Boob in a bubble

I'm surprised the CG didn't terminate his voyage. They have the authority to do that under "manifestly unsafe voyage". It's not invoked very often but a guy in a plastic bubble basically jogging to Bermuda?
 
The cost for this excersize was 144,000. I'm sorry to disagree with some of you, but he should be billed for his stupidity. I would have a more positive opinion if he was accompanied by a chase boat and they both ran into trouble. He was Ill-prepared and had no business attempting this stunt, period.
 
I think it’s a very slippery slope when we try to determine what constitutes ‘stupid’ behavior on the water. There are those on this forum who have opined that it is foolish to go offshore in a boat with an open bow, or one without dual power… even though many of us have. So, if a typical boater runs a few miles off-shore in his single engine walk-around to chase some blues, do we charge him when the CG has to get him after his engine quits, the weather turns real bad, and he starts taking on water? We all know you can get in as much trouble 2 miles off-shore as you can in the middle of the ocean. I remember when my good friend soloed his 30’ Grampian across the Atlantic. I thought that was very risky, but he was successful and wrote about his voyage in various sailing publications. With voyages like that (including the 16 year old girl who sailed around the world), you’re a hero when you succeed, but a fool when you either perish or the CG has to pluck your ass out of the water. As an avid paddler, I’m very intrigued by people who paddle across the Atlantic in the specially designed vessels. Are they nautical visionaries or reckless fools? Who makes the call???
 
I make the call. I am the taxpayer who footed this bill. Comparing this bone-headed move to someone taking a 30' sailboat (even brand new and untested) across any ocean is akin to driving roller skates down the middle of a six lane highway during rush hour. There's no slippery slope here. It's not the same as venturing out to sea in a single engine boat and breaking down. It's not the same as the 16 year old sailing around the world in a 40ft sailboat that capsized in the Indian Ocean. She righted the boat but was unable to continue. Don't make comparrisons between this fool and others who at least have the proper equipment. Don't compare stupid to a downright Darwin Award.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen

I make the call. I am the taxpayer who footed this bill.

Click to expand...


Wow! You must pay a lot in taxes to fund the entire US SAR system and personal.
 
"21' boat breaks down while bottom fishing near rocks. By the time their anchor catches, they're within 50 yards of a lee shore - which isn't really 'shore' so much as 'jagged wash rocks scattered in front of rock cliffs with NO shoreside access or rescue possible'. Oh, and to make it special, right between and shoreward of two rocks, one wash, one exposed, with a wash rock just seaward of that one. Old man #1 tells old man #2, quite correctly, to get on the radio and fire off a distress call, because when - not if, but when, that little anchor line parts or the anchor pops loose, they are on the rocks, and two old men don't stand a chance once that boat is smashing on the rocks on a lee shore. Two young men wouldn't stand a chance.

Mike just described the area just north of the Bay where his CG station is. I have fished in those Rocks. Lot's of fish, but the guy I was fishing with was just too nervous about fishing in among those big Rocks.
"
 
Kon tiki is a great read for anyone... bring this up from one of the early remarks in this thread. Thor Heyerdahl is the author...
 
I agree with November Charlie. Bad precedence to set, charging for rescues.
 
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