incident with seasafari rib Rowy, Poland

Andre · 04 August 2019, 14:08

this happened when the seasafari rib was returning to Rowy harbour with a number of passengers. Fortunately there where no injuries but my guess is that there are bound to be some changes now in Poland regarding these thrill rides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAIjomW0WMU&t=13s

ShinyShoe · 04 August 2019, 17:17

What actually happened there? Did it travel faster than the surf and drop off the surf? How can you regulate for that? What regulation does Poland currently have?

Seems like a less than ideal harbour design with the surf running straight in.

JamesF · 04 August 2019, 17:58

Looks like it went off the front of the wave too slowly. Easily done, particularly if you're trying to sit right on top of it — for maximum depth under the prop, perhaps.

I've done it twice myself and once it's happened the only way out is more power ahead — or a nice smooth landing on the beach, in my case, which is why I did it by accident the first time and deliberately the second time.

They clearly weren't so fortunate. I wonder if the narrow entrance made the waves more difficult. A few seconds more video at the start would help!

Andre · 04 August 2019, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

What actually happened there? Did it travel faster than the surf and drop off the surf? How can you regulate for that? What regulation does Poland currently have?

Seems like a less than ideal harbour design with the surf running straight in.

There are a number of rivers along the Polish coast and the entrances are similar to the one at Rowy. An experienced helmsman for those waters should have known better as it was for sure his fault. He should never have tried to go over the crest just ride the surf. I have had a few rib holidays in Dziwnow where there is a similar entrance and have played on the surf which must admit was not as big as the one on the film.

The harbour is further up river and the surf does not reach it

As for the regulations we in the U.K. have strict ones for charter ribs but in Poland it is more relaxed . The don’t have to carry life rafts unless going more then 3 Nm from safe haven. The lifejackets do not have to be of an approved type . Not so sure about what certification the helmsman must hold.

jwalker · 04 August 2019, 19:30

Whooo, A whole lot of things came together there. Harbour entrance without a breakwater, crappy boat design, and poor driving. Shoulda stayed on the back of the wave.

gtflash · 04 August 2019, 21:21

Nz coast guards have loads of YouTube videos on how to cross a bar. That is not it.

Last Tango · 04 August 2019, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

What actually happened there? Did it travel faster than the surf and drop off the surf? How can you regulate for that? What regulation does Poland currently have?

Seems like a less than ideal harbour design with the surf running straight in.

Stepping though it, it looks like he was sitting in front of the wave and let it overtake him as it was breaking. Bit of positioning and commitment and it probably wouldn't have happened.

Also the setup of the boat looks like there's too much weight forward that wouldn't have helped but that wasn't a particularly big wave and that has to beg some questions about the boat's design as well.

Just fortunate there were no casualties.

gpsguru · 04 August 2019, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

What actually happened there? Did it travel faster than the surf and drop off the surf? How can you regulate for that? What regulation does Poland currently have?

Seems like a less than ideal harbour design with the surf running straight in.

Looks like a classic case of surf down a wave, bury the bow and broach, then capsize as the wave catches up ............. just needed full throttle off the bottom of the wave to lift the bow and give directional stability ........... definitely pilot error. The boat looks to be medium V, so its directional stability is poor when compared to a deep v hull ..........

The worst boats I have helmed for trying to broach in similar circumstances is the Merry Fisher and Quicksilver pilot house boats .......... you have got be quick on the throttle to avoid the broach ..........

Another point is that whenever possible avoid white water breaking waves.

ShinyShoe · 04 August 2019, 23:41

Yip. That's what I'm not clear how increased regulation might help. This is a human skill factor.

You could regulate the hull design better and insist on better V or better weight distribution.

You can insist on a liferaft but that would neither have prevented an incident or helped in this situation. {Not sure UK is much different in requirements}

You can insist on different life jackets. But these ones looked to do what they needed (was it the skipper on the hull?)

You can increase training & certification. But this required a degree of skill. Eye off ball - same issue...? UK that boat could be driven in there with a PB2 who can tell the difference between red & green at 2 miles.

The issue to me is the narrow entrance with the surf. If you regulate something it should probably be that...

kalin · 04 August 2019, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Whooo, A whole lot of things came together there. Harbour entrance without a breakwater, crappy boat design, and poor driving. Shoulda stayed on the back of the wave.

Totally agree with you.
Bad weight distribution, bad trim, high speed maybe ..

Andre · 05 August 2019, 09:01

The same place ie Rowy , the same size and brand of rib but nicer weather conditions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-dTGyow4_4

a good birds eye view of the entrance as well

Fenlander · 05 August 2019, 10:21

>>>a less than ideal harbour design with the surf running straight in.

Southwold in East Anglia is just like that... it's a place I try and persuade newer sibbers not to use. You might exit thinking it all looks fine but after a few hours up the coast or on the beach changes in wind/tide can make it a very hairy entrance.

This is it on quite a good day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36HVIRw5UR4

SixtyNorth · 05 August 2019, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpsguru

The worst boats I have helmed for trying to broach in similar circumstances is the Merry Fisher and Quicksilver pilot house boats .......... you have got be quick on the throttle to avoid the broach ..........

I agree. A bit like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sKq9k3Ln6cU

gpsguru · 05 August 2019, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

I agree. A bit like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sKq9k3Ln6cU

Yes, exactly like that, but that guy was going way too slow to maintain steerage.

I can see why he was going slow as it looks like he was coming in to beach land the boat .............

jwalker · 05 August 2019, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

... the same size and brand of rib.

Shoulda gone to Specsavers, Andre.

Pikey Dave · 05 August 2019, 16:32

Reminds me of Bridport/West Bay in days gone by before they “improved” it. I’ve surfed in there looking down the wave & been able to see the sea bed in front[emoji15]

Andre · 05 August 2019, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Shoulda gone to Specsavers, Andre.

yep you are right

size different but from the same stable

Fred. · 05 August 2019, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Reminds me of Bridport/West Bay in days gone by before they “improved” it. I’ve surfed in there looking down the wave & been able to see the sea bed in front[emoji15]

Is that when they had a proper slipway
.....................................made of wooden sleepers...

Overboard · 18 August 2019, 15:50

Is there a possibility that on the OP the rib was going too quickly - so the same(ish) speed as the wave and while maintaining his throttle driving the front end down?

I cannot see why more speed would help unless he was go to jump off the top of the wave - but pretty scary around all that concrete?

Last Tango · 18 August 2019, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overboard

Is there a possibility that on the OP the rib was going too quickly - so the same(ish) speed as the wave and while maintaining his throttle driving the front end down?

I cannot see why more speed would help unless he was go to jump off the top of the wave - but pretty scary around all that concrete?

If you step through the video he definitely let the following wave overtake him.
That lifted the stern of the boat pushing the nose down into the trough ahead of him....."broaching"...."stuffing". Difficult to mitigate against in a displacement boat that can't keep up with the waves but a school-boy error in a RIB.
Looking at the engine it is also trimmed well down and should have been set to lift the bow slightly in a following sea.