"Capt. JG" wrote in message ...
"sherwindu" wrote in message ...
Gee, do I have to spell everything out! My comment was directed to the concept
that boats are unsinkable, period. They said the Titanic could never sink. Get
the
analogy? I guess not.

I personally would rather take my chances on a boat that most likely will go
back
to an upright position where I have a chance of salvaging enough rigging to
continue
sailing. We are slaves to our EPIRB's to get us out of trouble. Your first
thought
when in trouble at sea is how can I recover a bad situation, not make a grab for
the
EPIRB. Of course, in the case of an upsidedown multihull, they didn't have much

of a choice.

Sherwin D.


The logical choice is to pick the most survivable situation and to recognize when a situation is becoming untenable. I suggest
that you've never been in a washing machine-style situation, where everything (as a best case) is going round and round and
everything is flying. It's not a place you would want to stay for very long. Need a dramatic account? Read Fastnet Force 10. The
mono will capsize, then right itself, perhaps a number of times, and if you're very lucky, you won't be killed or injured by the
flying debris. If you're unlucky, water will enter and the boat will right itself on the bottom.

On the other hand, if a multi capsizes, it will likely stay capsized providing a stable and likely livable place to await rescue.

No where have I seen anyone suggest that triggering an EPIRB is a first action or even third option, but neither is it necessary
to wait until the situation is unsalvagable to trigger it. When you say, "they didn't have much choice," you imply that they had
a choice at all. It's more likely that they were swept overboard before being able to get to it or below.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com


Is it not correct to have the EPIRB already on deck in a
self releasing holder? That is if it is not a personal EPIRB.

--

SeeYaa Harbin Osteen KG6URO

When American Citizens with dual citizenship pledges allegiance
to the flag, to which flag do they pledge allegiance too?

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