF.

I've crossed the channel in similar conditions. I lodged a passege plan. I contacted the CG on the VHF when i was delayed, they confirmed and even took down my position at that time.

if there had been a Panpan i would have known about it on the VHF. For one, the CG had my MMSI.

[Daniel]

PS: I was sailing and RIbing yesterday, it was WINDY