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[scoop]

As an ex kayaker myself, I can say that if you've got time to see something coming, think 'Oh gosh and bother it', consider your options and capsize, you could have already moved from a standing start at the very least 20 feet out the way.....

I suppose Andy it all depends on how close the RHIB was when it crept up behind him. He probably didn't have time to react other than to complete an eskimo roll. There's not just one chase boat on the water at any one time there are several doing the 8 mile loop, so it's quite conceivable that the one (+ jet ski) he saw and was keeping an eye on was to his thinking the only one's that were on the water. Seems to me that Nigel was probably the only one keeping look out that day ! Still I suppose we will hear more after the private prosecution has concluded. 

[Colin Bishop]

Without wishing to get involved, and just a point - if you are in a very small craft and there is appreciable wave movement, your radius of vision is actually quite small.

Colin

[tmbc]

just found this intresting how the kayak guys feel !

http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=95118&pp=657158&hilit=accident#p657158

[tmbc]

oh just to mention that there apears to be an issue with whos been convicted and who they said was originally driving the boat
check the original news report

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Kayaker-injured-collision-sea/story-13428221-detail/story.html


hmmm intresting


as for people questioning mr hattons suitability to do this type of sport

the following was found on a kayak forum take note paragraph 3 !

I said I have all of those and sea kayaking qaulifications, excellent fitness, bomb proof roll.


Re: Sea kayak regulations in France

Postby nigelhatton » Sun Dec 04, 2011 1:45 pm
I spent about 5 months of the summer paddling the south coast of France and never had a problem until one day.
I paddled out of the port of Sete into a westerly 30kmh wind and large swell, fantastic for surfing a sea kayak and a bit of sightseeing from 2 kms out. I have never seen other kayakers out that far and I often wondered why.

On my return to Sete harbour a motor vessal came from behind and called out of the loudspeaker"Kayaker, Kayaker arret, arret maintenont, meaning kayaker stop now.

One of the local pilots aboard told me no kayaks can go more than 300 metres from the port, beachor point of safety return. I asked why, all in French. He said it's not allowed for any kayak, canoe,row boat to go past 300 metres because the law in France say so, unless I had a radio, 3 hand flares, bouyancy aid,extra bouyancy in the kayak so it can't sink. I said I have all of those and sea kayaking qaulifications, excellent fitness, bomb proof roll.

I returned to my base and then checked on the internet about all these French rules, they do exist and even for someone with all the required kit they still cant go more than 6 knautical miles.

I came back 5 days later and paddled in Torbay then we all know what happened.

[offshore]

Just read this, some interesting nonsense !! Don't believe all you read !!

Just a couple of facts from someone that really knows.

Visibility was good, weather was very windy, sea was choppy.

Skipper, whilst having no official qualifications does have around 20yrs worth of high speed boating experience including numerous chase boat events ( both as chase boat and model driver) and many hours of safety cover.

Master of Chase Boat has some 45 yrs experience including PB level 2, Day Skipper, VHF, Water Ski Race Driving Instructor, Powerboat Race trainer, Model boat racing since mid 70's and numerous chase boat event driving, as well as 32 years of racing high speed craft both nationally and internationally.

International Collision at Sea Regulations are very clear about crossing vessels !!

Skipper was guilty of not seeing a Kayak as were the other 3 on chase boat and as can be seen in the video of the run on youtube. Had they not been keeping a look out they would have been on the wrong course. You have to look where you are going !!

Kayak obviously very well disguised and as said in statements "They did not see him" neither on the way across where chase boat must have passed him within a few hundred metres less than 3 minutes previous nor by the preceding chase boat a short time before.

Harbour Master did fail to publish a notice to mariners to warn of the event, this would be normal practice.

In a statement the chase boats size and speed were clearly misjudged.

This was nothing more than a very unfortunate accident as pointed out by the Kayaker. Chase boat was travelling at around 25mph (not fast) it was on a direct course as it had been on several earlier runs that day and as pointed out by a couple of Kayakers on here his time after spotting the chase boat some 50 metres away may have been better spent paddling away from, instead of across the path of the much bigger vessel that he could not see the crew of.

The chase Boats are fully insured and the Kayaker is persuing his claim.

The Fine sums it all up really £260 (max £5000) as with all these situations the Solicitors are the only ones to make out of it. The prosecution was from Torbay council (not the Kayaker) and their costs even though they are already being paid by you and me were £2600 reduced to £2000, defendants costs £1750.

Kayak was not hit by a model boat ! Model Boat was NOT a Yellow Jet Ski. Crew were NOT engrossed in watching the model. Injuries were NOT caused by the Propeller. 

I am sure we all wish Mr Hatton a full and speedy recovery.

Please STOP your speculation !! If you must comment on public forums please get your facts straight !!

OP

[martno1fan]

Visibility was good ? ok so they could see a 5 ft model boat but they couldn't see an 18ft bright red kayak with a quite large fellow paddling it wearing a hi vis vest and cap,something wrong there then dont you think ?.The truth is the guy driving and his so called spotters were negligent and almost killed the guy.The law is a joke in this country and i only hope Nigel succeeds in his compensation claim and makes a full recovery.

[essex2visuvesi]

Just read this, some interesting nonsense !! Don't believe all you read !!

Just a couple of facts from someone that really knows.

And you are???

This is your first post, with no name just a gerneric username..... How do we know what you say is any different from any of the other "speculation" and "Hearsay"

[offshore]

Visibility was good ? ok so they could see a 5 ft model boat but they couldn't see an 18ft bright red kayak with a quite large fellow paddling it wearing a hi vis vest and cap,something wrong there then dont you think ?.The truth is the guy driving and his so called spotters were negligent and almost killed the guy.The law is a joke in this country and i only hope Nigel succeeds in his compensation claim and makes a full recovery.

As above ! Don't believe all you read in the press !

[offshore]

And you are???

This is your first post, with no name just a gerneric username..... How do we know what you say is any different from any of the other "speculation" and "Hearsay"

Well, I am not a professional critic.

You don't know what I say is any different, you also didn't know what really happened ! All I ask is that you don't speculate.

[essex2visuvesi]

Well, I am not a professional critic.

How do we know that without anything to back it up? like I said a low post generic username with no evidence to backup what you say

you also didn't know what really happened ! All I ask is that you don't speculate.

I didn't... I stated that there was more to this than the article stated

[martno1fan]

Seems odd to me that still certain individuals are trying to avoid the truth and insinuate the canoeist was to blame.Any powered vessel has to give way to unpowered vessels and slower,sail powered craft  not the other way around.Nigel had no reason to move out of the way that was there responsibility not his,by the sounds of it he didn't have time anyway,not that it made any difference because although the visibility was good according to what this guy just said the chaseboat crew saw nothing only a 5 ft model boat they were chasing  .
something is not right here if you ask me .
Mart
as for our friend of some 3 posts maybe you would like to make yourself known to everyone

[tmbc]

may be one of the original persons who totally denied the accident and was so intent in calling those who found "liars" and trying to discredit them to others on this and other forums



one thing is it will be intresting to see the report by the marine accident investigation branch.

[Arrow5]

Offshore, would you like to give us a link to the Youtube video ?    Where was/were the camera(s) ? 

[offshore]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6awgLXONh0&list=UUkEb0nRLZRuGoVXPLnH2XOA&index=3&feature=plcp   

Taken from chase boat !!

[Arrow5]

Thank you. I was under the impression that the film included the accident or is that sub judice ?   So one of the chase boat crew concentrates on filming the model .

[pugwash]

Well that doesnt prove much except visibility was virtually perfect and conditions would only be described as choppy if you were
in a 5 foot model boat, otherwise they were faily calm
Still can't see why the canoeist was not seen by the helmsman

Geoff

[tmbc]

great deals at specsavers or vision express   

[black magic racing]

great deals at specsavers or vision express   

   will make an appointment for you mate lol  but on a serious note forgive me if im wrong but didnt this accident happen this year?? utube link shows chase boat 2011 a year before accident 

[Arrow5]

According to the (first post) newspaper report, the incident happened in Sept. 2011.  The case came to court this year,2012, I presume that is why it hit the newspaper.

[martno1fan]

   will make an appointment for you mate lol  but on a serious note forgive me if im wrong but didnt this accident happen this year?? utube link shows chase boat 2011 a year before accident 

Last year Kurt
quote from article in first post .
It was part of a race organised by the Offshore Model Powerboat Racing Association on September 19 last year.

[black magic racing]

thanks martin just found out the same,its a shame that this has happened having raced in omra and now bmprs knowing the damage it can do to our societies regardless of which society is to blame as the saying goes we all get tarred with the same brush. i know bmprs is run on inland lakes and every risk is assessed before and during racing.im not saying that we are better than other organisations only that the risks and everything else should have been checked before and during the race,i  for one really hope that nigel make the best recovery possible and that something good comes out of it all regardless of what that may be. 

[tmbc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6awgLXONh0&list=UUkEb0nRLZRuGoVXPLnH2XOA&index=3&feature=plcp  

Taken from chase boat !!

is this the one that was played in court ???

[tmbc]

thanks martin just found out the same,its a shame that this has happened having raced in omra and now bmprs knowing the damage it can do to our societies regardless of which society is to blame as the saying goes we all get tarred with the same brush. i know bmprs is run on inland lakes and every risk is assessed before and during racing.im not saying that we are better than other organisations only that the risks and everything else should have been checked before and during the race,i  for one really hope that nigel make the best recovery possible and that something good comes out of it all regardless of what that may be.  

kurt you know as well why i had my membership revoked from the association that had an involvement in this accident they were warned at an agm about how they conducted there events !

well well well cant say they wernt

oh by the way whilst on the mater of health and safety our policy at bmprs is simple and effective due to the knowledge and qualifications gained not only by myself being the h&s co-ordinator but also other committee members in this field some of whom have also had there membership revoked for being out spoken on matter regarding safety.

[offshore]

is this the one that was played in court ???

No video's were actually played in court !!

[Circlip]

Had the Vid been played in court, perhaps the fine would have been £5000 ?

  Always seems to have some on the forum spitting feathers but to some, an accident caused by people playing with toy boats.

  Regards  Ian.