Discuss...

[IH82BL8]

http://www.weather.com/tv/tvshows/h...ded-dog-39955?collid=/tv/shows/hero-next-door

Skip the story about the dog and go down to the story about the flipped catamaran.

 

[Forrest15112]

It's a testament to the importance of safety gear. I carry more than the required safety gear, but if it were just me and another indestructible guy, i might not be as concerned. Sort of like not wearing a seatbelt when running up to the gas station. It's no big deal until a set of unfortunate events compound it.

 

[IH82BL8]

I had these three thoughts:

Yes, one PFD for two people is too few. My wife and I wear auto inflatables when we sail.

The video said they were more than a mile from land. I assume that means less than two miles. Unless there are strong currents in the area, fourteen hours is more than enough time to swim to shore.

While the crew of the fishing boat may have saved their lives, are the crew really heros? Wouldn't just about any passing vessel stop to allow a conscious person who is stranded in the water to board and then take them to shore?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

A 25' catamaran ....

Hmmm, it leaves me wondering what kind of boat it is. The reporting never really fills in the details that are pertinent. Some boats can be expected to capsize and some you wouldn't expect to capsize. When sailing my Hobie 16 earlier than June or later than September, I would never consider sailing without wearing a wet suit made for the conditions even if it was a balmy 70 degrees in the air. I was left wondering if these folks should have been wearing a wetsuit or not. I always shake my head when I hear about victims capsizing a small boat in frigid water without being prepared for it. But if the boat shouldn't be expected to capsize, that's a different story (obviously a catamaran isn't self-righting). These guys were in 58 degree water, which doesn't sound too bad, but I would think that hypothermia could have killed them if they were in the water for 14 hours.

 

[Merlin Clark]

People believe movie stars, sports figures, business leaders and simpleton politicians to be heroes and these fishermen actually helped someone so why not!
As to the distance from shore and time on the turtled boat, a mile in cold water is a loooong way and most people couldn't swim that far with any chop even if the water was warm.
I've seen beginning triathletes quit cold at the first wave that slaps them in the face and sends salt water up the nose.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I'm thinking they sat on the pontoons and were not immersed in the water for 14 hrs.

25' cats don't like to flip. pfds or not.

 

[shemandr]

Yeah, I don't think they were in the water all that time. They were still at risk for hypothermia. And in my opinion lucky to survive.