Dramatic mid-channel rescue - Page 2

GraemeCooper · 20 September 2002, 18:52

Charles

Glad to hear that you are all OK after your horrible experiences.

As had been said, I would like to find out why the boat took on water in the first place, and what caused the tube to separate in conditions that should be well within her capabilities.

but, of course, all of that can wait.

Please send our best wishes to Fiona and Simon, and yourself of course.

jools · 20 September 2002, 19:30

Firstly Cath and I are glad that you are now safe and sound - its frightening just looking at the pictures and reading your account.

Secondly - I will increase my RNLI membership - they are all fantastic guys. Also remember the other Lifeboats require our assistance too. e.g. Portishead has its own lifeboat that covers the Severn www.portishead-lifeboat.org.uk Just as valuable (and they have a RibCraft!)

Thirdly - Will you be fitting a DSC radio? It sounds like there was some confusion about your position, although I'm sure you knew exactly where you were this got "confused" in the relay. I have heard PAN PAN calls in the Solent where the CG has difficulty pinpointing the casulty - and hence the rescue takes longer.
You may also find that the DSC call could have reached the CG directly as they go further.

It was for these reasons I fitted a DSC to my RibCraft - I also figgered that the Distress button could be easily activated by any passenger (take the example of the Yacht where the skipper was knocked off and the crew couldn't operate the radio)

(For our newcomers... DSC radios are required in commercial and fishing vessels and are optional in recreational boats. Hitting the "Distress" button will send a Digital PAN PAN or Mayday message to all other boats and CG in the radios area. This message contains the Position recieved from the ships GPS. - You then send a voice Mayday on Ch16 - The DSC bit is a bit like sending a text message on a mobile)

Jono Garton · 20 September 2002, 19:33

Charles

Pleased you are all OK.

If your not put of ribbing for life, you can join me on my RIB on the St Malo cruz.

TIM · 20 September 2002, 19:37

What a trip !!!!!!! I'm glad all is safe and well, as Ribs can be repaired, People are not so easy.....! Keep us informed as to the causes of this , It may benfit us all...

Keith Hart · 20 September 2002, 20:33

Charles...what a star. Going to all that trouble just so we could have an exciting read. Thanks.

Keith (glad you're all okay) Hart

Ribald · 20 September 2002, 20:46

Glad to hear that you survived what must have been a very nerve-wracking experience

.

Thanks for the report and photos - I don't think I could have reached for the camera under those conditions

matiboy · 20 September 2002, 20:56

wouldnt wish that experience on any body, great to hear you all got back safely

Charles, I wonder what such intake of water would have done had you been running an inboard, presumably it would have got flooded, packed up and put you in a worse situation, by the sounds of it the fact you have an outboard meant it kept running despite being flooded ?

Alan Priddy · 20 September 2002, 21:50

Charles, Sorry to hear about your problems but I am glad that you are both safe. I am sure that you will understand when I say " I know how you feel"! Like me, the boat can be repaired and in time you can laugh about it in the Pub

On an interesting point, there is an article in this months Rib International showing two pictures about tube attachment. Picture 3 shows the wrong way and picture 4 shows the correct way.

In fact the author of this story does not know his arse from his elbow and the captions are back to front! Picture 3 is correct and picture 4 is VERY Wrong.

The correct way to locate the bow section on any fast/deep sea RIB is to have an excess of material that will allow the tube to fold inside the boat when it gets "Stuffed" this way it will not rip the attachment off which is what appears on your boat. Nicely finished tube attachments are one thing and look very good but keeping them on is another. It might be worth asking around to see how many other RIB owners / builders will own up to this problem.
Alan P

Charles · 20 September 2002, 21:53

narked · 20 September 2002, 22:53

Good to know you're all ok now.
Great thread, and some cool pictures too. Goes to show the extremes that these people will go to to get 4 people back on dry land.
Nice of the French lads to try helping out, even if it didn't exactly work out well. Might now look in to making regular donations to the RNLI, currently only give em money when I'm on holiday and there's a lifeboat station around, or when I'm out diving.

The RNLI do a nice mousemat you can buy in the lifeboat stations with one of their RIBs on it, maybe you should all go out and buy em as a thank you for this?

Matt

Viking · 21 September 2002, 02:47

I

also am glad to support the RNLI, they have fortunately come to my aid this year also, although not in dangerous circumstsances, however it is my understanding that they are doing rather well for money. And I wonder if we should try harder to support our local rescue orginisations. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, Jools, do you think you could write an article on DSC stuff. How do you link up a GPS to a DSC. what a MMSI is and why you should have one.

Thanks

Daniel · 21 September 2002, 05:36

RE: The DSC thing,

Thats a good idea - i am often asked and had meant to write a short explanation my self, just not had time yet, so if someone else wants to do it great! Else when i do get round to doing i'll post it here!

I'm guesing all the people here know about the RNLI 'offshore' scheme (direct debit of money for a monthly donation).

Still shocked at the main purpose of this thread BTW!

Daniel (I'm off to the boat show in a minute) Hawkes

Keith Hart · 21 September 2002, 06:02

Just thought I'd mention it!

Keith (you see they are useful) Hart

Charles · 21 September 2002, 10:18

Thank-you everyone for your kind and caring words. Fiona (my wife), Simon and I drunk copious amounts of red wine last night and we have severe hangovers, but feeling great to be alive. I have had the rib surveyed by two people yesterday and the damage is minimal, although some modifications will be required. Once this is all over I will hopefully be able to explain in technical detail what went wrong, I am just mindful of the fact that I do not want to say too much and cast the wrong aspersions on anyone or company at the moment.....you know what I mean?!

Thanks again

Mike Garside · 21 September 2002, 10:21

Glad you're sall afe and well, Charles. Rough 'un, that.

Cheers...

DJL · 21 September 2002, 13:01

Glad to hear you and Fiona are ok. What a horrible experience.

I have to say though, those pictures are fantastic.

sirzap · 21 September 2002, 13:49

Keith Hart · 21 September 2002, 18:48

Sirzap

I didn't see you there!

Keith (the pull) Hart

wavelength · 21 September 2002, 21:11

what can I say except to echo everyones sentiments and add my good wishes. That photographer is a star to keep cool and keep taking the shots in those circumstances - one picture is worth a hundred words!
Dave

sirzap · 22 September 2002, 01:42

The Pull was a success!