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Darwin Awards
2009 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Incompetence at sea

2009 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

7 young people on a small boat (8.5m) went for a voyage around the coast of Morocco, in winter and bad weather. None of them had much sailing experience, the boat was not seaworthy (low board and no keel) and decisions on board were made by public consensus as there was no skipper on board. 1 survived.

An English reference: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/251917,six-drown-after-sailing-boat-capsizes-off-morocco.html

Picture of the boat: http://blog.migrobirdo.org/wp-content/uploads/imga0570.jpg

Film about the crew: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6697398920178932149

About this film: 1) One guy in the movie says he has several thousand seamiles experience and would teach the crew how to sail, but he was not onboard when the accident happened.

2) One says how to deal with strong winds: Take all sail off and start ladling. Real storm tactics are slightly different.... He also said that the boat was very stable and could not capsize. The boat has no keel with ballast, just a centerboard, which makes it everything but stable and will not turn it back up if capsized as any seaworthy boat would.

http://alt.migrobirdo.org/deutsch/index.html This has been taken offline in the meantime. It included a list of what was on board: Lots of stuff for workshops, a beamer, but no none-essentials like life jackets, life raft, fire extinguisher. I guess you have to save space somewhere!

http://livi.blogsport.de/2007/09/28/unsere-schiffe-und-mein-erster-langer-text The writer explains why they bought such a small, non-seaworthy boat: To be on the same level as the poor south americans they planned to visit, a bigger, seaworthy boat would only have shown off European riches instead of promoting dialogue.

This is the website of the organizer: http://blog.migrobirdo.org/

Submitted on 01/28/2009

Submitted by: Sven Mischkies
Reference: http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/panorama/ausland/664111/Es-gibt-keine-Hoffnung-mehr.html

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Thanks, Sven, for an rather interesting submission. Unfortunately I don't understand German so the video doesn't help. I'm inclined to toss this, however, because it's tough to blame all 6 of the victims for their deaths. Chances are most of them were relying on what they believed to be expertise by one or two others and likely felt perfectly safe in what they were attempting. I grew up on the water and spent 10 years in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and saw plenty of cases of ill-equipped boats, people relying on the owner/operator of the boat for everything, etc. Thanks just the same.


James said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
I've heard better "sea stories" where stupidity shines. Yes, we have here a case of inexperienced would-be mariners, but surely all six cannot be to blame! I'll pass, but thanks just the same, Sven!


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