You should not be so certain as you are, either.
Every time somebody f??/ up the mission is always to talk about how stupid they were and act as If none of us have ever f??/ up
When the reality is we were just lucky and lived and learned through are stupid moments
I am pretty sure we spend MORE time on safety than most with 3 2-1/2 hour crew safety meetings before the boat even touched the water
Are you guys stupid because you never done a REAL MOB because i Know a LOT of people who think you are if have NOT done one
Real MOBs? I have towed skiers with my cat, and we fall down plenty. I have done MOB in 20 knots dozens of times. You're, correct though, the skill is not easy and is under practiced. I suspect it is particularly easy with cats, and that I am spoiled. But I do know MY situation.
I went for a swim in January (31F water) to recover a sunken rudder assembly, no wet suit. I know how serious that is.
I spent 25 years doing serious mountaineering. Helped carry out one body and several serious injuries. I know about "for keeps."
But if you thing a group post-mortem is pointless, no, that is wrong. We may say some dumb and some plainly insensitive things, but it raises awareness. Kindness to the those parties involved? We do feel concern for them - I think you read the group wronge. The Ocean scares the hell out of us at times.
But let me tell you this about safety meetings. EVERY climber I picked up as dead or injured was wearing a helmet, when that was not often practiced in the areas. They were "safety minded" but did not actually understand safety. They did it "by the numbers" and by the classroom, but did not understand what they were doing. I also see many resucues, both in the mountains and at sea, of people that simply did not pactice or think about contingencies. Yes, things go wrong. And the then there is plan a, b, c, d, e, f.... until one works. That is what we are trying to preach.
Also, never go out with crew that gets frightend. I hear that alot - the family was scared. The kids were scared. I started taking my daugter rock climbing with me when she was little. Oh, she gets scared, and I do too, but what we learn is how to continue to function. People who freeze up when scared... don't take them. I can deal with a scary situation on the boat or in the mountains, but NOT if I have to hand-hold at the same time. The danger is that I will puzzel over what will make them feel better, not what is safe. That they felt safer jumping into the water indicated an altered mental state and perception of the situation.
They gave up fighting.
