tomt966
Well-Known Member
AHOY THERE! A lifeboat crew rescued a sailor off the coast of England taking his first voyage. The unnamed 45-year-old man had just bought the boat, which was not suitable for sea voyages, and was trying to navigate from Gillingham to Southampton -- using only a road map.
He figured he could simply keep the coast of England on "his right" and get there fine, but forgot about the Isle of Sheppey, only about 10 miles away from his starting point. He went around and around the 8- mile-wide island all day and all night, until he ran out of fuel and went aground, rescuers say. He had a marine radio that he could have used to call for help, but didn't know how to use it. "He didn't even know what navigational charts were," said a lifeboat volunteer who
helped in the rescue.
After filling up with petrol, the man set off again for Southampton. Rescue crews have no idea whether he made it.
(London Telegraph) ...Coastguard officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are expecting him any day now.
He figured he could simply keep the coast of England on "his right" and get there fine, but forgot about the Isle of Sheppey, only about 10 miles away from his starting point. He went around and around the 8- mile-wide island all day and all night, until he ran out of fuel and went aground, rescuers say. He had a marine radio that he could have used to call for help, but didn't know how to use it. "He didn't even know what navigational charts were," said a lifeboat volunteer who
helped in the rescue.
After filling up with petrol, the man set off again for Southampton. Rescue crews have no idea whether he made it.
(London Telegraph) ...Coastguard officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are expecting him any day now.
