Rescue off New Jersey coast on Friday evening

[Scott T-Bird]

Coast Guard rescues 2 from overturned sailboat at Little Egg Inlet

Two mariners were saved by the Coast Guard after their sailboat ran aground near Little Egg Inlet.

www.app.com

This occurred Friday evening at the beginning of a huge weather system that is bringing 45 knot gusts along the coast. Nobody watching the weather predictions would be out at this time, I think. High wind is expected through Tuesday and finally settling down on Wednesday. The wind probably wasn't strong in the morning when they set out. Looking forward to the entire story to find out why they were at this location at the wrong time. If they were attempting Little Egg Inlet, it is treacherous in a storm. From Little Egg to Absecon (Atlantic City) the shoals go very far out. I approach Absecon from at least 3 miles offshore before turning in perpendicular to the shoreline toward the inlet opening.

 

[jviss]

My view is that when things get shi*tty it's better to head offshore, to deep water, than to try to get into port.

 

[FastOlson]

Glad to see the successful rescue. I do wish the "media" would stop characterizing grounded sailboats as "overturned". We had a recent similar story out here where the TV talking head kept referring to a grounded boat as "capsized"....
Sheesh....

 

[arf145]

Glad they were rescued. But I do have to wonder what they were doing out there. That storm was well predicted for quite a few days.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Watch: After getting hit by a ‘rogue wave,’ crew of sailing vessel gets rescued by Coast Guard

www.msn.com

Another rescue in this storm that has brewed offshore for the past 5 days. Article says they were heading to Connecticut from Bermuda. This storm was so distinctly defined and locked in one location for 5 days (as predicted). It's hard to imagine why this crew didn't simply sit south of it until it is over (still locked in the same position, but finally diminishing). It seems that with patience, they could have avoided this.

 

[Davidasailor26]

That system has kept it silly windy even as far west as the Chesapeake for days. Must be a pretty severe case of get-there-itis motivating them to try to make that passage.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I've been watching this system on Windyty since Friday, the day after I put my boat in her slip. I began to wonder "why did I do that?". But I didn't know anything about it until my dock neighbor told me I "better tie up real good" as they were tying their boat up. We're protected from waves off the bay pretty well, but the gusts have been in the 40's at our slips since Friday evening. It's finally settling down a bit just now. Nobody has called me so I haven't made the 2-hour trip down to the boat to check on her.

Windy has shown a very distinct line of demarcation this whole time, and it seems like the line coincides with the gulf stream. To the north and west it has been a gale since Friday. To the south and east, it has been virtually becalmed. These folks sailing from Bermuda had to have sailed into the system knowingly. I can imagine that they were almost becalmed or motoring until they reached the system. Still, they got to within 80 miles of Montauk. I can't imagine that they got caught in the wrong place. I think they had to have sailed right into it. It will be interesting to hear more. Article says all four men were injured by the mast coming down.

 

[dlochner]

Given their starting position, Bermuda, their course, mostly N, and the lack of good weather information once off shore, the crew may simply be unaware of how big and persistent this store would be come.

With a rescue on Sunday, they likely left 4 to 5 days earlier, perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday. While they may have been aware of the developing low and its projected path SW they may have simply assumed they could skirt around the NE corner and sail into Li Sound.

The storm seems to have gotten worse than initially predicted and it certainly has not moved as fast as expected in the early forecasts.

In retrospect, our decision to leave the Abacos last Monday was a good one. It is looking like the next weather window for a west bound passage won't happen until this weekend.

 

[NYSail]

I've been watching this system on Windyty since Friday, the day after I put my boat in her slip. I began to wonder "why did I do that?". But I didn't know anything about it until my dock neighbor told me I "better tie up real good" as they were tying their boat up. We're protected from waves off the bay pretty well, but the gusts have been in the 40's at our slips since Friday evening. It's finally settling down a bit just now. Nobody has called me so I haven't made the 2-hour trip down to the boat to check on her.

Windy has shown a very distinct line of demarcation this whole time, and it seems like the line coincides with the gulf stream. To the north and west it has been a gale since Friday. To the south and east, it has been virtually becalmed. These folks sailing from Bermuda had to have sailed into the system knowingly. I can imagine that they were almost becalmed or motoring until they reached the system. Still, they got to within 80 miles of Montauk. I can't imagine that they got caught in the wrong place. I think they had to have sailed right into it. It will be interesting to hear more. Article says all four men were injured by the mast coming down.

The owner is from our harbor/sailing club in Mount Sinai. A 40 foot C & C that has been completely refit over the past 4 years…… will be interesting to hear the story…… the storm has looked nasty for days!

Greg

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Given their starting position, Bermuda, their course, mostly N, and the lack of good weather information once off shore, the crew may simply be unaware of how big and persistent this store would be come.

With a rescue on Sunday, they likely left 4 to 5 days earlier, perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday. While they may have been aware of the developing low and its projected path SW they may have simply assumed they could skirt around the NE corner and sail into Li Sound.

The storm seems to have gotten worse than initially predicted and it certainly has not moved as fast as expected in the early forecasts.

In retrospect, our decision to leave the Abacos last Monday was a good one. It is looking like the next weather window for a west bound passage won't happen until this weekend.

I'd agree that could have been their plan when they started, but by Friday afternoon when I first checked on the progress of the storm, the forecast showed the storm not really moving until Wednesday (today). At that time, the projection for Sunday showed the worst weather. With today's technology, wouldn't they have updated weather projections while on their way?

 

[dlochner]

I'd agree that could have been their plan when they started, but by Friday afternoon when I first checked on the progress of the storm, the forecast showed the storm not really moving until Wednesday (today). At that time, the projection for Sunday showed the worst weather. With today's technology, wouldn't they have updated weather projections while on their way?

If they had satellite communications like Iridium, however, it is expensive. Otherwise there is the USCG hi seas broadcast on shortwave radio. Reception is not very good on the portable units and fixed base ones are not inexpensive.

It will be interesting to hear the story.