Rescue? I must be missing something

[IH82BL8]

Coast Guard rescues 3 mariners east of Pamlico Sound

The Coast Guard rescued three mariners Tuesday morning.

www.wtkr.com

They were sailing off Hatteras when they lost both sails and their engine. They activated their EPIRB and the Coast Guard rescued them. How was this an emergency? Shouldn't they have called a tow boat instead? FWIW the weather history site I used recorded wind of 15mph that day in that area.

 

[Siamese]

Many unanswered questions here. Lost their sails? Main, jib? Ya gotta wonder.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Yeah. Not dismasted.. "lost both sails"
Strange. Would love more info.


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[leo310]

reminds me of a MAYDAY I heard a few years ago. A sailboat was heading for the rock as the motor stop running, CG ask them to drop the anchor which they replied the water is to deep, then the CG ask what type of boat they said it a sailboat. The CG ask if they could sail. he then said I can't as my wife said the winds are too high (10-15kt).

 

[jssailem]

Like a diligent husband, he always follows the directions of his wife even though it may mean the end for both of them...

If the CG doesn't get there in time.

 

[Will Gilmore]

How was this an emergency? Shouldn't they have called a tow boat instead?

I can appreciate that 35 miles East of Pamlico Sound is in the Gulf Stream and beyond cell service and VHF contact to shore. It's great that there were multiple methods of emergency communication and a filed sail plan with an emergency contact. A sailor who takes the time and pays attention to those details should have extra sail and a repair kit aboard. Plenty of sewing options, wire, extra sails, shackles and rope, as well as tools and parts to repair the most common engine problems. With 15 knot winds and no storms approaching, wouldn't there be plenty of time to jury rig a working sail?

I guess I'm being critical. I don't want to be. The circumstances appear to have warranted a call to the CG and we don't know more details. I like to think, however, that I would have been successful at self-rescue under such conditions. On the other hand, if they had waited to call when their situation was much more dire, it might have been too late. I'm happy to read that they were all fine.

-Will

 

[shemandr]

That particular area is not friendly to slow moving vessels. We don't know if they were headed North, South or laterally, but progress South against the Gulf Stream can be difficult or impossible for slow moving vessels. This time of year storms can develop there and can be quite violent. The crew was in more danger than is obvious.
A call to USCG is warranted. At least a schedule of radio contact. Maybe a rescue. I'd guess USCG at Elizabeth City was bored. They took the crew off in mild conditions. Maybe a training exercise? And good publicity.

 

[Leeward Rail]

I'd did a quick scan of the CG twitter feed for at least some photos but didn't see it listed.

 

[dlochner]

TowBoatUS and I believe SeaTow have a 25 mile limit for going off shore.

Once in the Gulf Stream any wind with a north component will increase the seas to unusual heights and the waves will become square. Friday we motored against a 3 knot wind in the GS and ran into 3-5 foot seas, that were residual from a blow more than 24 hours before.

Wind against current will produce higher seas any where. At the center of the GS the current is running at 3+ knots. We saw 3.1 knots Friday afternoon.

It would be instructive to learn how they lost their sails and why the engine wouldn’t start. A likely cause of the engine failure was dirty fuel and a fouled filter. Getting tossed about can stir up all the crud in the tank.

As I write this on Sunday AM the current at 35 nm east of Cape Hatteras is running at 4 knots. Closer to shore ther is less current and more shoals, perhaps more dangerous waters.

 

[Leeward Rail]

It would be instructive to learn how they lost their sails and why the engine wouldn’t start

Yup.

Was the report incorrect and they lost their mast ?

Details make these events valuable as learning tools.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I read the published coast guard write up and it said the crew was airlifted off the boat. It did not say what they did with the boat. It sounded like they left it, but I'm sure that is not true. What is the SOP? Would they allow the owner a chance to call for a tow, or would they send a CG boat or to get it, or would they scuttled it?

-Will

 

[dlochner]

I read the published coast guard write up and it said the crew was airlifted off the boat. It did not say what they did with the boat. It sounded like they left it, but I'm sure that is not true. What is the SOP? Would they allow the owner a chance to call for a tow, or would they send a CG boat or to get it, or would they scuttled it?

-Will

As far as I know, it is left to drift. Sometimes insurance companies will hire a salvage company to find it and tow back.

 

[shemandr]

When the Sail magazine guy was rescued from the brand new cat a few years ago I think they just left the boat. Maybe they thought it would be salvaged. If memory serves me it washed up on some island in the North Atlantic. I don't know SOP. But I'll speculate the USCG doesn't want to be in the salvage business. If the salvagers don't think the boat is worth the effort or expense I guess it drifts. The remaining question I have is the hazard to navigation issue. My guess is that Big Steel Things aren't very threatened by Small Fiberglass Things so it's not considered a priority.

 

[dlochner]

The bottom line, the boat rescued had no business being where they were when they were. It was a 27 foot boat sailing well offshore in adverse conditions which were predictable.

Here's the forecast from Chris Parker from March 28 (relevant section highlighted):

RIDGE builds across N FL and GA Today, which settles winds S of NC. Wind remains L&V Today off SC & GA coast whereas winds stay elevated off NE NC before increasing significantly late this evening as another FRONT moves S off NC Tonight. There are narrow boundaries between areas with different wind speeds due to FRONT stalling along the SE US coast most of Tue29.

Full forecast for March 28, the day before the incident is attached.

 

[Leeward Rail]

When the Sail magazine guy was rescued from the brand new cat a few years ago I think they just left the boat.

I didn't see that story. I did a quick search online and didn't find it mentioned ?

Edit: found it...https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/154436-first-alpha-42-abandoned-on-maiden-voyage/

 

[Parsons]

I read the published coast guard write up and it said the crew was airlifted off the boat. It did not say what they did with the boat. It sounded like they left it, but I'm sure that is not true. What is the SOP? Would they allow the owner a chance to call for a tow, or would they send a CG boat or to get it, or would they scuttled it?

Will, where do you find the USCG reports - link? I've searched for some of these, and all I ever find is short write-ups by junior 'police blotter' reporters at local TV stations or newspapers, which are often lacking or just wrong.

As far as vessel recovery, I think that over a decade ago USCG changed policies to rescue people and abandon equipment in almost all circumstances, and refer many more cases to commercial towing (BoatUS or SeaTow). Obviously, they would probably pull you off the rocks if that was the best way to save you, but they'd do that just to stabilize and rescue, not to save your boat.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Will, where do you find the USCG reports - link? I've searched for some of these, and all I ever find is short write-ups by junior 'police blotter' reporters at local TV stations or newspapers, which are often lacking or just wrong.

This is the site I was referring to. I thought it was a .gov, but it's not. It does appear to be their official news release.
Coast Guard rescues 3 mariners east of Pamlico Sound | Coast Guard News

I would be surprised if the CG just left an unmanned vessel adrift as a navigation hazard. I would think that they would either see that it was towed in, by themselves or by a private tow service, or they would scuttle the boat.

-Will