Gruffy Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Left Poole harbour this afternoon planning to enjoy a couple of hours fishing with a mate who'd travelled all the way down from Brum, but ended up spending the first hour retrieving a 12 foot boat with a failed engine out of the race at Old Harry. On board were two adults, one clutching a small baby, and two Rottweillers! What I couldn't believe was the number of boats, most much larger than my own, that simply ignored the waving from the people on the 12 foot vessel. A commercial ferry boat carrying about a dozen passengers heading towards Swanage passed within 100 feet and still ignored the waving of the woman as the man tried desperately to start the engine. It turns out they had run into trouble around Evans Rock and had drifted perhaps two miles without anyone coming to their aid. Of course the occupants, out for the first time in their new boat, had no radio, no phone, no oars, no flares, no anchor.....but at least all three people on board had buoyancy aids on. We came alongside and my initial intention was to transfer the people onto my vessel, but in the end I opted to inform the coastguard of the situation and our position first in case things got a little tricky. I was nervous of transferring the woman and baby in particular, especially as we bobbed through the waves off Old Harry, and I thought the two Rotty's might react unpredictably and turn a bad situation into a disasterous one. The boat was tiny and very low in the water but whilst it was tethered to my own I felt the occupants were in no immediate danger. Portland called out for any large vessel that was heading in to Swanage to lend a hand with a tow but when nobody offered they eventually decided to launch the Swanage offshore lifeboat to retrieve the stricken boat. By the time they arrived we had beaten a course into the lee of the cliffs 1/4 mile west of Old Harry, but I was still happy to have the big orange boat take control of the situation and haul the man, woman, baby and two dogs onto their boat. A few boats stood by and even offered assistance once it became apparent what was happening, but I was still amazed how many vessels passed this problem by without lending a hand to the small boat that was obviously in trouble....and with a small baby on board for heavens sake? As it turned out, this was our best catch for the rest of the evening - we did find a few inshore bass in the end though nothing over 3 1/2 pounds, all returned to grow into bigger fish we hope. A big pat on the back to my mate Julian Fox (another forum member) as well for not flinching at the prospect of losing the fishing to carry out a more important job in the end...if only everyone was so strong eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Well done Allan. Nothing is more important than life and it seems by your actions you may well have saved a few. As for the other boaters that passed blissfully bye what can you say, they are either oblivious of their surroundings or totally ignorant with their noses stuck right up........ hu hum I'll let you guess what I was going to put next. Well done again and glad you also went on to catch some fish. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Well done Allan. I would hazard a guess that most of these boaters were actually oblivious. I have been out with a number of people who simply pay no attention. ...I can't truly believe that people would ignore others in difficulty... surely? Anyway, you certainly did the right thing. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Nice one Alan well done mate Its a shame other people put their own intentions above the need of others but thats life I suppose. We boat people usually look after each other when we can. Glad it turned out OK I would also have been very nervous of transferring the baby and even more so of the two pets. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Heard the reports of the small boat in Swanage Bay needing assistance yesterday, whilst fishing in Christchurch. I don't know what the conditions were like over your way but they were a little lumpy over X-Ray direction ( and deteriorating ). I heard the coastguard mention putting out the lifeboat to assist and asking any other vessels to assist. If our fishing was anything to go by, you didn't miss much - the sea was too rough to anchor comfortably, so fished X-Ray and around the ledge on the drift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 well done Allan - so many 'can't be bothered' or are concerned that there involvement will inturupt their day. I know I am out ofet enought that I will need help more than once in my lifetime so will never refuse to get involved...........last time we lost all the eels in the live tank but got the guy in the water (of Winspit) into the helo........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 How do we distinguish a frantic wave for help and an over over enthusaictic friendly wave? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruffy Posted July 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 I've come to the conclusion that most people, like suggested by Martin and Tom, were probably oblivious to the plight of the people in the boat rather than them deliberately turning a blind eye. I say most of them, because I'm still sure some people simply chose to look the other way....but it's more comforting to think this way. Newboy, I don't know how old you are, but I bet most people remember the cartoon adverts on the tv in the 70's promoting the coastguard, with George and Mildred having a picnic on the cliff top and seeing a man in distress waving from a boat out at sea. I think the general rule when at sea is if you see somebody waving at you from a boat, especially if they are not under way, then you should investigate further....either by using bino's, calling up on the radio, or like I did, making your way over to within ear shot. It's like divers in the water, a wave is always a call for help. Duncan, I concur with you entirely mate....I only hope that if ever I need help out there, it's someone like you and any of the other guys on this forum who come within sight and not somebody who's too busy to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Kam 2 hands being crossed / uncrossed over head = help 1 hand doing anything my need help but isnt distress per se (at this point Mike usually pops up with 'How does a one armed guy wave for help? - I'll pass on that..............) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britboard Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 Well done for doing the right thing! its a shame so many people have an "i'm alright Jack" attitude these days, as for George and mildred, do you mean this one Gruffy! tv ark look under public info films G-L for Joe & Petunia, it had me remembering my childhood and my dad lecturing about boat safety. be warned though this is an addictive web site and you will on it for hours remembering days gone by. Simon L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Gruffy did a good job - one of these days it'll be us/me that needs help. That ferry boat motoring by takes the biscuit really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruffy Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Jo and Petunia....nice one Simon, well found. http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.h...astguard1968.rm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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