Next message: (no name): "Re: [world-cruising] Lost 4 world-cruisers"
http://www.turnto10.com/news/9381365/detail.html
Ok .. so we loose another one ?
It is distressing to hear these stories.
I don't post here often, but whenever one of these stories comes to life, It is a good opportunity to try to figure out what went wrong.
I will be a bit opinionated her, but here is my short take.
The skipper seems to have been somewat of a troubled guy. he declared bankrupcy twice, was barred from practicing law, so I guess he decided to sail around the world.
It is unknown how much experience he had, but I don't think much. Perhaps the third guy was the one who had some experience. Otherwise, it was a crew of novices attempting this voyage.
They say that he spent 3 months preparing the boat. It does not seem to be a very extensive refit to me.
The EPIRB that they found was not registered.
There are just too many tell-tale signs pointing to a gong-ho group who did somehow underestimate the dangers of this type of a trip.
Granted, once they were in 90 - 100 knot winds and 30 ft waves, it did not matter much how much preparation they had and how sturdy the boat is. At that point it is sheer luck if a boat would survive. Can you imagine lying flat on the ocean almost continiously within 30 ft waves.
They probably pitchpoled and sank.
I am surprized that they did not find a liferaft. However, even deploying a life raft under those condistions is nearly impossible.
This, of course, begs the question. Why did they leave when Alberto was approaching ? All the other factors are irrelevant. The overwhelming big mistake, lack of seamanship, and the one that will kill you is to leave on the wake of a impending storm.
It is very typical that the storm track blows off Nova Scotia. Since they were 200 miles off on thurstay, they must have left on Wednesday, just areound when Alberto turned around and was comign at them.
It was a stupid mistake !
I feel for all the lost sailors. But most of all, I feel for that poor 21 year old girl, Molly Finn, and the guy's 19 year old son. They had no choice but follow the decision of the father, and did not have enough experience to say .. "No I am not going"
There is still a very very slight chance that they may show up in a liferaft, but ....it would be a miracle
All one can do is hope that people learn from other's mistakes, so that we can make world-cruising a safe and enjoyable pastime
Ahmet
www.sailnomad.com
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