Helicopter Rescue off Dover

[OR4751]

That is just gobsmacking.

I guess there really is no such thing as bad publicity

[photodog]

Hot liquid sailing should do the decent thing... they should shut down temporarily at least and have a complete appraisal of their operations....

This lack of a review by hot liquid sailing of their safety, and going straight into a price promotion, is a very poor reflection of their priorities.

Hot liquid needs to review what went wrong before they offer any more courses or sail training.

[Seajet]

I agree this seems a case of poor planning, especially re. crew abilities & strength.

NB the famous quote in a Naval officers' summary, " this Officer shows great skill at getting himself out of situations he should never have got into ! "

A good skipper always has a Plan B - & C, such as already sorting out storm sails - including making sure one can rig a storm jib in storm conditions, a sea anchor ( for drifting or as a steering drogue side to side ) the rudder will keep working or a jury rig is at hand / at least in mind, and as a last resort the chart & anchor are ready, remember the case of 'Tilly Twin', the fin keeler which remarkably got away with running up Bognor beach in a storm( 'Heavy Weather Sailing' again ) ; more to the point, all ones' crew need to be briefed on these things if the skipper is for any reason unavailable...that is not relating to this latest case.

[photodog]

I agree this seems a case of poor planning, especially re. crew abilities & strength.

!

They went out with a force 10 forecast... and they new that it had been forecast...

This isnt a case of poor planning on Hot liquid sailing behalf... its a case of negligence....

[Minn]

There is no reason to sail with such a forecast unless you are a lifeboat or a salvage tug.

[Grumpybear]

There is no reason to sail with such a forecast unless you are a lifeboat or a salvage tug.

I would go further. There is every reason NOT to sail unless you are a lifeboat or a salvage tug.

[Boomshanka]

There is no reason to sail with such a forecast unless you are a lifeboat or a salvage tug.

And so what was the reason? Position a boat for accommodation during LBS perhaps? I don't know, I'm just guessing (it ties in with the dates for the return 'cruise' though - I also can't think why else you would advertise a cruise to London at this time of year with a two week gap between arrival and departure?)... but if that is the case then you shouldn't put fare-paying punters out to do the job in those conditions! Day return train tickets or a budget hotel at the end of a tube line are going to be looking increasingly cheaper options after this.

The weather forecast was undeniable... what on earth was going through the skipper's mind when go/no go decisions were being made!

[Bav34]

The weather forecast was undeniable... what on earth was going through the skipper's mind when go/no go decisions were being made!

He has already answered that question on Twitter

2nd Jan

Great F8/9 maybe even F10 Tue!!! At least it's from west so just run under storm jib!!! May even use Trysail!!!!

[photodog]

And so what was the reason? Position a boat for accommodation during LBS perhaps? I don't know, I'm just guessing (it ties in with the dates for the return 'cruise' though - I also can't think why else you would advertise a cruise to London at this time of year with a two week gap between arrival and departure?)... but if that is the case then you shouldn't put fare-paying punters out to do the job in those conditions! Day return train tickets or a budget hotel at the end of a tube line are going to be looking increasingly cheaper options after this.

The weather forecast was undeniable... what on earth was going through the skipper's mind when go/no go decisions were being made!

they have a stand at Libs.... I think that your spot on.

Its a worthwhile trip... and a good idea... but clearly Hot Liquid sailing have allowed business priorities to rule over common sense...

And they did the same thing last year.

[topline]

You can watch crew and skipper being interviewed here (for the next 7 hours on iPlayer) [http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ay_03_01_2012/]

from 03:10 to 04:28

Skipper quoted that the Helmsman was slammed against the wheel but didn't receive major injuries, what else would you call a broken shoulder and jaw! What a T@%t.