Quote:
Originally Posted by JPA Cate
First point that really rings a bell for me is that the clothing was inadequate for the outside route. Possibly the skipper minimized that. For the newbies, cold and fatigue are among the primary enemies for the offshore sailor. They are part of why the environment becomes hostile. The effects of hypothermia are well known, but often people who have never experienced it don't consider it; nonetheless, it can kill you, even without your boat sinking out from under you.
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I agree; having
clothing available that is warm and comfortable in reasonably foreseeable
weather conditions is vital. I've had some close calls over the years. Always at night. Always in shoulder season
weather not bitter cold, when it's easier to get complacent.
A point not made in the report is that a
VHF installation that was properly working should have been able to transmit a clearly audible
distress call. So many
boats have
VHF installations that have deteriorated due to
corrosion,
water getting into the
transmission line, or UV deterioration. Perhaps that was one of the factors at
work.