UK sibber drifts to Ireland

[willk]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c748z9mvzm9o

Any of you lads need to tell us something?

[Fenlander]

One of those stories that is missing info that might help it make sense. A guy described as an experienced and well prepared sailor/adventurer leaves his tent/camp in a Welsh bay and ends up after 'some engine trouble" and some 65Nm on the water walking into an Irish police station two days overdue.

Meanwhile an extensive eight lifeboat, coastguard aircraft, coastguard teams/police search was undertaken in the area he was believed to be in around Fishguard.

Obviously the outcome everyone wanted but unforgivable in my book not to have the means to call for help or at least inform family/authorities of intentions.

Even worse, in the multiple reports I've read not one mention what pitch prop he was using.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Even worse, in the multiple reports I've read not one mention what pitch prop he was using.

Looks like a Merc 9.9hp 4 stroke, so my guess is a 7.5p, could be wrong and he may have stuck with the std 8p - and that could be why he ended up on the East Coast of Ireland!

[willk]

Despite his lack of comms and the ensuing faff, he had a 70 mile crossing/drift in a very small SIB. Out of sight of land and without motive power and comms, it will have been a lonely and difficult time - glad he made it this far!

[Fenlander]

>>>Out of sight of land and without motive power and comms, it will have been a lonely and difficult time.

Indeed and I do hope there is further info over time as it's all very curious and may have lessons for sibbers and other smallcraft users.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

One of those stories that is missing info that might help it make sense. A guy described as an experienced and well prepared sailor/adventurer leaves his tent/camp in a Welsh bay and ends up after 'some engine trouble" and some 65Nm on the water walking into an Irish police station two days overdue.

Meanwhile an extensive eight lifeboat, coastguard aircraft, coastguard teams/police search was undertaken in the area he was believed to be in around Fishguard.

Obviously the outcome everyone wanted but unforgivable in my book not to have the means to call for help or at least inform family/authorities of intentions.

Even worse, in the multiple reports I've read not one mention what pitch prop he was using.

Or indeed what launch wheels he used and their colour and fixing method

[spartacus]

3 days drifting across the Irish Sea won’t have been fun.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024...ng-to-ireland/

Says details are vague, but sounds like maybe spontaneous decision to launch and probably unprepared. I carry too much kit every time I go out. Things happen, even with engines that are serviced within an inch of their lives. I’ve had a pattern part Tohatsu fuel connector ‘o’ ring dislodge before which starved the engine of fuel. Process of elimination and 20 minutes later and I was underway again, but I had auxilliary engine and radio if it all went south.

Another reason to carry VHF or even a battery bank for a mobile phone.

Anyway, I’m glad the guy is safe and well.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by willk

Despite his lack of comms and the ensuing faff, he had a 70 mile crossing/drift in a very small SIB. Out of sight of land and without motive power and comms, it will have been a lonely and difficult time - glad he made it this far!

Obviously pleased he's safe and well, but I think it highlights the need for a good means of communication, preferably 2 forms of communication - VHF as well as a mobile with a battery backup.
There have been numerous posts when people have been advised to get a radio, only to say as they are not going far off shore they don't need one, they will be in mobile contact and don't need anything else.
It's making me consider a PLB.

[Fenlander]

>>Says details are vague.

Yes it seems all the media outlets have the same sketchy info and have expanded it to a story with differing bias... such as some say drifted to Ireland and others say got motor going and continued journey. I can't think anyone would set up their tent/camp on the Welsh coast if they were planning to go to Ireland. I wonder what, if any, navigation aids/plans he had?

[Pikey Dave]

Did he claim asylum?

[Voodoo]

He only went for a Guiness...

[beamishken]

It all looks a bit suspicious to me the pictures show what looks like a reasonably well equipped set up & I find it difficult to believe he set off without a vhf & a means to charge his phone. With the little info given I'm thinking theres more to this than meets the eye.
Maybe I'm just suspicious but something doesn't ring quite true here.

[User name]

This happened a good few years back with a guy on a jetski too. Luckily Ireland isn't far, and a good reminder not to take chances on the west coast of Ireland or it could be a while before you see Newfoundland.

[tinker]

Originally Posted by beamishken

It all looks a bit suspicious to me the pictures show what looks like a reasonably well equipped set up & I find it difficult to believe he set off without a vhf & a means to charge his phone. With the little info given I'm thinking theres more to this than meets the eye.
Maybe I'm just suspicious but something doesn't ring quite true here.

My thoughts as well, be interesting to check the tidal flow and see if he drifts towards Ireland at anytime, you would imagine the Irish sea would flow either north to south or the south to north.

[Fenlander]

Indeed the tidal flow is to the North in the hours preceding HW Dover, at their strongest around 3hrs before HW Dover. Then the stream reverses to flow South after HW Dover at its strongest around 3hrs later. I guess locally there could also be a set to the East or West but I don't know that.

These streams at maximum flow vary between 1.5kts to 3kts approx depending on the time of the tide cycle.

I thought the wind was lightish and broadly a Westerly over those days (but can't see online where I could confirm that), if so you'd have thought he'd have blown back towards Wales if drifting.

I wonder if he lost sight of land when having engine trouble then lost his bearings, sorted the engine and motored West in error.

One of the articles mentioned his phone losing power so being unable to communicate or navigate. Surely he would have had a compass?

It really would be fascinating to know the real story.

Be he super unlucky, ill prepared or just reckless it gives me a good feeling that I decided to invest in a Sat comms device this year which in his circumstance could have resolved things very easily.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f37/garmin...2-a-91406.html

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Surely he would have had a compass?

I met a guy going off on a fairly serious hill run who didn't seem to have a compass - tapped his watch, everything I need is on there... He did make it back (well his car was gone the following day) but it seemed to place a lot of trust in a tiny battery in cold weather. I suspect there are many on boats who have GPS/Phone/SmartWatch but nothing as old fashioned as a compass.

[tinker]

Originally Posted by Poly

I met a guy going off on a fairly serious hill run who didn't seem to have a compass - tapped his watch, everything I need is on there... He did make it back (well his car was gone the following day) but it seemed to place a lot of trust in a tiny battery in cold weather. I suspect there are many on boats who have GPS/Phone/SmartWatch but nothing as old fashioned as a compass.

The problem I found with a GPS map is your not really sure which way you are heading until you have made some progress. On top of a misty Tyfan is not a place you can walk 10 meters to get a heading, don't ask me how I know.......

A compass is vital in certain circumstances.

[Fenlander]

>>>with a GPS map is your not really sure which way you are heading until you have made some progress.

With both of mine you only need to move a couple of meters before direction is shown.

My compass is in my emergency bag rather than fixed and I have to admit in over a decade I've found GPS reliable... and indeed life changing on a SIB over my earlier days with bigger craft and paper charts... because I have no room on the SIB for a polished mahogany chart table with flexy reading light.

[tinker]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>>with a GPS map is your not really sure which way you are heading until you have made some progress.

With both of mine you only need to move a couple of meters before direction is shown.

My compass is in my emergency bag rather than fixed and I have to admit in over a decade I've found GPS reliable... and indeed life changing on a SIB over my earlier days with bigger craft and paper charts... because I have no room on the SIB for a polished mahogany chart table with flexy reading light.

For boating they are unbeatable, I have navigated at night with charts and a bearing compass, in the solent, and it's not something i would want to do again.......ever and I told the instructor that as well (he did have navionics open on his phone though checking my passage plan)

My gps is phoned based, Osmand, I'm taking it you have a dedicated GPS? You have to be very sure on a mountain, a few meters out and you can be in a world of trouble. A compass, a map and a cairn is very reassuring in that situation, better still a guide.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by tinker

My gps is phoned based, Osmand, I'm taking it you have a dedicated GPS? You have to be very sure on a mountain, a few meters out and you can be in a world of trouble. A compass, a map and a cairn is very reassuring in that situation, better still a guide.

For the past couple of years I've been using OS Maps app on my mobile and find it brilliant. I've used it in low cloud, mist and fog, it's very easy to use. If you use it to create a route whilst your up in the mountains you always know your direction of travel and if need be you can always retrace your steps following the route you've created to get there. I wouldn't be without it now. Don't get me wrong, I still take a paper map and a compass just in case my mobile fails, but in mist/fog I would much prefer the OS app.