A 60' double masted vessel and they need to be airlifted with 30 knot winds and 15' seas? There must be more to the story... COAST GUARD ASSISTS SAILORS CAUGHT IN STORM PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Two sailors were airlifted from their double masted sailing vessel after it was beset by heavy weather 22 miles south east of Oregon Inlet, N.C., at approximately 10:15 p.m., last night. James Grundy, 52, and Valarie Baldinger, 42, requested to be removed from the 60-foot long, Our Luck, when the vessel started to run low on fuel and it's sails began to deteriorate in 15-foot seas and 30 knot winds. The two were hoisted off of their vessel by the crew of an HH-60 search and rescue helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and received treatment from local EMS personnel after the helicopter returned to the air station.
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Where and when?
Tom, Where was this reported? Was it LAST nite? With only two crew on a 60 footer, if things got out of hand, I'm sure it went to hell in a handbasket quickly. No engine, no sails, 60 foot boat. I'm not surprised they asked for a rescue. Should probably have reefed, or hove to when it got messy. There was another boat aground in Sandbridge this week.Single handed, inexperienced skipper. Got too close in to shore and got blown up on a sand bar. Larry Wilson Richmond,Va.
Tom, Where was this reported? Was it LAST nite? With only two crew on a 60 footer, if things got out of hand, I'm sure it went to hell in a handbasket quickly. No engine, no sails, 60 foot boat. I'm not surprised they asked for a rescue. Should probably have reefed, or hove to when it got messy. There was another boat aground in Sandbridge this week.Single handed, inexperienced skipper. Got too close in to shore and got blown up on a sand bar. Larry Wilson Richmond,Va.
Easy to imagine
So picture yourself going 55 feet up to the forestay to try and deal with (just a guess)a jammed roller furler in 15 foot seas in the dark, with an inexperienced crew at the helm. Probably both of you are scared and maybe seasick or getting that way, maybe you don't have good foulies in which case you are soaked and freezing in about 30 seconds, and for some reason, you forgot to top up your tanks and figure you can't motor 23 miles to the nearest port, even if you had the charts, which probably you don't because you didn't figure on needing them. Classic set of circumstances you read in all the good seamanship books and hope never to experience yourself.
So picture yourself going 55 feet up to the forestay to try and deal with (just a guess)a jammed roller furler in 15 foot seas in the dark, with an inexperienced crew at the helm. Probably both of you are scared and maybe seasick or getting that way, maybe you don't have good foulies in which case you are soaked and freezing in about 30 seconds, and for some reason, you forgot to top up your tanks and figure you can't motor 23 miles to the nearest port, even if you had the charts, which probably you don't because you didn't figure on needing them. Classic set of circumstances you read in all the good seamanship books and hope never to experience yourself.
David, your guess could be true
but I'd suggest that anyone who'd double-hand a 60'er with inexperienced crew offshore with no foulies, charts, fuel or the sense to drop a sail by releasing a halyard rather than going up the mast to screw around with the furler is pretty much a Darwin candidate. God bless the CG but since we weren't there let's just hope the situation wasn't as absurd as all that.
but I'd suggest that anyone who'd double-hand a 60'er with inexperienced crew offshore with no foulies, charts, fuel or the sense to drop a sail by releasing a halyard rather than going up the mast to screw around with the furler is pretty much a Darwin candidate. God bless the CG but since we weren't there let's just hope the situation wasn't as absurd as all that.
Journalists
aren't writing stories so that others can learn. Most have no working knowledge of boats and/or sailing. Just another story to grind out. We shouldn't expect much.
aren't writing stories so that others can learn. Most have no working knowledge of boats and/or sailing. Just another story to grind out. We shouldn't expect much.
Judge not lest...
...Or is it throw the first belay-pin? Now, now mates, we don't have all the facts, and mayhap it was serious, med problem or the like (like he was off his meds?). Sure, at first glance, 30kts is good sailing weather, and 15ft seas are not too bad (if more than six sec), but it is the seas, traffic, rocks, and fog that can inteneify the danger. The coasties commonly rescue yachts in trouble at Pt. Sur here on our coast, and I don't know anyone who has had trouble there, but it is common.Lotta times it is inexperience and they could have made it in on their own. I like having an engine to motor-sail (not a purist anymore), but if you lose the engine?Gosh darn it IS in fact a sailboat, and shouldn't call someone to risk their neck until it is absoulutely necessary. It's been necessary for me once, another time a fisherman called the coast guard when I was dismasted with no engine power either. Too many folks DEPEND on goos weather reports, and are not prepared for a 'worst case scenerio' when putting to sea. Too damn many gadgets too that folks 'think' is going to get the job done for them. Tony, good luck to you and crew, your going to have a great time, and what a feeling when you arrive, like climbing a Himalayan peak!
...Or is it throw the first belay-pin? Now, now mates, we don't have all the facts, and mayhap it was serious, med problem or the like (like he was off his meds?). Sure, at first glance, 30kts is good sailing weather, and 15ft seas are not too bad (if more than six sec), but it is the seas, traffic, rocks, and fog that can inteneify the danger. The coasties commonly rescue yachts in trouble at Pt. Sur here on our coast, and I don't know anyone who has had trouble there, but it is common.Lotta times it is inexperience and they could have made it in on their own. I like having an engine to motor-sail (not a purist anymore), but if you lose the engine?Gosh darn it IS in fact a sailboat, and shouldn't call someone to risk their neck until it is absoulutely necessary. It's been necessary for me once, another time a fisherman called the coast guard when I was dismasted with no engine power either. Too many folks DEPEND on goos weather reports, and are not prepared for a 'worst case scenerio' when putting to sea. Too damn many gadgets too that folks 'think' is going to get the job done for them. Tony, good luck to you and crew, your going to have a great time, and what a feeling when you arrive, like climbing a Himalayan peak!
Thanks Ron
We are all looking fiorward to the experience. At least out here in the oil patch, I have some internet time to keep in touch with the real world. AllI'm waiting on now for the trip is a HAM radio antenna. Just gonna get a moblie whip type. They work great on boats .
We are all looking fiorward to the experience. At least out here in the oil patch, I have some internet time to keep in touch with the real world. AllI'm waiting on now for the trip is a HAM radio antenna. Just gonna get a moblie whip type. They work great on boats .
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