Post by piccadillypilot on Sept 4, 2005 18:26:22 GMT
It would appear that it's not only District Line drivers who like to visit "foreign parts".
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4213096.stm
Skipper mistakes Calais for Kent
Dover lifeboat had to be sent out to rescue a lost yachtsman who thought he was near Ramsgate in Kent when he was actually 10 miles off Calais in France.
The skipper of Marie Louise contacted Dover Coastguard on Saturday night.
He had sailed from Southwold, Suffolk and thought he was near Ramsgate but the port control could not find him.
He was told to sail to a buoy, then report back what it said, which turned out to be Sandettie. The lifeboat crew found the yacht's compass was faulty.
"The skipper of this vessel was crossing some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world without, it would appear, much navigational knowledge or experience," said Dover Coastguard watch manager Gary Brown.
The coastguard decided sending the RNLI lifeboat was the safest way to get the sailor back to shore.
It arrived about 40 minutes after the first call and located the Marie Louise after the skipper fired a flare.
The yacht was towed back to Dover, where it was met my Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team who interviewed and advised the skipper.
"The compass was nearly 190 degrees out and when the lifeboat arrived on scene the vessel was found south east of Sandettie Light Vessel," said Mr Brown.
"I would urge all leisure sailors to ensure their navigational equipment is working and that they undertake some navigational training before setting to sea.
"The skipper of this vessel had planned to sail from Southwold to Ramsgate.
"It is very worrying that he managed to sail to France without noticing his error."
Errrr, just a thought. There aren't any District drivers who go boating are there?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4213096.stm
Skipper mistakes Calais for Kent
Dover lifeboat had to be sent out to rescue a lost yachtsman who thought he was near Ramsgate in Kent when he was actually 10 miles off Calais in France.
The skipper of Marie Louise contacted Dover Coastguard on Saturday night.
He had sailed from Southwold, Suffolk and thought he was near Ramsgate but the port control could not find him.
He was told to sail to a buoy, then report back what it said, which turned out to be Sandettie. The lifeboat crew found the yacht's compass was faulty.
"The skipper of this vessel was crossing some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world without, it would appear, much navigational knowledge or experience," said Dover Coastguard watch manager Gary Brown.
The coastguard decided sending the RNLI lifeboat was the safest way to get the sailor back to shore.
It arrived about 40 minutes after the first call and located the Marie Louise after the skipper fired a flare.
The yacht was towed back to Dover, where it was met my Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team who interviewed and advised the skipper.
"The compass was nearly 190 degrees out and when the lifeboat arrived on scene the vessel was found south east of Sandettie Light Vessel," said Mr Brown.
"I would urge all leisure sailors to ensure their navigational equipment is working and that they undertake some navigational training before setting to sea.
"The skipper of this vessel had planned to sail from Southwold to Ramsgate.
"It is very worrying that he managed to sail to France without noticing his error."
Errrr, just a thought. There aren't any District drivers who go boating are there?
Oh - you mean that round thing that moves about a bit when the boat goes round a corner! 
