Rowing Tragedy In Nyc

[[old] knyy]

Saw this very sad story in this morning's New York Times:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/nyregion/25crash.html' target='_blank'>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/nyreg ... sh.html</a>

[[old] Byron Drachman]

Yes, it is sad and ironic. One reason many row early in the morning with flashing lights before sunrise is to avoid motor boats.<br /><br />Byron

[[old] ancho]

[[old] Guest_Ron_*]

Yes, it is very sad and tragic. One thing I would say is that the "tradition" of going on water without a life preserver , in any mode of water transportation, is always risky. I wish others who follow that tradition would learn by this. Why risk your fragile life? Ron

[[old] ehagberg]

<!--QuoteBegin-Guest_Ron_*+Oct 26 2005, 02:19 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Guest_Ron_* @ Oct 26 2005, 02:19 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Yes, it is very sad and tragic. One thing I would say is that the "tradition" of going on water without a life preserver , in any mode of water transportation, is always risky. I wish others who follow that tradition would learn by this. Why risk your fragile life?      Ron <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Unless a life preserver is designed that is wearable during sculling/rowing workouts such that it doesn't get in the way, it won't do much good.<br /><br />In this case, unless the life preserver was already on him, he wouldn't have had time, presumably, to reach down and get it before being knocked out and drowned.

[[old] Byron Drachman]

Of course using a pfd is a personal decision. There are lots of things we can do to be safer. For example, I read a convincing article that you should wear a helmet while driving a car. But Ron does make a good point, and I think there are times when I would like to wear a pfd. For example, if I am absolutely the only one on the river, especially during cold weather. I'd be wearing a jacket anyway, so it seems a pfd wouldn't be that different. <br /><br />Speaking of safety devices, one of the crew coaches gave me a safety whistle last week. <br /><br />I think this was discussed before but I don't remember where. Can anyone recommend a good pfd that would be non restrictive while sculling?<br /><br />Byron

[[old] eparizeau]

<!--QuoteBegin-Byron Drachman+Oct 26 2005, 06:53 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Byron Drachman @ Oct 26 2005, 06:53 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Can anyone recommend a good pfd that would be non restrictive while sculling?<br /><br />Byron <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />See: <a href='http://www.rowalden.com/store/details.asp?ProID=245' target='_blank'>http://www.rowalden.com/store/details.a ... 245</a><br /><br />I bought it a couple of years ago for my ocean shell. Especially comforting on rougher mornings.<br /><br />Ernie

[[old] ehagberg]

<!--QuoteBegin-eparizeau+Oct 26 2005, 10:31 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(eparizeau @ Oct 26 2005, 10:31 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->See:  <a href='http://www.rowalden.com/store/details.asp?ProID=245' target='_blank'>http://www.rowalden.com/store/details.a ... 245</a><br /><br />I bought it a couple of years ago for my ocean shell.  Especially comforting on rougher mornings.<br /><br />Ernie <br /> </td></tr></table><br />As long as you've got the time to react and inflate it, that'll work fine... but if you're caught off-guard it might not be as useful, right? It appears that you have to inflate it manually or with a mouthpiece, but it's not worn in a state of constant buoyancy.

[[old] bw1099]

One of the member at our rowing club used to kayak and bought some inflatable PFDs like these:<br /><br /><a href='http://store.yahoo.com/landfallnav/personalsafety.html' target='_blank'>inflatable PFDs from Land Fall Navigation</a><br /><br />bw

[[old] kjgress]

[quote=ehagberg,Oct 26 2005, 10:28 PM]<br /><br />[/quote]<br />As long as you've got the time to react and inflate it, that'll work fine... but if you're caught off-guard it might not be as useful, right? It appears that you have to inflate it manually or with a mouthpiece, but it's not worn in a state of constant buoyancy. <br />[/quote]<br /><br />That is the problem: to find a passive flotation that will be comfortable when rowing. We had an incident very early in the season where someone was out by themselves on a small lake, hit a buoy and flipped, WAS WEARING A PFD of the inflatable waist type and because of very cold water quickly became disoriented and almost drowned very near the shore. They swam the boat to shore instead of getting back in the boat. They also inflated the PFD but didn't put it on. This was not an inexperienced rower either.

[[old] Byron Drachman]

I had "hung it up" until spring but couldn't resist a couple more rows on the water. Although the air temperature is in the 20's F. in the mornings, the water is still not cold. I found a Stearns type I pdf in the boathouse. Maybe I can't get quite the compression at the catch while wearing it, but I get pretty close. It almost works like a heater--the insulation gets nice and warm. I suspect someone more bulky would find it uncomfortable, but I find it doesn't feel very restrictive. Once the water feels cold, I'll be indoors on my C2. In the meantime I might be able to get in another row or two outdoors. I'm glad the Stearns pdf feels OK. Around here, it's dangerous in the spring when you suddenly get a warm day but the water is still close to freezing. <br /><br />Back to the tragedy in NYC, was the motorboat driver speeding? Was there ever a follow-up story?<br /><br />Byron

[[old] NavigationHazard]

<!--QuoteBegin-Byron Drachman+Nov 22 2005, 04:01 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Byron Drachman @ Nov 22 2005, 04:01 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I had "hung it up" until spring but couldn't resist a couple more rows on the water. Although the air temperature is in the 20's F. in the mornings, the water is still not cold. I found a Stearns type I pdf in the boathouse.  Maybe I can't get quite the compression at the catch while wearing it, but I get pretty close. It almost works like a heater--the insulation gets nice and warm. I suspect someone more bulky would find it uncomfortable, but I find it doesn't feel very restrictive. Once the water feels cold, I'll be indoors on my C2.  In the meantime I might be able to get in another row or two outdoors. I'm glad the Stearns pdf feels OK. Around here, it's dangerous in the spring when you suddenly get a warm day but the water is still close to freezing. <br /><br />Back to the tragedy in NYC, was the motorboat driver speeding? Was there ever a follow-up story?<br /><br />Byron <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Not speeding according to the police. Apparently he just didn't see the four and ran smack into it. It was about 6:30 am and right around sunrise in NY, and it can be very difficult to see things on the water even if you're looking for them. The four was running with a light but I suspect it was lost in the reflection of headlights from cars on the roads running along the Hudson there. Had there been a coach launch out, it might have been able to run interference.<br /><br />

[[old] jamesg]

Manslaughter would be the name of the fact here in Italy (omicidio colposo) and the driver would be in jail for a while. Guess someone can cite him for damages in the US, probably even better than jail as a lesson to him, and to others who drive without looking where they're going.<br /><br />Traffic lanes can be an option too, if authorities are aware of what happens in their city.