I did the ditching course with a mixed group of people who were on a safety course organised by...Gasco, I think. But none were all that old (ie mainly appeared under 60) and none looked that overweight or unfit. Some actually looked like they worked out, and/or were quite at home in the water, and OK when asked to swim a couple of lengths fully clothed. In fact, I personally managed this easily, and wasn't even out of breath...which annoyed some of the male members of the group, but that's another story. Nevertheless, when the liferafts were thrown into the pool, virtually everyone had trouble getting into one. A few eventually managed it and dragged the rest of us in. Being fairly light, I was quite easily dragged aboard, but I doubt if I'd ever have managed it alone without specific training or loads of practice. I don't think anyone felt they'd be able to manage it in the sea, with waves etc, if doing it for real. That's when I personally abandoned putting my trust in a liferaft, and asked SEMS about getting an immersion suit.

ContinentalC85

I would certainly take one. 10 minutes flying is quiet a hefty swim. Do you think you could swim that in cold strong waters? especially after the shock of ditching and possible injury?

WB - how big and what model was the raft you were climbing into?

IO540,

SEMS had several, and I tried 3 or 4 of different sizes and types, though I don't remember the details. The only one I could get into was one designed for one person - basically a kind of airbed with a cover. I liked it, and did actually consider getting one, especially as it was light enough to carry in a C150, and SEMS reckoned that at a pinch it could hold two light people, ie me and the female friend I used to fly with a lot. But I eventually decided that an immersion suit would be a better idea. However, to stick to the point, I couldn't get into any of the "normal" liferafts. And while I'm no great athlete, and smaller than most people, I'm at least averagely fit and agile.

On a Le Touquet trip last week I did a 'practice lost procedure' with my student off the dover coast, I then asked 121.5 how long it would take to get a helicopter to us mid channel?

Answer: Search and Rescue Heli would be crambled from Lee on Solent, taking up tp 15 mins, plus transit time.

I would say Lee On Solent to Dover area could take at least 25 mins by Heli, so you could be swimming for 40 mins. In the winter the chances are you would be dead from exposure without an imersion suit or getting into a raft.

(I suspect the French have SAR in Calias possibly quicker to mid channel?).