Loch Ness rescue

[sanddabber]

Why did they needed Lifeboat assistance, they were ashore and well equiped?
http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/Four-k ... event.aspx

[jmmoxon]

Because the team on Loch Ness have only had 10 launches in last year...

Although at least 3 of those have been for canoeists:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-h ... s-13355834
http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/News ... 052011.htm

I hope they've raised more than the rescue cost.

Mike

[Kayaks'N'Beer]

Why did they needed Lifeboat assistance, they were ashore and well equiped?

RNLI crew member Ian Putnam says, 'We highly commend this group on taking good positive action.'

Aint for you to judge?

[jmmoxon]

Another report suggests they contacted the coast guard whilst they were still struggling to get to shore...

Mike

[TechnoEngineer]

Why did they needed Lifeboat assistance, they were ashore and well equiped?
http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/Four-k ... event.aspx

I'm guessing that they were not able to get away from the shore to a road. The north shore of Loch Ness is close to a road for most of the way, the south shore has a road running alongside it only after passing Foyers.

[MikeB]

I think the words "we can give you a lift if you like" are quite telling - - -

[sanddabber]

Why did they needed Lifeboat assistance, they were ashore and well equiped?

RNLI crew member Ian Putnam says, 'We highly commend this group on taking good positive action.'

Aint for you to judge?

Kayaks 'N' Beer

I paddle the Great Glen from Inverness to Fort William in 1984, there were strong winds on Loch Ness with breaking waves. When condition became unsafe we landed and being well prepared and equiped we didnt ask for assistance. When conditions improved we continued.

Rod Slaughter RNLI Atlantic B Class Helmsman (retired)

[Ken_T]

From the report we do not know if they requested a rescue or if they were just letting the coastguard know the situation (we do not know if the coastguard had been told about the trip), they could have been concerned that a search for them could be instigated by a shore party when they were overdue.
Ken

[Scots_Charles_River]

That side is pretty remote and they may not have had overnight/camping/bivi kit.

Interesting that they got them all to wade chest deep out to get on the boat, rather than land the bow of the RIB then get them on drier.

[mduncombe]

I paddled the Great Glen recently and its a pretty intimidating place when the wind picks up, some sections of the Loch are pretty inaccessible and crossing the loch to the road just may not have been an option if the conditions were poor. Dont forget there could be up to 23 miles of water for the wind to blow across creating some pretty serious waves.

Maybe they had a fright which had knocked their confidence in their ability to carry on and were not equipped to sit it out overnight. Maybe they thought they might not make the closest shore and didn't think it wise cross the Loch to the far shore, so called for help before it got serious. Maybe one of the group was less experienced and not happy to continue, better to call for help now than to have to be pulling someone out of the water later. Maybe one of the group had spent some time in the water and was cold and exhausted. Maybe they were worried about getting safely ashore before darkness. Maybe all of the above!

I can think of lots of reasons why this would of been the best course of action.

[tig]

Three of us paddled the Great Glen the year before last (trad canoes) and iirc officially you are supposed to get a licence from British Waterways (free) it is more so they know who is out there. Also they requested we checked in with the coastguard (we did by phone as we did not have VHF) to let them know we were safely off the water each day. I think this is because it is technically a shipping route and is actually coastguard controlled waters (I could be wrong here but that was the impression I got). So it is possible that they called the coastguard to let them know they were safely off the water and then the coastguard called out the lifeboat to give them a hand.

We had a bit of a monstering on Loch Ness as the winds really picked up on the second day out there and it got really rough out there, we had to abandon it about a mile from Loch End as it got too rough and two of the boats got swamped. We were sticking to the North Side so were able to just fight out way out through the trees to the road where we got picked up by our shuttle. If we had been on the other side we woud have just had to sit it out there was no way we would have dreamed of crossing it in that weather.

On the plus side, it can be very pretty :)



(note this was when it was still calmish :) )

[Scots_Charles_River]

'we can give you a lift if you like'

A loaded question, the RNLI probably made that call by looking a the faces etc.

However, first year it's a full CANOE TRAIL. Not sure of there are any wild sites
promoted on the west bank of Loch Ness.

Just like loch lomond, there can be 'sea like' swells due to the big fetch. Although lomond has islands for shelter
and to sneak between in winds.

[PhilAyr]

Before anyone else jumps to conclusions.. If you google " sea kayak loch Ness motor neurone disease " ..It should give you some background information.

Links.. : http://www.retfordpeople.co.uk/Brave-Allen-set-monster-challenge/story-16594507-detail/story.html

http://www.justgiving.com/LochNessKayak

Scroll half way down for this . The usual word of warning though, especially with this one !! ..You can't trust everything you read on the internet.. and there is bad language !

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13006605510A45991900&page=24

I think they made the right call, but who am I to judge ? Very brave indeed. I wish them the best of luck If they do decide to try again.

Phil

[Slowlearner]

Started out on 26th July paddling to Gairlochy, had to throw the towel in on day 2 at Clunes due to weather. Continued on day 3 on Loch Oich and paddled Loch Ness on 30th 31st July. The weather on Loch Ness was good, however it did become more interesting as the wind got up towards the end of the day, nothing to worry about though.

For anyone paddling the Great Glen I would suggest the greatest threat to safety are the others on the water.

I believe as the popularity increases and more inexpereinced paddlers attempt it there will be more incidents.

SL.

[Curly67]

Did the Great Glen paddle a couple of months back. Went from East to West to take advantage of the wind. Surfed the length of Loch Ness on day one. I loved it but it could easily catch out a less exerienced paddler. Approaching Fort augustas the wave`s were well over head height! Completed the trip in just 2 days after surfing Loch Lochy too. These may be inland waters but they could easily catch out even the more experienced paddlers!