Did anyone else see

[sailaway78]

On Good Morning America this morning the guy who lost his boat crossing the Atlantic, somewhere east of Bermuda best I could figure out. Seems he had made the trip over earlier this year and was making the return. According to him, first the boom broke, which he jury rigged with a spinnaker pole. How many booms have you ever heard of breaking. Then the jury rig broke. Then the engine "exploded", leaving the boat full of smoke. Because the engine exploded, he then was unable to keep up with the water coming into the boat. He took to the life raft, and was rescued by a passing freighter, which saw his flare. He did say he had a handheld VHF, but apparently no one responded to calls on it. He also stated that boats deteriorate with use, as if it would be expected for things to break and/or fall off. No mention what so ever of an SSB, Ham or EPIRB. The interview was conducted by someone obviously lacking in any boat knowledge, but even so, the information given out was lacking in clarity. Not much real information given. Have to wonder if this guy is incredibly unlucky or somewhat on the dumb side.

 

[sailaway78]

On Good Morning America this morning the guy who lost his boat crossing the Atlantic, somewhere east of Bermuda best I could figure out. Seems he had made the trip over earlier this year and was making the return. According to him, first the boom broke, which he jury rigged with a spinnaker pole. How many booms have you ever heard of breaking. Then the jury rig broke. Then the engine "exploded", leaving the boat full of smoke. Because the engine exploded, he then was unable to keep up with the water coming into the boat. He took to the life raft, and was rescued by a passing freighter, which saw his flare. He did say he had a handheld VHF, but apparently no one responded to calls on it. He also stated that boats deteriorate with use, as if it would be expected for things to break and/or fall off. No mention what so ever of an SSB, Ham or EPIRB. The interview was conducted by someone obviously lacking in any boat knowledge, but even so, the information given out was lacking in clarity. Not much real information given. Have to wonder if this guy is incredibly unlucky or somewhat on the dumb side.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Saw It on the Today show this morning

Just like you said Nice N Easy. DUH!Jim

 

[Jim Seamans]

Saw It on the Today show this morning

Just like you said Nice N Easy. DUH!Jim

 

[Mike B]

Story line link

Here's the link to his story. No comments on what type of boat he had or it's age or condition. A friend of mine's brother was going to sail around the world on a 20 something sailboat. It was in such sad shape at the onset of the trip that he gave it up after the first storm he hit. No way would that boat have made it around the world. It wasn't the size, it was it's condition. At least the guy in the story was rescued and that's a good thing.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22573279/

 

[Mike B]

Story line link

Here's the link to his story. No comments on what type of boat he had or it's age or condition. A friend of mine's brother was going to sail around the world on a 20 something sailboat. It was in such sad shape at the onset of the trip that he gave it up after the first storm he hit. No way would that boat have made it around the world. It wasn't the size, it was it's condition. At least the guy in the story was rescued and that's a good thing.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22573279/

 

[Jim]

Hold on, how many times have

you guys cross the Atlantic? This guy was alone. You have to have all the facts.How strong was his rig? How strong was the wind?What did he do right?What did he do wrong?It is easy to mess up out there. It not like sailing around your bay.Don't get me wrong, there must be some mistake made but you can judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.

 

[Jim]

Hold on, how many times have

you guys cross the Atlantic? This guy was alone. You have to have all the facts.How strong was his rig? How strong was the wind?What did he do right?What did he do wrong?It is easy to mess up out there. It not like sailing around your bay.Don't get me wrong, there must be some mistake made but you can judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.

 

[sailaway78]

A mile in his shoes

I can't say I have walked a mile in his shoes. I can say that I have sailed more than three or four miles in blue water. In the Alantic and in the Gulf. And I have been in some pretty snotty weather a time or two. I know that there is no way I would even consider crossing the Atlantic without some means of long range communication, Ham/SSB, an EPIRB, or more than likely both. While the saying that s*&t happens may be true, it happens a lot less if your prepared.

 

[sailaway78]

A mile in his shoes

I can't say I have walked a mile in his shoes. I can say that I have sailed more than three or four miles in blue water. In the Alantic and in the Gulf. And I have been in some pretty snotty weather a time or two. I know that there is no way I would even consider crossing the Atlantic without some means of long range communication, Ham/SSB, an EPIRB, or more than likely both. While the saying that s*&t happens may be true, it happens a lot less if your prepared.

 

[sailaway78]

Listen again

Listen again, to this and you will hear this guy say that he got off a mayday call, but no on apparently hear his hand held radio. Can't figure that out, hell he's only out in the middle of the Atlantic.

 

[sailaway78]

Listen again

Listen again, to this and you will hear this guy say that he got off a mayday call, but no on apparently hear his hand held radio. Can't figure that out, hell he's only out in the middle of the Atlantic.

 

[CharlieCobra]

I've found handhelds to be useless past 10 miles

or so, even closer on bad days.

 

[CharlieCobra]

I've found handhelds to be useless past 10 miles

or so, even closer on bad days.

 

[Paul Akers]

Ten miles is good for a H/H VHF

Don't expect too much range from a H/H VHF. It's not designed for longer distances such as a desk model VHF. It doesn't have the power or the antenna range as a desk model. But, it is a good backup for one.

 

[Paul Akers]

Ten miles is good for a H/H VHF

Don't expect too much range from a H/H VHF. It's not designed for longer distances such as a desk model VHF. It doesn't have the power or the antenna range as a desk model. But, it is a good backup for one.

 

[RichH]

Its EASY to break a boom

Ocean passages are usually with the wind somewhere on the stern and the boom is usually held fast outboard with some sort of preventer, the preventer protecting the boom from an accidental gybe which can injure/kill you or go across with such force that it will break the mast or rigging when the boom hits the other side etc. If the main/boom (with a wind-loaded mainsail) goes underwater when the boat is way over on her side and held fast outboard by a preventer ..... bends or breaks the boom faster than you can say "O shi?". In a storm at sea especially when two or more storms merge or a center of a storm 'passes close by' you, the waves can come from 'many' directions all at once, sometimes due to wave mechanics/dynamics a few all coming together under your boat causing a 'rouge wave', etc. ..... surprise!!!! Storm conditions at sea often require a storm trysail instead of a boomed mainsail, the trysail is flown without a boom so not to get a boomed-out mainsail 'caught' by a wave. Many times the present conditions require that mainsail be flown (instead of jib only) so that the boat can be quickly reached off to the side and out of the way of an oncoming large 'breaking wave' instead of not being able to quickly react as when flying a jib or a storm jib alone. Open ocean sailing when the conditions are rough is a VERY different kind of sailing than when inshore; wave formation and direction can change in an instant or can have waves coming at you from many different directions all at the same time, rogue & breaking waves can do real damage ..... especially when the boat is rolling to the extreme and if the boom is being firmly held outboard (properly and for safety) by a preventer or a boom brake, etc. .... and then there is the pitch-black night when you simply cannot see large and breaking waves come up behind you until its too late. ;-)

 

[RichH]

Its EASY to break a boom

Ocean passages are usually with the wind somewhere on the stern and the boom is usually held fast outboard with some sort of preventer, the preventer protecting the boom from an accidental gybe which can injure/kill you or go across with such force that it will break the mast or rigging when the boom hits the other side etc. If the main/boom (with a wind-loaded mainsail) goes underwater when the boat is way over on her side and held fast outboard by a preventer ..... bends or breaks the boom faster than you can say "O shi?". In a storm at sea especially when two or more storms merge or a center of a storm 'passes close by' you, the waves can come from 'many' directions all at once, sometimes due to wave mechanics/dynamics a few all coming together under your boat causing a 'rouge wave', etc. ..... surprise!!!! Storm conditions at sea often require a storm trysail instead of a boomed mainsail, the trysail is flown without a boom so not to get a boomed-out mainsail 'caught' by a wave. Many times the present conditions require that mainsail be flown (instead of jib only) so that the boat can be quickly reached off to the side and out of the way of an oncoming large 'breaking wave' instead of not being able to quickly react as when flying a jib or a storm jib alone. Open ocean sailing when the conditions are rough is a VERY different kind of sailing than when inshore; wave formation and direction can change in an instant or can have waves coming at you from many different directions all at the same time, rogue & breaking waves can do real damage ..... especially when the boat is rolling to the extreme and if the boom is being firmly held outboard (properly and for safety) by a preventer or a boom brake, etc. .... and then there is the pitch-black night when you simply cannot see large and breaking waves come up behind you until its too late. ;-)

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Paul and Charlie are right

No where else will you easily notice radio wave proagation as you will with a hand held VHF. Some days it will easily reach 15 miles, and others it will only reach 3 or 4 miles.A hand held VHF should be considered an emergency radio only. If you never venture more than 10 miles from land, chances are your cell phone will still work.The least expensive mounted VHF ($100) will out perform the best hand held. With a hand held VHF you can radio for help ....after you already see another vessel. I need new radios....the mounted type (Already have 2 Hand-helds). Im going to put a cheap $100 radio below and a good waterproof radio ($150) in the cockpit. Each will have its own antenna. The small wire whip types with the coil on the bottom work great. One on top of my mast and one mounted on the stern handrail.If you can only afford 1 radio, get a waterproof one for outside and if you want, you can run a cable to it so it can be moved inside also. They make an antenna switch which I dont think is very expensive. IMHOTony B

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Paul and Charlie are right

No where else will you easily notice radio wave proagation as you will with a hand held VHF. Some days it will easily reach 15 miles, and others it will only reach 3 or 4 miles.A hand held VHF should be considered an emergency radio only. If you never venture more than 10 miles from land, chances are your cell phone will still work.The least expensive mounted VHF ($100) will out perform the best hand held. With a hand held VHF you can radio for help ....after you already see another vessel. I need new radios....the mounted type (Already have 2 Hand-helds). Im going to put a cheap $100 radio below and a good waterproof radio ($150) in the cockpit. Each will have its own antenna. The small wire whip types with the coil on the bottom work great. One on top of my mast and one mounted on the stern handrail.If you can only afford 1 radio, get a waterproof one for outside and if you want, you can run a cable to it so it can be moved inside also. They make an antenna switch which I dont think is very expensive. IMHOTony B