PB & Rib magazine

[jumpinjack]

Got a Facebook update today from powerboat and Rib magazine, highlighting a Menorca circumnavigation. It points out that 'wearing life jackets is not in the culture in the heat'. Photos show people sitting on the tubes , no life jackets on....... from a magazine that professes to be at the forefront of current Rib and powerboat thinking, I find this very disappointing.
The boats in question are high powered, fast ribs. You could even see a bit of irony in one of the ribs that's included....
Really disappointed in this, the magazine has promoted some good safety related articles recently. Yes , life jackets, kill cords, appropriate speed etc are our personal choice but surely a role of a magazine editor must include a certain responsibility, and to draw attention to it by stating it is not in the culture is very disappointing. Sunday morning rant over

[jambo]

Probably one of the reasons I did not renew!!


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[biffer]

Not one to neglect safety I must tell you of a tale that happened recently, a mate of mine with four other people on board including two children was approached by a, let's say safety warrior, who pointed out that no one was wearing life jackets, Greg being Greg ask what the feck has it got to do with you which quickly escalated into more sterner words. When Donna, gregs wife ask this ranting warrior, how can you go swimming with a life jacket on he promptly left, the point here is look at the situation before judging

[steco1958]

I have to say , in 3 weeks time I will be in Spain Costa Brava for 3 weeks, I will rarely wear a LJ, we will be cove hopping swimming snorkelling scuba diving, LJ's will be available if required by anyone

[jlandells]

It's interesting to read the Facebook comments on that post where they're trying to defend their original "sarcastic" comment...

[Landlockedpirate]

I have actually done a Menorca circumnavigation (in a hard boat) 12 years ago. We dragged our sportscruiser down to France, launched in Saint Cyprien Plage and then hopped down the coast to Barcelona before heading over to Cuitadella.

We had 2 young children at the time and during the trip down the Spanish coast and the trip over to Menorca everyone wore lifejackets. But, the editor is right, virtually no one wears LJ's in and around the Island. I have had a look through our (pre digital) photos and realised that there is not a LJ in sight To be honest, a lot of the cruising guys dont even wear clothes, let alone LJ's

I think its mainly to do with the very benign conditions people boat in (anything more than a 6" swell and people dont leave the Cala's). The sun also plays a part and while my son tells me ski goggle marks are good, I'm not sure how trendy a LJ mark would be

One of the many reasons for wearing a LJ in the UK is the temperature of the water, this is not an issue out there, you can swim for hours with no ill effects from cold. It may be cliched, but boating out there really is a different world.

I would also guess that the article was contributed rather than commissioned, I'm sure the editor had to make the decsion about wether to include the article or reject purely because of the lack of lifejackets,I think they made the right decsion.


Picture taken off the North Coast somewhere around Fornells, no LJ and probably no kill cord either, how have I managed to survive this long ?

[Trimix]

Ive spent a lot of time in Corsica - never seen a LJ. As mentioned, the sea is warm and most, if not all the time you are within a short swim of the shore. All in flat conditions.

Im not sure if or for how long I will wear a LJ when using my boat there.

Its all about managing the likely risks. The locals think Im daft when diving out there in my standard dive kit (DSMB, Twinset, drysuit etc etc).

[jumpinjack]

My original comment did not concern the individual's choice to choose to wear, or not to wear a life jacket. It's not law, it's a personal choice.
My issue was a magazine printing photos, and comments when a magazine should be trying to lead by example, and not printing flippant comments.
Sitting on the tubes, whilst underway, is also daft. But there you go. Personal choices, personal decisions it's upto us all to be comfortable in our own choices. I'm a crap swimmer- so wear a LJ. My kids are good swimmers, but wear a LJ.
If we are at anchor or stopped fishing, or for a BBQ or swim well then LJ can come off, but underway they are on.

[Max...]

Originally Posted by jumpinjack

Attachment 96745
...It points out that 'wearing life jackets is not in the culture in the heat'. Photos show people sitting on the tubes , no life jackets on....... from a magazine that professes to be at the forefront of current Rib and powerboat thinking, I find this very disappointing.... and to draw attention to it by stating it is not in the culture is very disappointing. Sunday morning rant over

But the magazine is totally right, it is *not* in the culture, that's a fact.

Spent years of summer holidays in Majorca where parents live, including daily trips on the boat - cannot ever recall anyone (us or locals) wearing a LJ, only time we in the family ever wore anything was a buoyancy aid while skiing. That's just the way it is, much the same here in the UK - sure a few 'enthusiasts' like us lot wear them and know the score, most seasoned sea goers or those at the other end don't and don't care. It's not the law so each to their own is the way it goes really!

Just like most of us as kids never wore seatbelts before it was the law, never mind child seats in cars, now we would not dream of it or as parents letting our kids travel 'loose'...

[boristhebold]

One of the reasons I dont buy it anymore, they go on about safety and stuff but have no problems taking money from people for adverts where no one is wearing a lifejacket etc etc, if the boat magazines would take more responsibility and stop including adverts and articles where photos are of people without kill cords and or lifejackets then maybe more of the boating public would catch on and think it more normal to wear them rather not where them.

[biffer]

No no no we're being stupid now, I don't buy the mag for some of the things above, you can't ask people to wear life jackets or don't advertise, what's going on, the HSE are trying to turn the country into a dictatorship state to safety, it's a free country and everyone has there own choice, if they want to go out with no life jackets or kill cords then it's there choice, not yours or the HSE, it's your choice not to buy the mag or get on a boat with them, let's just get on with our own lives, if you want to help people stay alive go and confront everyone who smokes, that kills countless more people that no life jackets or kill cords, better have another cuppa

[GordyP]

Originally Posted by biffer

No no no we're being stupid now, I don't buy the mag for some of the things above, you can't ask people to wear life jackets or don't advertise, what's going on, the HSE are trying to turn the country into a dictatorship state to safety, it's a free country and everyone has there own choice, if they want to go out with no life jackets or kill cords then it's there choice, not yours or the HSE, it's your choice not to buy the mag or get on a boat with them, let's just get on with our own lives, if you want to help people stay alive go and confront everyone who smokes, that kills countless more people that no life jackets or kill cords, better have another cuppa

Very well said.

[PeterM]

I think what was meant by the OP was that it wouldn't have killed PB&R mag to put a comment in brackets ( PB&R fully recommend and support the wearing of LJ etc etc at all times irrespective of local norms) ...or something similar.

I think we all have agreed that there are times when we dont wear one for variosu reasons - swimming / stopped at anchor etc ...

I'll gte my coat ( again)

[Bern Hanreck]

Originally Posted by biffer

No no no we're being stupid now, I don't buy the mag for some of the things above, you can't ask people to wear life jackets or don't advertise, what's going on, the HSE are trying to turn the country into a dictatorship state to safety, it's a free country and everyone has there own choice, if they want to go out with no life jackets or kill cords then it's there choice, not yours or the HSE, it's your choice not to buy the mag or get on a boat with them, let's just get on with our own lives, if you want to help people stay alive go and confront everyone who smokes, that kills countless more people that no life jackets or kill cords, better have another cuppa

I don't have any problem with a responsible adult making decisions that affect him and him alone ( although of course someone will have to pick up the pieces sooner or later ) . I do have a problem though when children are put at risk , through no fault of their own by irresponsible parents . It simply isn't their choice !

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by Bern Hanreck

I don't have any problem with a responsible adult making decisions that affect him and him alone ( although of course someone will have to pick up the pieces sooner or later ) . I do have a problem though when children are put at risk , through no fault of their own by irresponsible parents . It simply isn't their choice !

I can feel a rant coming on, but on second thoughts I'll limit it to "totally agree fella"

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by biffer

the HSE are trying to turn the country into a dictatorship state to safety, it's a free country and everyone has there own choice, if they want to go out with no life jackets or kill cords then it's there choice, not yours or the HSE,

Do you actually have any information about the HSE's view on lifejackets or kill cords? Or are you just ranting again?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Ian M

I can feel a rant coming on,.........

So can I, but I'll limit it to "plenty more where we came from"

[Steve_B]

To wear or not to wear, the users choice.
However, I would take issue with a few of the reasons not to. Warm water - have you ever been thrown out or fallen from a boat travelling at speed? It hurts and chances are you will be incapacitated in some way. Staying on the surface whether warm or not will be difficult.
Sun tan marks - come on, are people really that vain??

[Trimix]

Falling out at speed - thats a good point.

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Bern Hanreck

I don't have any problem with a responsible adult making decisions that affect him and him alone ( although of course someone will have to pick up the pieces sooner or later ) . I do have a problem though when children are put at risk , through no fault of their own by irresponsible parents . It simply isn't their choice !

Again try the smokers see how far you get, they even smoke before the child is born