Abby Sunderland - SoloRound

[Hud3]

With the rig down and still attached to the boat, drifting in 40+ foot seas, she's not exactly out of danger. The mast could punch holes in the side unless she can release it, a dangerous task in itself, especially singlehanded.

[TaoJones]

I believe the worst of the weather is past, now, so Abby may be able to go topside and cut away the rig. It will be another day and a half before the first vessel reaches her location, and who knows if they can even do more than just stand by until SaR arrive.

She's definitely still in danger until the rig is cut away, and being rescued by inexperienced personnel carries its own risks. If SaR gets there and the rescue is successful, her last act should be to open the seacocks before leaving the vessel, sending Wild Eyes to the bottom and eliminating a hazard to navigation.

TaoJones

[Mariness]

Total lack of experience with this situation may be showing here but:
Even if it is a dangerous procedure, won't she have to cut away the rigging at some point? I would think no one will get close enough to pull her off with all that dragging around in the water near the boat - wouldn't want to risk snagging a prop on something? So whether she does it now or waits until rescue is at hand, isn't that part pretty much required?

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Hud3

With the rig down and still attached to the boat, drifting in 40+ foot seas, she's not exactly out of danger. The mast could punch holes in the side unless she can release it, a dangerous task in itself, especially singlehanded.

You're right.

About a year ago, there was a guy....(KenSolo) that had a similar situation. I had the email address of the "shore crew" at that time. The minute that I saw the CG photo, I emailed the shore crew and they told Ken to cut-away the rig, which he did.

My bet is, Abby has cutters on board and cutting the rig away really isn't that big of a deal.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Mariness

Total lack of experience with this situation may be showing here but:
Even if it is a dangerous procedure, won't she have to cut away the rigging at some point? I would think no one will get close enough to pull her off with all that dragging around in the water near the boat - wouldn't want to risk snagging a prop on something? So whether she does it now or waits until rescue is at hand, isn't that part pretty much required?

The vessel would drift down-wind of the rig. Approaching the vessel in an inflatble will be risky but the rig wouldn't be a big factor. The big factor is trying to transfer a person from one boat to another without the person getting crushed.

She has a survival suite and a better plan may be to have her get in the 55 degree water (about the same temp as SoCal water in the winter) and pick her up out of the water with a float line. One would have to asses the situation at that time, in that spot. It's not something that can be judged from an armchair, in front of TV....

[GordMay]

My poor eyesight doesn't detect any rig entanglements.

Abby's Blog: Photo and Flyover Update

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by GordMay

My poor eyesight doesn't detect any rig entanglements.

The light blue behind her stern might be a sail under water ? Or maybe not.


-Sven

[Kanani]

If you click on the pic, it will enlarge. You can see the rig drifting aft of the vessel. I don't see any sign of life. She may have been down below talking on the radio when the pic was taken.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Kanani

If you click on the pic, it will enlarge. You can see the rig drifting aft of the vessel...

That I don't see it (& I don't), certainly doesn't mean it's not there.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by GordMay

That I don't see it (& I don't), certainly doesn't mean it's not there.

Good point......

[DeepFrz]

About the rig behind her boat. When I first saw it I thought it was probably acting as a drogue and keeping her stern to the waves. She may be better off leaving it alone.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

About the rig behind her boat. When I first saw it I thought it was probably acting as a drogue and keeping her stern to the waves. She may be better off leaving it alone.

NO WAY. If the weather turns to crap, the boat could be holed by the mast. Most sailors know that once the rig comes down, your choices are, pull it on-board (yuk....danger......don't do that Abby) or cut it loose.

Maybe Abby is thinking that the crew of the fishing boat can help rescue the mast....I don't know what her thinking is but I am confident that before the sh!t starts to hit the fan, she will cut it loose in a hurry.

I think that this is one sharp young lady with a lot of moxy......she has already taken down sails at sea and repaired them.........cutting the rig loose is much less rigorous than that but emotionally harder. Sorta like cutting off an arm.

[dpex]

Originally Posted by Kanani

NO WAY. If the weather turns to crap, the boat could be holed by the mast. Most sailors know that once the rig comes down, your choices are, pull it on-board (yuk....danger......don't do that Abby) or cut it loose.

Maybe Abby is thinking that the crew of the fishing boat can help rescue the mast....I don't know what her thinking is but I am confident that before the sh!t starts to hit the fan, she will cut it loose in a hurry.

I think that this is one sharp young lady with a lot of moxy......she has already taken down sails at sea and repaired them.........cutting the rig loose is much less rigorous than that but emotionally harder. Sorta like cutting off an arm.

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. Cut away the rig, toss out the drogue, batten down the hatches and simply wait it out. If Wild Eyes is water-tight then she'll be fine. Seriously pissed off, but alive and well.

[dpex]

Originally Posted by dpex

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. Cut away the rig, toss out the drogue, batten down the hatches and simply wait it out. If Wild Eyes is water-tight then she'll be fine. Seriously pissed off, but alive and well.

Further, the position given by CBS seems to place her about 2-to-400 miles from Amsterdam Island. The rescuers may be able to tow her in. At 6 knots the worst case would be a 48 hour tow.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by dpex

Further, the position given by CBS seems to place her about 2-to-400 miles from Amsterdam Island. The rescuers may be able to tow her in. At 6 knots the worst case would be a 48 hour tow.

That would be great news.

I see that you are from NZ. You guys are a lot more used to this stuff. Americans get all wheezy about it. Do you have a link to that report?