Hopefully nobody here

[Polwart]

http://hmcoastguard.blogspot.com/201....html?spref=tw

Obviously a reasonable outcome in the end.

I wish the CG watch officers weren't always so quick to "criticise" people, in this case for having "all the gear and no idea"... they managed to get out a distress call, and fire an orange smoke flare - for people who were probably in their first ever distress situation that actually sounds not too bad, especially if, eg. the skipper was in the water. I do wonder if this "public humiliation" in the press releases might actually put people off calling for help early (something they always encourage). I think it is very unusual for the other emergency services to be openly critical of those they rescue.

[willk]

Not me

It reads as though the skipper was in the water and that the mayday was via handheld. Someone cracked a flare too. Not a bad response in my opinion.

Obviously if the remaining passengers could have flipped the DSC Distress button, it would have been a bonus.

I always show my passengers the "Red Rescue Button"

They never show much interest...

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by willk

I always show my passengers the "Red Rescue Button"

They never show much interest...

Yes I know how an air stewardess feels!

[Hightower]

This happened on my patch and was pleased to see GAFIRS mentioned instead of the RNLI for a change.

When conditions call for it I always wear my handheld VHF and it was obviously this that they summoned help with. I would like to know if the flare was set off from the boat or the people in the water?

My kids have been taught how to contact the coastguard in case of an emergency. They know about channel 16 and the RED button. They also know about May Days too. However I have told them to never use the radio unless it is a complete emergency too. In a situation like this do you think they would remember all that was taught to them? My Son is 9 and daughter 13, they are bright kids but how would they react under this pressure?

The phrase "out te window" springs to mind.

[Carl]

just read about this in the local paper, they reported that the people in the water were thrown from the rib during a high speed turn

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Polwart

http://hmcoastguard.blogspot.com/201....html?spref=tw

Obviously a reasonable outcome in the end.

I wish the CG watch officers weren't always so quick to "criticise" people, in this case for having "all the gear and no idea"... they managed to get out a distress call, and fire an orange smoke flare - for people who were probably in their first ever distress situation that actually sounds not too bad, especially if, eg. the skipper was in the water. I do wonder if this "public humiliation" in the press releases might actually put people off calling for help early (something they always encourage). I think it is very unusual for the other emergency services to be openly critical of those they rescue.

So do I. It's an attitude that I think filters down from MCA HQ and one which I tried hard to counter during my time in an Ops Room. In general I find the MCA a particularly arrogant organisation. Their prevalent attitude is that all 'leisure' seafarers are untrained idiots and need a finger wagged at them.

In my day, very few HMCG officers were experienced small boat seafarers, motor or sail. Few had been watch officers on any sort of ship. Many were 'communicators' retired from the armed forces. Their universal use of the acronym WAFI says it all. Wind assisted some of their clients may be, F 'in idiots, many are not.

Of course, there are some CG or ex CG officers on here more experienced than I, who may disagree with me.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by alystra

So do I. It's an attitude that I think filters down from MCA HQ and one which I tried hard to counter during my time in an Ops Room. In general I find the MCA a particularly arrogant organisation. Their prevalent attitude is that all 'leisure' seafarers are untrained idiots and need a finger wagged at them.

Indeed - it seems they are rather scathing of a canoeist (or is it canoer?) who triggered a major search a few days ago despite not actually getting into difficulty. I wonder if they've stopped to think why most water users don't "call in" before/after going to sea? Could it be that they are not as approachable as they think? Could it be that they give an "inconsistent message" to water users - "please tell us your plans" but "we won't use your passage plan to trigger a search for you!"

[Hightower]

At least the comment from the Coastguard wasn't quoted in the local rag. Looks like the RIB came from Premier Marina in Gosport.

[Doug Stormforce]

Don't know why you lot are even discussing it. This thread belongs on rhib.net not here!!

[GJ0KYZ]

"All the gear but no idea" is an unforturnate choice of words, that's for sure. Rib owners are seen by some as being low on the marine pecking order but in my experience it's hard to predict how anyone will react in an emergency. We can all get into trouble at sea; I did the other day. I don't think scorn or blame helps the situation at all.