Men Rescued Clinging to Esky (Merged)

[troppo]

When I first saw the news headline of men rescued after a night clinging to an esky, I thought of all the blokes I know who after a hard-night's drinking are falling over and have to cling to something. Clinging to the esky at least puts them in the right spot to reach another beer. But this was not what the news was about.

Men rescued after night clinging to esky off Yamba in northern New South Wales - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

After their 18 foot cabin cruiser overturned, the men had flotation from their lifejackets and the esky. Good to see they had their lifejackets. Recently two guys who got into trouble at sea off the coast [Queensland Australia], in a storm I think, one died but the other managed to get to the lifejackets, put one on and survived. In my opinion, I hope if the situation turns nasty when I am out on the water that I have my lifejacket on before I actually need it. Bit late if thrown out of the boat to start thinking where I put the safety gear. What worries me is that I could still be thinking, "I am okay," when in fact I am about to have serious trouble and not realise it.

Anyone had any close encounters where a bit of safety equipment actually kept them safe?

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by troppo

Anyone had any close encounters where a bit of safety equipment actually kept them safe?

Our skipper was knocked between the lifelines in a raging sea-state off Loraine Ohio many years ago racing a Heritage One-Ton. We were 100 miles into a 120 mile race, looking at 2nd palce and jibed with the spinnaker up. Main had not yet been prevented. The main sheets struck him in the neck and he was gone in an instant. Fortunately, he was wearing a float-coat. Crew work was spot-on. We all had campaigned that boat together for many years. Some storke of luck caused the spinnaker halyard shakle to open so I doused the kite down the forwad hatch and got back to pick up the skipper. I caught his arms in a trough and hooked him over the lifelines until other crew could help. He was concious but delerious. It would have ruined sailing for all of us if he had been lost.

We always wear floatation even in fair weather and jack lines & harnesses at night or bad weather.

[DeepFrz]

Well I learned a new word (term? surely not a word) today...esky.

[Nicholson58]

We old farts think we know everything. I had to look it up.

[ozskipper]

Men found clinging to Esky after boat sank


Two men were hoisted to safety by a rescue helicopter this morning after spending 15 hours clinging to an Esky after their boat overturned off the NSW north coast.

[snort]

Life is circular....What initially got them into trouble ultimately saved them.

[Coops]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Well I learned a new word (term? surely not a word) today...esky.

It's a word in Australia, related to an original brand name years ago I think, but that may be the only place that it is. But then, so is chunder.

Coops.

[BoomBrake]

Our Cuzzies across the ditch call them "Chilli Bins".. it's where they keep their crate of Speight's. Over here, the Esky is always empty by the time your boat sinks, so a unique combination of Cultural and Environmental Determinism is at play ; )

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Well I learned a new word (term? surely not a word) today...esky.

Yes, Esky has been the major brand of cooler box here in Aus for years. We use the word in the same way as you might when ordering a scotch and coke. (even though the mix may not be coke)

[onestepcsy37]

scotch and coke? that's got to be ozzie too - never heard of it in yankeeland...

[DeepFrz]

Australia, eh... No wonder it needs translation into English.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

scotch and coke? that's got to be ozzie too - never heard of it in yankeeland...

OMG Scotch & Coke? I am ill just contemplating this mix.

They will not let you on the malts tour if that is your preference. Single malt and not more than one 1/2 of an ice cube please. The distillers went to a lot of trouble to remove the foul impurities from their product.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

scotch and coke? that's got to be ozzie too - never heard of it in yankeeland...

Must be a method of flavouring cheap scotch.

[troppo]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Our skipper was knocked between the lifelines in a raging sea-state off Loraine Ohio many years ago racing a Heritage One-Ton. . . . .

Wow, that came pretty close, Nicholson58. Scary stuff.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by troppo

Wow, that came pretty close, Nicholson58. Scary stuff.

Bad stuff always happens fast and the weather and sea state have little to do with it. I was with my brother in a skiff once on glassy water, sitting on our life jackets. I cut over a tiny wake and the boat rolled and went straight to the bottom with our jackets. A fisherman saw us struggling toward shore from 1-1/2 miles away and picked us up. I always wear it now. We feel less cocky and more mortal as we get older.

I'v flipped many small sailboats but we were always prepared - no big deal.