Goldcoast Seaway (busted jetski Westpac rescue chopper)

[PinHead]

I see either side of the debate on weather or not a jetskier should be in conditions like this. For one, Jetskis are more capable of handling such conditions as many of our boats, so we tend to view what it would be like from our own viewpoint - unless you are an experienced jetski rider, in which case I am not, so I reserve judgement. BUT you should have the common sense not to take something on beyond your own capabilities as with anything.

Greg, Flattie Assasin, my questions are, out of the jetskis used as towing vehicles how many are biting off more than they can chew in these conditions? How many are really that good or confident? Can the rough conditions cause the motor to stall or be swamped? Pardon the last question, I am asking because I really don't know. If an outboard motor can be swamped, maybe these things can??

Overconfidence can be your undoing as might be in this case. In anything potentially hazardous you do, there has to be a lifeline. A second parachute, a catchnet under a tightrope. Rescue helicopter or not, this person may never have been found.

Scalem

Brian..they use jet skis for tow in on waves up to 30'..check some of the extreme surfing web sites..some awesome pics on them.
The surf at the coast the past couple of days has been great...I have been watching some of the cams..barrels everywhere from Snapper to Noosa...oh to be young again...would have had no hesitation in surfing in those conditions..the ground swells are absolutely fantastic.. South Straddie would have been one of the best rides around at the moment.

Skis are machines and like all machines they can break down and do...and alas not always at the most convenient place or time.

[Sea-Dog]

Hows it going guys

Went down the seaway the arvo to checkout the seas While i was there the Westpac chopper turned up, after moving down the other end of the spit i managed to see the reason they were there. In the drink was an overturned jetski getting smashed unsure as to what happened though.Just hope his insurance was paid up.

Russ

With the posted strong wind warning, I don't think his insurance would come to the party anyway.

Like Superchicken used to say "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred"

[finga]

I am going the other way..tow out surfing is common place..all the pro comps use it..a machine broke down..these things happen...same as having to get a tow when out on your boat...that happens nearly every weekend.

Would this tow-out service be a commercial venture??
(I'd love to know how much this guy was getting paid by the few surfie dudes out there)
It would have to be considering the exposure and the fact they fly guys from around the world to do it. And the possible dangers.

That'll be a big difference to me in the tiny tinny and the prop falling off.

So if it's a commercial venture then bill the bugger and he can claim it on his tax.
As well as the buggered jetski.

Same goes for all high risk ventures.
Know the risks and associated costs if things go birko and then weigh up if you want to do it or not. If possible get insurance to cover all the scenario's.
That's why I had bucket loads of insurance when I was working. To cover all possibilities without me loosing the house if something went sour.

I will say though that the rescue chopper might have used this as a good rescue exercise. If so goodo, if not why bother??

[shayne]

I am going the other way..tow out surfing is common place..all the pro comps use it..a machine broke down..these things happen...same as having to get a tow when out on your boat...that happens nearly every weekend.

well said

[mik01]

i can't believe any of you can argue in favour of people putting their lives at risk and the lives of rescuers?
whether they are pros or not is irrelevant - the conditions at the seaway are bloody dangerous.
i suspect that the pros are further north where the waves are bigger - not at the seaway in that washing machine. check out these pics and some people who are attempting to surf http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/g...-17382,00.html

[PinHead]

mik...have a look at pics 14, 21 & 36...great surf..there is nothing dangerous about that for experienced surfers..it is what they want..big swells and barrels...dangerous in a boat..yes..for surfing..a dream

they go out from the seaway to get the barrels on the southern end of south straddie...quite often see guys paddling across the seaway.

some of you guys must live in cotton wool and never have any fun.

[mik01]

my idea of fun doesn't involve a date with a rescue chopper, which is why me and my boat aren't out in the bay today. thats also why I'm not on the beach and swimming in the water either.
'fun' is different things to different people. some jump out of planes and some play chess.
others put others lives at risk in pursuit of their 'fun'. they are clowns.

[Flattie Assassin]

Yep Southern South Straddie used to be a semi secret spot that the pro's hit when conditions were right. The words out now, lots of surfers and bodyboarders paddle over. It's the best surf in QLD by far. They also are fully organised and have lost jetski's before surfing the likes of jaws in Hawaii and Teauhpoo.

Its all part of the business to them. To you it may seem like foolishness, to them it's there trade.

I'll post some pics up of south straddie in this swell when i come across a cpl.

FA

[Jabba_]

I was one off those blokes your speaking about.. 20 yeas ago you could paddle to stradie and get perfect waves all to yourself... Now it's crowed big time and the only way to get a non-crowed surf these days is to wait for the big stuff to roll in, as that sorts the men from the boys... We would hang out all year for the Cyclone season to push in the big swell... The Seaway was my favorite spot. I just loved the way the wave jacked, and it made for an awesome drop straight into a barrel... Spewing that these days it no-longer breaks the way it use to. To much sand has built up in front off the seaway blocking the swell.....

I had a heap off steel removed from my legs on the 21st Dec, so Surfing off any sort is out off the Question utill all the screw holes in the bone completely heals over, and my leg recovers from the Op which will take about 6 weeks.....
But if I were surfing this season, Noosa "Tea Tree" would be going off.... But if the swell sticks around after the wind dies off, the Bomie north off the Seaway would be a top ride also...

[Jabba_]

i can't believe any of you can argue in favour of people putting their lives at risk and the lives of rescuers?
whether they are pros or not is irrelevant - the conditions at the seaway are bloody dangerous.
i suspect that the pros are further north where the waves are bigger - not at the seaway in that washing machine. check out these pics and some people who are attempting to surf http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/g...-17382,00.html

The truth is, most off these rescuers are adrenaline junkies themselves, and love the risk's they take to get someone out off trouble.... Off coarse there not going to say that in Public, TV or radio because it is not politically correct. But it is the truth....

[subzero]

Gidday Russ, I suspect this is the event you witnessed.
If it is the same event, a number of the rescuers did put their lives in very REAL DANGER to help this bloke. In this event the rescuers themselves had problems with mechanical misadventure which complicated the situation they were already in.
In this instance, the bloke took his jet-ski out for a ride for the hell of it, it had nothing to do with surfers and towing them out IF of course it is the same instance. I do struggle to see this persons comment as being sensible and reasonable where he suggests "These guys were really cautious"... I would have thought that they were VERY HEROIC having undertaken huge risks to get this bloke to safety.... far from cautious, but a huge testament to the training these Surf Life Savers have undertaken as volunteers. WELL DONE BOYS, MY PERSONAL RESPECT AND ADMIRATION TO YOU'S ALL!!!

Read on, taken from the Gold Coast Bulletin
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html

Lives at risk in dramatic sea rescue

A GOLD Coast man put the lives of rescue crews at risk yesterday when he ignored gale-force wind warnings and took his jet-ski out for a spin in wild, treacherous surf.

Dave Winders is lucky to be alive after his jet-ski broke down about a kilometre off-shore from Currumbin Beach, leaving him floundering in huge seas.

Surf Life Saving Queensland jet rescue boat skipper Jeff Rainsford, who went to Mr Winders' aid, has more than five years experience in jet-boat rescues but was left shaken by some of the worst conditions he had ever encountered.

"The waves were coming down on us from all sides, whipped up from nothing," he said.

"I'm still a bit shaky after we hit that last white one."

Mr Rainsford said Mr Winders decision to head out despite the warnings put the lives of rescuers in unnecessary jeopardy.

"If they (the rescuers) don't need to go out, they shouldn't go out," he said.

"It was a risk that probably wasn't necessary. The bottom line is if he wasn't out there, we wouldn't have been out there either."

Mr Winders was not left stranded in the dangerous seas for too long.

Currumbin surf lifesavers noticed the stationary jet-ski and sent a jet-ski crew out to investigate.

With swells of three to four metres at Currumbin, the SLSC jet-ski couldn't tow Mr Winders' jet-ski into shore, so a three-man crew was sent out in the jet rescue boat to help.

But the already horrific conditions continued to worsen, with 30 to 40-knot winds whipping the sea into a frenzy.

SLSC Gold Coast duty officer Sue Neil said the low tide at Currumbin forced the rescue mission to move to Tallebudgera, but conditions there were also difficult, so they headed to the Seaway.

On the way, the jet rescue boat experienced engine trouble, leaving it to battle on with only half power.

The crew was forced to abandon Mr Winders damaged jet-ski.

"They couldn't maintain high speed and they didn't have enough power to get themselves out of trouble," said Ms Neil.

The crew continued up the Coast towards the Seaway in search of a safe passage to shore, but once there, it too, was fraught with danger.

The 40-knot winds had increased swells to five metres, with massive whitewash blocking their view of the Seaway.

A Westpac Surf Life Saving helicopter and a Waverunner 6 jet-ski were sent out to help in the rescue.

"We have never seen the Seaway like that, it was very rough out there, we just couldn't see where to come in," said Mr Rainsford.

He said the jet rescue boat was designed to handle rough conditions.

Waverunner 6 support services' David Clarke said the conditions were serious, but didn't deter him from 'getting the job done'.

"It was pretty hairy out there with big swells of 4-5 metres," he said.

"I was more concerned about getting the job done and getting back into the Seaway."

Safely back on land, Mr Winders said the conditions were some of the worst he had ever been in.

"It was pretty big and pretty wild," he said.

"We were very lucky to get out of that, it's a dream come true to be safe.

"It was quite scary until I saw them (the rescuers), and once in the boat it was still scary."

Mr Winders thanked the surf lifesaving rescue crew for risking their own lives to save him.

"These guys were really cautious and I owe it all to them," he said.

Surf Lifesaving co-ordinator Peter Anderson said the rescue crew had done 'an outstanding job'.

"To come in with half power was an amazing achievement," he said.

"Today is not a day to be out in the water.

"I saw them go through a wave that was more than five metres high. These guys are highly skilled and trained."

[63eh]

just another f@#kWIT on a jet ski

[subzero]

Here are the comments made by the readers of the GCB so far.
I must concede that on the surface of it with what has been reported, if accurate I DO AGREE WITH THEM!!!

Here is a photo taken earlier that day of a jet-skier with a huge wave up his clacker

Mr Winders, or should I say Mr Idiot should be forced by the authorities to pay the full cost of saving his life. How would Mr Winders feel if someone died trying to save him? When will these fools ever learn?

Posted by: Robert Peterson of Southport 11:56am Tuesday
Comment 1 of 4

That person should be fined for putting people's lives at risk when he could see what the surf was like. For going out when you could see what the condition was like and the height of the waves and the swell of the water. Mary Glen Alpine NSW

Posted by: Mary Kerwin of Glen Alpine NSW 8:38am Tuesday
Comment 2 of 4

Was this man trying to prove what a brave and adventurous he-man he is? A hero? What he did was put the lives of our wonderful lifesavers at extreme risk. They put their lives on the line just to save his, because without them he would have certainly perished. I hope he commits a fair proportion of his income to that club for the rest of his life as fair compensation.

Posted by: Barry Mille 6:00pm Monday
Comment 3 of 4

If I had known when I sold winders that ski he would try and kill himself I wouldn't have.

Posted by: jeff pacey 4:32pm Monday
Comment 4 of 4

[PinHead]

I love those people's comments.
The original post was about a ski in the seaway..not Currumbin ...which had been used for tow in surfing.
I also love the media's description of "huge" seas...they were wind swept but certainly not huge in surfing terms.

As I said before...the machine broke down..if that had not happened no one would have been any the wiser and if someone had been filming they would have all been watching it going..wow, isn't that great.

Did you also notice in the report that the SLSC jet boat also had mechanical problems..no one is abusing them for their equipment not being up to the task.

Have a look at the video on this site...incredible stuff..looks like a lot of fun.
http://www.towsurfer.com/default.asp

[subzero]

Gidday Pinhead, as I read it, this started in Currumbin and ended in the Seaway.
And yes you are right, the SLSC jet ski did experience problems. The comments from the SLSC blokes and I quote were

"If they (the rescuers) don't need to go out, they shouldn't go out," he said.

"It was a risk that probably wasn't necessary. The bottom line is if he wasn't out there, we wouldn't have been out there either."

As with regards to surfers getting towed out, and the experience level of those people... I have deliberately shied clear off this. I know nothing about surfing and respect those that work their way up to surfing in theses sorts of occassions.
If people whom are very skilled take these sorts of risks and things go awry then you can understand if they have trained and prepared for it. They train for it, they risk assess and so is the responses by those around them. The best example would be motor races, Indy, Panorama etc... very dangerous to the average mug racing around a track at 300km an hour like myself.
The difference is preparedness for those participating in the race, for all those involved including ambo's, fireys etc waiting for the forseen to happen.
I don't think for a minute that these events should be canceled because of those risks. How ever if a bunch of blokes get together and organize a race on a challenging circuit at high speeds with say a mate with a fire extinguisher and someone whom has a first aid certificate.... thats a different kettle of fish. I liken his preparedness. Even the blokes own comments lead me to believe that he himself admits it was not the right thing to do and again I quote

"Safely back on land, Mr Winders said the conditions were some of the worst he had ever been in.

"It was pretty big and pretty wild," he said.

"We were very lucky to get out of that, it's a dream come true to be safe"

I am afraid that it is unlikely that anyone will ever convince me otherwise that this bloke made some very bad decisions that could not be justified purely to go for a "spin".
In these instances a "Marine Incident" form must be filled out and forwarded to the authorities. They will investigate and if they decide his actions were contrary to the safe operation of his vessel as a Mariner, then he may even front the Beek.... who knows? Time will tell I guess

Cheers Lloyd