Rescues Le Morne Mauritius
Why does it have to be like this
Well for the third evening in as many weeks yet another problem after sunset. I still fail to understand how people who are apparently sensible mature adults who have some or a lot of experience in the sea doing the sports they love manage to ignore all common sense and responsibility for themselves and end up in bad situations which then impacts on someone else, namely the people asked to help who after long days at work dealing with many people might actually have something better to do than run around after what can only be described as irresponsible people, most of whom seem to put the survival of their equipment before their own safety. All NON GUESTS OF THE CLUB
Strong currents, cloudy skies, limited boat access, after sunset, ignoring the idea its going to be dark someone continues to sail in the waves breaks a mast and ends up drifting in outgoing currents DUH!!. While working late after the rest of the team has departed at 17:00 the time published as the end of available boats (Well if people actually came to ask about the spot before going on the water) the guy preparing the paperwork and arrivals of guests is asked for a boat at dusk. After the person is put safely on the beach the boat is stored and a 15 min walk follows in now wet clothes and in the dark returns to find the rescued person is nowhere to be found no beer waiting nothing good heh.
Waves, sketchy wind swinging offshore and dropping, 45 mins to dark one more run in One Eye seem like a good idea errrrrrrrr NOT! Never the less one guy thought it was had to ditch his kite outside the reef. Freind comes to see if someone is still at the CM BY LUCK if they can go get the boat its only 18:00 one hour after the boat is away and the centre is normally closed and empty of staff… So two of the team happen to be there having a beer with guests err can we have a boat need a rescue at One Eye so we start the walk to the boat, head off outside the reef drive down and down find the kite no guy he is washed up on the reef so driving down to the next pass back inside the lagoon into very shallow water pushing the boat with a stick the guy swimming with the sea urchins, one more time back after dark, the guest who was relying on one of the team members missed a transfer had to stay at one of the teams houses then sort out new arrangements the next day. Evening lost after a day taking care of of a full spot, another big smile for people who dont care about themselves NOT!
Arrive at the spot, don’t ask anyone about it, see there is no rescue after 17:00 not the most expert kiter, go anyway have a problem oh what now, after being told by another local kiter to stay upwind the same local kiter who helped to put the kite back in the window to re launch and recovered the board for the irresponsible person concerned. Friends turn up at the CM office after sundown 18:20 around 1 hour 20 mins after there is normally no one around to do anything doh, BY LUCK there is still someone there who goes to look sees the kite is flying and the board has been returned to the kiter who is inside the lagoon surely they can come back if they are confident enough to go at a time they know there is no rescue and its only 40 mins till black dark, anyway a Kayak and paddle are supplied to one of quite a large group to paddle to help the person however, it seems the rocket scientist who told the local kiter they were ok and kept going downwind ignoring the advice the local kiter gave them to go to the beach or not having the level (BUT STILL WENT OUT AT DUSK KNOWING THERE IS NO RESCUE AFTER 17:00) is getting themselves in more problems but still in the lagoon and still not letting their kite go so they can swim back is getting in a worse situation. Another friend comes back in pitch dark LUCKILY the local kiter is a skipper who knows the lagoon LUCKILY the boat keys are accessible so the boat is taken after another 15 to 20 min walk up to the mooring, driven uninsured through a rocky lagoon no lights and no authority to be on the water after sunset 18:10 finally to find that the kayak had worked and the kiter was on the beach Thankfully. Probably all avoidable if the kite had been released completely and some mix of swimming and walking through the lagoon had been undertaken but I guess the equipment is more important, pffffffffffft. All avoidable if they had not gone at all after 17:00.
Lesson beginner one ASK THE LOCALS ABOUT THE SPOT BEFORE GOING OUT. IF IN DOUBT DON’T GO OUT.
Going on the water after sunset is not a great plan anywhere in the world let alone a place with outgoing currents especially outside the reef in the open ocean.The people at the CM do have lives outside their work and have already had a long day trying to take care of the whole spot as there is no help from any authorities to even provide information let alone get their feet wet so please don’t be surprised if whoever is left there trying to prepare the admin for the next day if it wasn;t done earlier and the place was closed at 17:00 when it is supposed to be is either not a skipper with a license and unable to drive a boat or, if they are will not be very happy about it after 10 hours in the place.
Take care of yourself, check the spot with the locals before going out, its your responsibility to inform yourself as the person going out on the water. Check the sunset time, make sure you know how to call the Coastguard.
Respect the locals on the spot and help maintain the reputation of the spot by being responsible.
Just a few poorly articulated examples (rants)of what happens time after time at Le Morne, get the picture, don’t become a statistic. Ask the locals, don’t rely on there being anyone to help after 17:00 its pure luck that someone is on the spot with a boat and a skipper etc etc the LOCAL SKIPPERS ARE ALL GONE BY 17:00 ESPECIALLY AS THE MOST EXPERIENCED ONES WHO CAN DRIVE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS HAVE SMALL CHILDREN NOW!!
If you expect respect from the people at the place have some respect for the people at the place.
