Dragon Boat Capsizes

[HIDDEN]

I thought I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who died in yesterdays sinking of a dragon boat in the waters off Penang. All of those involved were students or teachers of the Chung Ling High School. Five students and one teacher have now been confirmed dead.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=469202

Although it is unlikely that anyone on this forum is directly involved, the incident underlines the need for care whilst we or our young people are enjoying themselves in or on the water.

Bob

[HIDDEN]

Sad week for the parents and families
There seemed to be conflicting reports, one said they were wearing life jackets, another said there were not enough life jackets, yet another said they didn't wear as it was only a practise and one said even the one who drowned had a life jacket.

I have a friend who is in the Penang rowing team that competed in the race in HK last year. They practiced for many weeks in B.Ferringhi near the floating mosque area and most times they knew they must wear life jackets but they chose not to as he said it's very uncomfortable to row in them!
Then , one Sunday they switched to the stretch of water east of the island. I smsed to remind him about wearing life jacket and warned him about that stretch of water.
Even as a kid my grandparents had mentioned the currents of that 'narrow' stretch of waters east of the island stretching down to B. Maung was strong, swift and unpredictable and hence was never a popular beach area, unlike the north coast. P.Jerejak was a leper camp in the early days and later a prison and my grandparents used to say it would be very difficult for those lepers and convicts to escape.... that part was 'wider' than now before IJM reclaimation of the sea. Maybe the older generation who lived on the island knews better 

BB
 

[HIDDEN]

Hi BB

It does seem reckless of the school to allow practise in dangerous waters. Isn't the competion is at the reservoir again this year. If so there is no advantage in pracising at sea as the conditions are totally different.

from the star:

Among the shocking revelations — only three of the 18 people in the ill-fated boat wore life jackets, and it was never a practice for team members to wear life jackets.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/19/nation/5500191&sec=nation

The sea is a very unfriendly beast, the organisers obviously didnt understand that.

Bob

[HIDDEN]

It does seem reckless of the school to allow practise in dangerous waters. Isn't the competion is at the reservoir again this year. If so there is no advantage in pracising at sea as the conditions are totally different.

The sea is a very unfriendly beast, the organisers obviously didnt understand that.
Bob

Hi Bob,

In one of the news it said this year's race will be held there and not at the reservoir. So they wanted to practise out there at sea to know the real situation!
Same with my friend's team who had to compete along the canal in New Territiries, HK and then another competition in the sea on the south side of HK Island. So they practised in the sea off Tg Bungah and then Jelutong to Queensway stretch to get the feel of the currents! All along no one took life jackets seriously as it was difficult to practise wearing them. But the friend said on the real competition days they would have a more streamline type which wasn't available to them for practises because those are costly!! Isn't it some thing 

BB