in the local rag it said they could see over towards amity not that they were near amity
in the local rag it said they could see over towards amity not that they were near amity
To my knowledge at least two differing media stated that the boat was capsized off amity. This from earlier in the thread.Originally Posted by inspired
"Capsized couple battle odds
From: AAP By Rachael Langford
January 13, 2006
CLINGING to a small plastic fuel tank, a 20-year-old woman swam up to two kilometres pulling her sick boyfriend to safety after their boat capsized in Moreton Bay.
Danielle Pirc made the two-hour swim last night after a gust of wind capsized her boyfriend Stephen Butler's 3.4m fishing boat near Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island, east of Brisbane, where sharks killed Sarah Whiley last Saturday.
"It was pretty hard, but I just saw Wellington Point getting closer, and I saw the headlights of cars getting closer with every stroke I took. I just wanted to get there, to the lights," she said."
Note it also stated that the boat was capsized by a gust of wind. Is it any wonder that there is speculation with that kind of reporting, when it was known that it was a calm night?
You wouldn't get me in the bay in a 3.4 boat at night, let alone at Amity. Imaging hitting a dugong at speed?
kev
I guess thats what they call poetic licence. You have to wonder if the reporters dont carefully word these things with intent to deceive the readers and make things seem more sensational?
I think Kazza owes it to all boaties to tell what actually happened so that anyone else out on smooth waters in a boat this size do not get into these same difficulties. 4.3 metre is a reasonable size hull.
Below is the latest news release.
Derek
Fuel tank a lifesaver after capsize
Cameron Atfield
14jan06
A LEISURELY Moreton Bay boating trip turned into a nightmare for a Birkdale couple on Thursday night after their boat capsized in rough conditions.
But Stephen Butler, 23, and his fiancee Danielle Pirc, 20, had a fuel tank to thank for their survival on Friday.
The couple had been fishing for whiting off Wellington Point when a wave pummelled their 4.3m aluminium boat shortly before sunset.
With Mr Butler still weak from leukemia treatment, Ms Pirc was able to use a fuel tank as a flotation device to paddle the pair safely back to shore.
The trip took about two hours.
"I just said 'I can't swim back, I'm too weak' so she went and got the fuel tank and brought it back to me and we just started swimming," Mr Butler said.
Both suffered minor fuel burns, but were otherwise unscathed on Friday, other than some muscle soreness.
It was a marathon effort for Ms Pirc, who said she never considered herself a particularly strong swimmer.
"It was pretty hard but I saw Wellington Point getting closer and I saw the headlights from cars and I thought they're getting closer every stroke I make. I just wanted to get to the lights."
As they paddled through the pitch-black water, the recent shark attack at North Stradbroke Island that claimed the life of 21-year-old Sarah Whiley was never out of their thoughts.
"About 30 seconds before we capsized, Steve pointed out Amity Point and said that's where Sarah Whiley was attacked," Ms Pirc said.
They had safety gear on board, but the capsizing happened too quickly and they were unable to gain access to the lifejackets and other equipment.
They managed to get on top of the capsized boat for about 15 minutes before it finally went under.
"I went under the boat to get the flares, but I got the daytime flares so they were no good," Mr Butler said.
It was Ms Pirc's first trip out in the new boat and she was in no hurry to return to the water after the ordeal.
"We're thinking of a cruise in the Greek Isles for our honeymoon, but that will be a much bigger boat," she said.
State Water Police co-ordinator Acting Superintendent Shane Chelepy said the pair were "very lucky" to make it back alive.
"Obviously any boating accident that involves going into the water and exposing yourself to the elements of a marine environment, you're very lucky to come out of that particularly if you couldn't access your safety gear," he said.
"They used what they had available to increase their survival and safety at sea."
Acting Supt Chelepy said they had all the right safety equipment with them, but did not have time to access it.
"An incident like that can happen very quickly and sometimes having the right safety equipment accessible to you can mean the difference between a tragic search and rescue and a successful one," he said.
The boat was recovered from Moreton Bay on Friday morning.
Police Minister Judy Spence said water police had issued 131 infringement notices in December to boaties who had not equipped their vessels with adequate safety gear.
"This is very alarming given we've had some very serious boating incidents in Queensland over the last couple of months," she said.
Ms Spence said drinking and speeding on the water had both decreased.
"We've managed to get the message across to boaties but we haven't managed to get it across to motorists," she said.
Yes Derek, but isn't this what I'm driving at, and the perfect illustration of just how crap the media is? One report says 3.4 and another 4.3.
kev
Right on Kev. Somehow I doubt we will ever know the truth.
Derek
yesterdays paper hard to read, but i think it says 4.3 blue fin
Thanks for your input Kazza. With the info that we are fed from the media you should not be surprised at any of the comments that arise in this thread and you have plenty of experience both from pros and long time volunteers with the coast guard both on this site and in this thread.
Fair call the query why the craft flipped after reports both mention wind and waves yet you now include hull design and freak behaviour. I don't know why but I know why we all want to know.
Fair call to query the swim as well. Its like leaving your bogged vehicle to go for help, some make it some don't. If you have followed standard practice of letting people know where you're heading and when you will return then the normal action would be to remain with your submerged hull. I'd be surprised if this craft has negative boyancy and would actually sink but the skipper of the craft should know.
I'm glad they're ok but it could have so easily been otherwise and we're all on about increasing our own and others safety when we head out so don't hang us out to dry for asking pertinent questions.
my two bobs worth.
BB
Like I said, thats a big hull to tip over in calm water.
Derek
I'm more interested in why you decided to come to the board and register too state your case/opinion.
I dont think anyone said they were idiots? Correct me if i'm wrong though. Any marine incident is terrible, and it's not that i want too know the truth because i am a bizzy body, or i have nothing better to do.It's because i could possibly learn from it and maybe prevent an accident at sea .
Condolences to the people concerened.
Ps.. a good tradesman always blames his tools , Just my opinion.
hey kazza01, well im sorry to hear about the inncident but they both came out safe and sound so thats something to all be pleased about. I just want to say nobody hear wanted to insult or upset anyone just everybody has their opinoins and thats really one of the great things about this site, everybody can say their boating opinions. But anyway maybe it was another boats wash that flipped the boat or something their are heaps of possibilities if you really think about it. But anyway good to know everyone is ok and hope they can back on the water asap
jono
Kazz01
Hmmmmm seeing I started this thread Kazz01 I will bring to light as everyone else has stated it was merely a question to the recent spate of events in the bay including numerous boats sinking etc. And as everyone also stated it was to try and find some enlightenment to the facts so we can prevent this type of thing happening. It was in no means a shot at the people concerned nor there abilities in question.
Anyway now that you have jumped on the band wagon to the defence of your Son it would have to be your son if you have fished the bay for 52 years and I Quote "Quite often with him." either or. I do have a question or four for you.
You stated that your son knows the bay from I Quote
"Thirdly, I have fished at nighttime all my life (52 years) and this young man is no slouch at night fishing or boating. He has been boating for many years and has covered Morton Bay from one end to the other, quite often with me as well. To all you “experts” out there, I’d love to see how you would perform in the situation such as it was.”
Why if some one with this much experience not have the PFD's easily excess able?? I mean would not a PFA be more suitable then a Fuel tank? And with such a vase experience one would think that he would try to get his PFD not a fuel tank (that his misses had to get anyway)
Also it has been stated that after 15 minutes of floating on the boat he went under to find flares? But grabbed the wrong ones. Would you not again be trying to get hold of your PFD then flares? I mean I would be thinking of looking after my misses' well being wouldn't you?
Also I quote you again
: Again, the young man was too weak from being knocked around to continue to hold on to the boat,
Now I would think it would be easier to hold on to a boat then a fuel tank seeing there is (No offence) no possible way on this earth that those two people could of floated on the fuel tank as well as the boat. So they would of used a considerable amount of energy seeing the lad stated he had his back facing Wellington point as he lay on his back kicking so he would not see a shark coming if it did ( that was his words on the news anyhow.)
Again another quote from you
So to all you critics, I hope you are never in that position. But if you do manage to find yourself there, just how perfect will your analysis of the situation be? Especially when others have passed you by.
DO you honestly think that anyone on this earth would see two people floating round Morton bay with a fuel tank or holding on to a capsized boat and just Drive on by. Hmmm I think not.
Another quote.
If all you critics are so bloody great, why don’t you volunteer your expertise to the Coastguard?
Quite a lot of people on this site do volunteer for numerous things including the Coastguard through to supplying gear to less fortunate children from Camps etc.
I understand your frustration I mean Sh*T I get frustrated when incompetence lands me in trouble and yes I get defensive about it to and well yeah when it comes to family we all become a little defensive. However I think next time you should have a read of the hole thread and maybe even some others and you will find out 99% of people on this site are excellent and more then will to provide help in guidance from fishing to bar crossings. All this was about was how could this happen I was on the Bay that night and happened to be north of peel and I can assure you there was about a half a foot chop if that and well I can Wee harder then the wind was blowing. And that is the FACTS of the weather that evening.
MAD
P.s yes dereck it is a big hull to tip over in the conditions that evening
Oh here is a pic of the bay that evening
http://www.ausfish.com.au/cgi-ausfis...num=1137027891
A picture tells a thousand words
In a desperate situation, why can't you use the day time flares? I understand they stand out more in sunlight that the red ones, but surely orange flares are better than no flares? At night time, wouldn't any flares serve the purpose?"I went under the boat to get the flares, but I got the daytime flares so they were no good," Mr Butler said.
The orange flares are smoke, if I remember rightly, and from experience, no, they are very difficult to see at night. Also, if the location was known, why not another go at getting the red (rocket).
kev
why has everybody become so defensive over their comments,
the truth is you have no clue as to what happened,( other than that which is portrayed in out lying, never let the truth get in the way of a good story media) you all speculated & are still speculating. if you were in the boat, or beside it when the incident happened, then you are in a position to comment.
Snide insinuations like this are not needed. being such obvious experts on the situation, why don't you explain what happened instead of making unqualified statements.
from memory one of our own members ended up in the drink out there, from something like a large gust of wind getting under the canopy & flipping the boat, was that their fault as well, would all of you known that it was going to happen & ditched the canopy??
accidents do happen.
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