Matches, Patches Among Keys To Survival
The Age
Thursday January 9, 1997
Canberra
The lone French yachtsman Thierry Dubois yesterday spent his final day in the raft that has kept him alive, sheltering from the freezing conditions and mountainous seas of the Southern Ocean.
The raft, one of five survival kits dropped to him on Monday, carries with it enough life-preserving equipment and food to last almost a week.
When dropped from the RAAF Orion, the main raft and a second, smaller craft carrying provisions were automatically inflated by a carbon-dioxide cylinder as they hit the water.
A waterproof canopy rises as the main, circular raft expands.
The survival kit includes:
* Two saltwater-activated battery lights.
* Two 40-gram sea-marker dye containers.
* Two mechanical patch kits to repair holes in the raft.
* Two air-splints, one for an arm and one for a leg, in case of broken bones.
* Sponges.
* Two cyalume lights that activate when broken in half.
* 21 250ml bottles of drinking water.
* Two tubes of condensed milk.
* Two marine solar stills to desalinate saltwater into drinking water.
* A first-aid kit with enough supplies for two people.
* A waterproof survival manual.
* An emergency fishing kit.
* Two torches and a mirror to signal rescuers.
* A roll of toilet paper.
* Two boxes of safety matches.
* A pocket knife.
* A dozen survival rations containing high-protein food to last a week.
* Two distress whistles.
* A two-litre resealable bag to store drinking water.
* Lip-chap ointment
* Sunburn cream.
* A pack of cards.
* Four pairs of high-quality sunglass goggles.
* Two packs of rubber plugs to stop leaks in the raft.
* Five blankets.
* 30 packets of insect repellent.
* Four distress signal beacons.
* 24 plastic bags.
A hand-held radio was also dropped to Mr Dubois separately.
THE RACE TO GET DUBOIS
The HMS Adelaide is expected to be within 100 nautical miles by 7.30 am today. A Seahawk helicopter will then cover the remaining distance to reach Dubois within an expected 90 minutes flying time.
Once the helicopter is over the sailor, a navy crewman will be lowered to the life raft to lift the by now exhausted Dubois back to the helicopter, which will then return to HMS Adelaide.
Once Dubois has been safely brought back to the ship, the search will then countinue for the other missing yachtsman Tony Bullimore, whose boat is thought to be about 55 nautical miles away. Rescuers are hoping to find him within the hull of his upturned yacht.
1. Emission of distress signal: Once switched on, the beacon - inside or outside the boat - sends a coded signal every 50 seconds on the 406 MHz radio frequency.
Satellite distress beacon
2. Signal reception and processing: Each satellite in the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system covers an area 4000-5000 km wide. A signal can be pinpointed to within 800-1800 metres.
3. Reception of alert signal by one of 14 worldwide stations.
4. Rescue operation: Specialised units, often coast guard, military.
© 1997 The Age
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