Survival

[kölscheklüngel]

Survival at Sea,

You are on a yacht in the Pacific Ocean, it is slowly sinking. You are not entirely clear about your exact location, but you estimate that it is about a thousand miles southwest of the nearest land. There is a life raft which oars large enough for you and the other people in your group and in amoment you are going to get into it. But first, you have to decide what things you want to take with you from the yacht.
You already have the following things in your pockets: a packet of cigarettes, several boxes of matches and five bank notes. Below the list of 15 other items which are on the yacht. Unfortunately, you cannot take all of them. In fact, you can take only six items.

1. Sextant
2. Shaving mirror
3. Twenty-litre can of water
4. Mosquito netting
5. One case of US Army rations
6. Maps of the Pacific Ocean
7. Inflated rubber seat cushion
8. Ten-litre can of petrol oil mixture
9. Small transistor radio
10. Shark repellent
11. Three square metres of opaque plastic
12. One litre of 160 proof Puerto Rico rum
13. Five metres of nylon rope
14. Two boxes of chocolate bars
15. Fishing kit

[Keswick]

Oh.. difficult. I'd take the following items:

1. Shaving mirror
2. Twenty-litre can of water
3. Three square metres of opaque plastic
4. Five metres of nylon rope
5. Two boxes of chocolate bars
6. Fishing kit

Do you want to know why? I can drink the water from the can and then use the plastic to collect water (either rain or morning dew) and refill the can. The plastic can also be used as protection against wind, rain and hail or it can even be used as a sail. The rope I can use as a replacement for a fishing rod, in combination with the tools from the fishing kit or to create a sail (somehow don't ask me how). The chocolate can be bait for the fish. And the mirror I'd use as a signal for other ships (let's just hope the sun is shining). Right, what does that tell about me? And why is the rum always gone??

[kölscheklüngel]

Not so bad. What's about number 8. Ten litre can of petrol oil mixture? We have several boxes of matches. The water from the ocean is heavier then the petrol. We could make fire.

[Keswick]

And burn your own raft if the wind changes direction? Rather not - I prefer my behind untoasted .

[kölscheklüngel]

No, when we will see an other ship or perhaps a helicopter, then we could make fire. Only for a short time.

[Bäumchen]

It is an really interesting question .Mhhh I would choose,the two boxes of chocolate bars or the fishing kit (maybe I would choose others,but I am hungry at the moment )

[tiorthan]

Hm, how many other people are there and is it nautical miles or statute miles (the difference would be more than 200 km here)?

[Delfino]

I'd take the following items:

1. Shaving mirror
2. Twenty-litre can of water
3. Three square metres of opaque plastic
4. Five metres of nylon rope
5. Two boxes of chocolate bars
6. Fishing kit

Do you want to know why?

I can drink the water from the can and then use the plastic to collect water (either rain or morning dew) and refill the can.
The plastic can also be used as protection against wind, rain and hail or it can even be used as a sail.
The rope I can use as a replacement for a fishing rod, in combination with the tools from the fishing kit or to create a sail (somehow don't ask me how).
The chocolate can be bait for the fish.
And the mirror I'd use as a signal for other ships (let's just hope the sun is shining).

Right, what does that tell about me? And why is the rum always gone?

I agree, but depending on the size of either I might prefer the "One case of US Army rations" over the "Two boxes of chocolate bars".