‘Don’t put to sea if you have been drinking’
DRUNKEN sailors are being urged not to take to the water, after the inshore lifeboat was called out over the weekend to rescue two people who were intoxicated on board a speedboat and lost.
The two occupants had left St Peter Port on Saturday evening, and were rescued near St Martin’s Point.
They were both wearing wet clothing and suffering from the cold, and had very limited safety equipment on board.
They told their rescuers that they had been drinking throughout the day.
Harbour master Captain David Barker said the incident underlined the perils of mixing alcohol with the sea.
‘Guernsey Coastguard strongly urge all mariners in charge of vessels to be aware of their responsibility for the safety of their vessel and its crew, and the adverse effect that even a small amount of alcohol will have on their judgement,’ he said.
‘The incident we dealt with at the weekend is a clear example and in this specific instance the voyage should never have been attempted, as neither the boat or its crew were in a condition to safely reach their destination.
‘Regardless of the time of year, all mariners should heed the current sea safety advice before putting to sea. This includes making sure that you and your boat are fit for purpose, and not likely to end up in distress.’
The Coastguard has reminded boaters of the three Ps – prepare their vessel and themselves for the intended trip, provide the correct equipment onboard, and perform responsibly on the water.
The 21ftt speedboat Apache was escorted back to St Peter Port, and in the early hours of Sunday morning the casualties were handed over to the St John’s Ambulance & Rescue Service for assessment.
Professional mariners can be charged with drink-driving, but the rules around leisure mariners are regarded as a grey area.
