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English boat owner in hot water after crashing off Alicante
The skipper didn’t have a licence or insurance when his boat crashed off the Costa Blanca coast
The Alicante maritime rescue branch of the Guardia Civil was recently tasked with the tricky job of aiding an English leisure boat that was drifting perilously close to the rocks off the coast of Postiguet beach. The small vessel, just nine metres in length, suffered some kind of mechanical failure and was bobbing out of control with nine helpless passengers on board.
In a surprise turn, it was later revealed that the British man captaining the boat didn’t have a licence to pilot it, and he now faces serious sanctions.
The distress call came in at around 8am on the morning of July 13 and a patrol from the Provincial Maritime Service immediately launched a rescue. When they approached the boat, which was flying the English flag, they immediately realised that those on board “were facing imminent danger, while their boat, of which the skipper had lost control, was crashing into the rocks of the Postiguet breakwater.”
The officers threw a rope to the boat and towed it out of danger, taking it to the Marina of Alicante. The seven crew members, though badly shaken, were safe and sound.
According to information provided by the Guardia Civil, the owner of the boat, a 35-year-old Brit who was piloting it when it crashed, will now be fined for various infractions, “for not providing the enabling qualification of skipper, in addition to not being able to prove that he has valid documentation for the boat or the mandatory insurance.”
Visitors and locals alike often joke about the lax health and safety rules in Spain, but would-be skippers can’t just take a boat out on the water on spec.
Following this serious near-miss, the Guardia Civil have issued a reminder to potential aquatic adventurers:
“Before setting sail, it is important to check that you have all the necessary documentation on board, which may be required at any time by the authorities, both in port and during navigation.
“Failure to do so may result in a punishable offence, and if you do not have the necessary qualification, the insurance may refuse to cover material or personal damages in the event of an accident.”
In other news: Welsh holidaymaker found dead in Benidorm hotel room
Image: Guardia Civil
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