[Paddlewise] SV: Danish dragon boat, some answers

From: Jens Viggo Moesmand <jensviggo_at_moesmand.dk>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:45:41 +0100
>Trip leaders need to be honest in evaluating their abilities in the
given
>situation.  If he/she takes a group of students into the above
>conditions (as I read from the reports), they need to re-evaluate their
>leadership skills.  If they survive.
>Jackie



As for me Jackie sums it up sufficiently. I'm not in a position to or
want to blame anyone. I leave the blaming and decisions about legal
responsibility to the authorities. I very much appreciate Tony's
initiative feeding the authorities' investigation team with relevant
background information. I'm out of supplemental information now that the
accident has become "history". Basically there is little new to learn
about sailing from the accident. It's the consequences that talk. I'll
take my time and wait for the conclusions. In due time I shall - if
needed - translate and in this forum publish the outcomes. Likewise I
shall inform about the fate of the teenagers recovery from coma when it
is known. They have now been brought to a rehabilitation centre and only
time will show the outcome.

The blaming game has only just started and I do not intend to
participate in more public forums than those for active kayakers.

Nevertheless I'm an instructor and leader of tours in our environment
bringing adults and children, skilled as well as newbie's, out on the
very same sea and I must have an opinion about what is understandable
and responsible in my own waters. It goes with the office. With other
words: would I "forbid" a specific activity in my own area of
responsibility. In my club a peer-to-peer review in our board is used
before giving "authorization" to leaders.

>From the available and confirmed facts

1) about the clothing,

2) lack of attention to weather forecast in a freezing environment. It
counts that very qualified 48 hours weather forecasts with detailed
information about wind and waves (boelgehoejde) are easily available,
look e.g. at http://ifm.frv.dk/index.asp?USER=PLEASURE

3) complete lack of any thinkable precaution

I find the involved teachers unfit to be responsible for arranging
anything on the water which assumes "In Loco Parentis". To me the real
responsibility lies with the headmaster and the schools board.

Jens Viggo
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Thu Feb 24 2011 - 02:42:13 PST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:44 PDT