tobermory accident

[DonMacN]

Nasty incident last night at entrance to Tobermory harbour, one fatality.

Reports I've seen (MCA website) say a blue RIB with four folk on board hit the rocks at the nortth end of Calve Island. Seems they were holidaying in the area.

Tragic accident in any circumstances. Hope it's no-one on here?

[chewy]

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-...92B&m=5&y=2009

[JSP]

Poor fella.

[codprawn]

Nasty - I see they were quick enough to point out no lifejackets even though it had no bearing on the matter!!!

My thoughts go out to the poor man's family.

[Jimbob]

very sad and very sorry

Cod, i think 11.30 pm is relevant with respect to lifejackets dont you. On the courses i have been on, before we go out at night, we do all our checks and make sure we all have these on. I think its sensible at this time of night regardless of conditions.

[Grasshopper]

They appear to have been wearing dry suits, as a diver I never go to sea in a rib unless I am wearing one.

I will concede that if I go into the water unconscious it might not hold me face up but to mitigate that I would have to be wearing an automatic jacket, which is unlikely to survive its first trip, as I am bound to jump in the water to help recover the boat at the slip and set the thing off!!

I am sure some will disagree but if you gave me a choice of a dry suit or life jacket I would go for the dry suit. It’s the survival time in British water that has always concerned me, even if you are wearing a life jacket.
.

Its been a sad time for the sound of mull recently my thoughts are with the family of those concerned and the local community.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Jimbob

very sad and very sorry

Cod, i think 11.30 pm is relevant with respect to lifejackets dont you. On the courses i have been on, before we go out at night, we do all our checks and make sure we all have these on. I think its sensible at this time of night regardless of conditions.

Glasshopper made the point perfectly!!!

[DonMacN]

I tend to agree with Grasshopper and codprawn on the drysuits vs lifejacket issue - ie that I don't wear a LJ 99% of the time I'm in a RIB because for the same 99% of the time I'm wearing a drysuit.


It'll obviously be informative to hear whatever further details emerge about the accident in due course. I'm sure we can all generate our own scenario on the facts available, but it'd just be speculation and doesnt make it any less tragic.

[neilda]

Sobering reading for a chap who's just bought his first RIB.

Dreadful accident, thoughts go to the family and friends.....

[Richard B]

...and sobering reading to see bad advice bandied arond, re:life jackets and dry suits, as well as life jackets and night passages.

Let's get a couple of things clear:

1. Drysuits are fantastic, and I love wearing mine when conditions are less than perfect, but their buoyancy is not predictable, and is just as likely to drown you by lifting your feet as it is to save you. Always wear a life jacket when you put the drysuit on. C'mon, it take at least a couple of minutes to get the drysuit on, but only seconds to put the life jacket on!
2. If you don't wear a lifejacket at night on an open boat, you're asking for trouble. If you think better, then you just aren't thinking.

It's a terrible thing to read about this accident, pursuit of someone's hobby has cost then their life, and their family has lost someone they can't replace.