sailor lost at sea for 66 days recovered

Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I do like to study these types of events to see if there is any trends in preparedness or perhaps poor thought process on the owners part of his or her or the boats ability...


This is a link to a thread the reported rescued sailor apparently started back in June of 2014 and I found reading through the posts, well, enlightening.. You can lead a horse to water.........;)

LiveaboardL Thread


Quoted from Cruisers Forum:
liveaboardL said:
What's the best way to arrange the sails?
Sometimes I had to put a lot of pressure on the rudder to keep the boat from drifting towards shore.

Sometimes I had the jib set so that it would stop the boat from putting too turning too hard towards either shore! That was golden.

Sometimes when I adjusted the jib, the boat wanted to turn more towards starboard, or port.

I'm still not sure how to detect exactly when an accidental jybe is going to take place. Those things are freaking scary! esp. w/ a wooden boom.

Sometimes, the only way I can go forward is w/ the engine, & then both sails are flapping wildly, but being single-handed, sometimes I just have to let them flap.

I still get turned around into a 360 sometimes too.

Learning to sail is fun, but, I got a lot to learn.
Click to expand
I think reading some of the posts made by the owner of Angel will lend an idea as to how this sort of thing could have happened:

Posts from Angels Reported Owner

This was another post which may reflect on his thought process towards respecting things such as electricity, the sea etc..

liveaboardL said:
How can you plug in a 30 amp extention cord into the marina's 50 amp outlet? They both have 3 prongs, so if I file one of the little side-legs off the 30 amp male plug, then it should fit in the 50 amp outlet, but which terminal goes in which hole? Anyone ever tried this?

Another thing to consider: If this is possible, before I try it, I need to make sure it's 110 volts.
But what about phase? What's the difference between the different phases available at marinas? Should I be concerned about phase?

I don't intend to operate anything more than 200 watts, so, I won't have a draw big enough to cause a fire.
Click to expand



I wonder if he ever did get those tires? Perhaps that was why he was still off Hatteras after two months and not in Iceland or Ireland...?

liveaboardL said:
If there's a hurricane & you're caught 3 miles out, and it's just starting, is it safer to turn around & sail to land & seek a hole, or to sail further out to sea?
How many miles can a hurricane move a sailboat under bare poles w/ no sea anchor & maybe a few tires for a drogue?

How far out from land is it considered to be safe, when in bad weather & you can't power or steer?
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And this was posted by the previous owner of Angel to the current owner:

Kevin84 said:
Lol. Yeah. That boat's condition is why I sold it. She's in dire need of a refit. Surveyors I had look at her when I owned her told me, emphatically I might add, to have the boat hauled and leave it on the hard until the work was done.
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This was a response to the current owner in one thread:

Kevin84 said:
I would not exactly call that boat "beamy." She's only 9'8". Kinda narrow for her length. Also, the main on that boat has only 2 reef points, not 3. Unless you've replaced it that is. That boat will handle a sea fairly well. Once she's refitted. I wouldn't take her out beyond the breakwater in her current condition. At the least get her hauled and a survey done before attempting to take her out of the harbor.
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Aptly warned yet chose to ignore the previous owners warnings....:eek:

Kevin84 said:
As far as I can tell, yes it is. It's not only his ability as a sailor though. Unless he had recently done a complete keel to masthead and stem to stern refit, Angel was in very poor condition. She had soft decks, numerous leaks, her rig was loose (you could not get the stays to tighten) and even had possible hull delamination. Sadly, I told Louis (assuming this is the same person) that Angel was in no condition for offshore use. Unfortunately some people learn things the hard way. Regardless, I'm very glad he's alive and will give him credit for having the balls to survive out there for as long ss he did.
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And folks sometimes get angry when they come here and ask "Can I buy a boat for 2K and do blue water?".......:D

I think the question now has a "case study" that answers a lot of those questions...;);)

Perhaps this is why the rig was lost....?? Yes the rotted bulkhead, where the chain plate mounts, was cut away to make room for a 120V outlet.....:doh:



I am glad the guy is alive and I hope he can use this as a learning experience moving forward.... He did ask the right questions but then apparently chose not to listen to the answers...???
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,240
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Nothing about this story makes any sense so far. Articles claim that he was found on the hull of his overturned boat. It was said that he suffered a broken collarbone when his boat capsized. He survived on pancakes and fish? How long can you survive on the hull with no ability to capture rainwater? How long can a full-keeled boat stay on the surface after it has capsized? Does he look like he suffered from lack of food and water? It says he waved his arms to attract attention ... without treatment for a fractured collarbone? Really????????? Does he look like he has a fractured collarbone getting off the chopper? Does it look like he was on the ocean for 2 months? His hair looks a little too neatly trimmed, don't it?

Something is really odd ... or maybe something divine happened?
 
DHaranSailor

DHaranSailor

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Oct 13, 2013
182
Wayfarer Mark I GRP Chicago
Scott T-Bird said:
Nothing about this story makes any sense so far. Articles claim that he was found on the hull of his overturned boat. It was said that he suffered a broken collarbone when his boat capsized. He survived on pancakes and fish? How long can you survive on the hull with no ability to capture rainwater? How long can a full-keeled boat stay on the surface after it has capsized? Does he look like he suffered from lack of food and water? It says he waved his arms to attract attention ... without treatment for a fractured collarbone? Really????????? Does he look like he has a fractured collarbone getting off the chopper? Does it look like he was on the ocean for 2 months? His hair looks a little too neatly trimmed, don't it?

Something is really odd ... or maybe something divine happened?
Click to expand
Article states he got rainwater at night, but not how. I agree with you on the injury piece. He is carrying a backpack on one holder (right) and doesn't seem to be in any kind of pain.

Question I would like to add is it mentions him bailing with one hand which to me makes no sense on a overturned hull. What was he bailing?

As for the time he survived on the hull - it does not say how long he was without a mast or how long it was overturned. Very well could of been only a few days or a week that he was on the overturned hull. I'd like to know if he lost his mast well before the boat went turtle.

And how long was he traveling up the coast before this all started? Cap Hatteras is over 200mi from where he left. Lot of opportunity to stop.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,240
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
That makes much more sense. Also, shelter and the ability to sustain with some provisions make his appearance much more explainable. I had a collarbone injury a long time ago. It may have been a mild fracture because it took years for the twinge to go away, but the injury never felt very severe after an initial day of pain. I suppose that could explain his mobility despite the description of "collarbone fracture".
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,048
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Scott T-Bird said:
That makes much more sense. Also, shelter and the ability to sustain with some provisions make his appearance much more explainable. I had a collarbone injury a long time ago. It may have been a mild fracture because it took years for the twinge to go away, but the injury never felt very severe after an initial day of pain. I suppose that could explain his mobility despite the description of "collarbone fracture".
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Docs don't do much of anything for a simple collarbone fracture, except a light immobilizing wrap of the upper arm to the torso, and a sling for below.

I never even saw a doctor for mine, 30+ years ago.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Some of Louis Jordan's threads on Cruisers Forum certainly lend a bit of insight... These posts were made by the rescued sailor, on another sailing forum.......


Preserve Fish Meat In Hot Climates

How Far Out To Sea Is Safe In A Hurricane?

Raise Battery Voltage For The Inverter?

Fire if improper electrical connection?


This one contains one of my favorite quotes:

Quoted From Cruisers Forum:
liveaboardL said:
I was rewiring my boat after smoking a little herb and now whenever I run my bilge pump, the bilge water empties into the cockpit while, at the same time, pushing some of the bilge water out of the boat like it should.

When the bilge pump is turned off, the water slowly drains from the cockpit back into the bilge.

Now get this, my other bilge pump sucks water from my cockpit and empties it into the bilge, but on only one side. I think the other side is clogged or something.

So while one bilge pump sucks, the other one blows. Damn I've been watching too much FAP.

Suggestions?
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Bilge Pump Emptying into the Cockpit

What's the Best Fishing Tackle & Stretegies for Cruising East Coast US?

30 amp ext cord to 50 amp outlet jerry-rig

Shocked from Touching A/C Distribution Panel

Chainplate's isn't mounted right. Is it still OK to sail?

Current, vs wind, vs boat direction?

Easy, free Fish & other food while living aboard

Drinking Rainwater with Tiny Bugs Swimming in It


Alberg 35: heave to, drying out, reefing...

Worst, Most Common Boating Mistakes Caused from Ignorance


This un-edited video interview is simply stunning and leaves me with more questions than answers.......

Video Interview:

Interview With Louis Jordan After Rescue


.
 
svPelican

svPelican

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Sep 3, 2012
31
Catalina 30 Tampa
Wow. "Interesting" guy. I wonder if he was the inspiration for "All Is Lost." Or maybe vice-versa... He must have taken lots of notes.
 
S

Steve L22188

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Apr 28, 2005
271
Oday 302 Lake Perry, KS
Something's not right....

Just was discussing this "Rescue at sea after 66 days" story at dinner with friends last night. We all agreed it was an amazing story at best and a confusing story on the face of it.

Now after reading the posts based on the detective work of Maine Sail....something's not right here.

Strange captain, asking strange questions, an old boat, gone 66 days, but in seemingly amazing shape after those 66 days....something's just not right here.
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Reminds me of some interesting characters we encountered while out cruising this past year.

There was the couple on a Catalina 27 with an OB motor in Yarmouth NS preparing to sail to St. Martin in August. It did not start very well as the boat had come loose at the dock. Luckily I found it and was retying it when the couple came down from the shoreside bar to help.

Or maybe the son of a famous circumnavigator who thought he could find his sunk OB on the great Bahama bank by following a GPS track and simply looking over the side of his boat.

One of the more colorful was the small sailboat we came across a few weeks ago tacking up the ICW trying to get to an inlet so he could sail to Charleston to get his auxiliary engine repaired. The boat had three tires out on each side as fenders. I towed him about 4 miles using scraps of line with the smallest being 3/8.

We had a powerboater here in Charleston yesterday who came into the fuel dock and decided he did not need to call the marina to help with lines. He docked the boat perfectly, jumped out with one line and helpless watched as the boat still in reverse was pulled out of his hands and started doing 360s in the marina until it ran into a brand new Azuree 46 being delivered to its new owner.


Glad this guy made it home safe.
 
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