Another Crew Loses their Sailboat

[svmariane]

We interrupt your regular reading for breaking news...

... Another crew loses their sailboat.

Two nights ago, a young Austrian couple originally sailing their vessel on an across the Pacific ocean cruise were delivered to Pago Pago by an American Samoa-based long-liner fishing boat. They were picked up in the vicinity of Rose Atoll, which is some 130 nautical miles east-southeast of Pago Pago. Reports state the young man claimed their sailboat had "problems with the rudder". The young woman reportedly said nothing to the press. Both youngsters, who seemed to be in their late 20s, had no apparent injuries and appeared to be in good health..

Further details are unavailable at this time.

Anyone with excessive time on their hands and hi-speed internet is asked to, perhaps, do a little digging - maybe starting with the Pacific Puddle Jumpers crowd? - and relay what they find. I can't locate the couple on-island and by a few casual comments made believe the couple have already flown out of here. For reasons yet unknown a wall of silence blocks further inquiries.

Should no further news come about then just chalk this up in the "Boats Lost 2013" column.

We now return you to your regular reading....

[Teknav]

Were they too, trying to reach Kiribati for eternal salvation?

Mauritz
Where did I put my halo?

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by svmariane

We interrupt your regular reading for breaking news...

... Another crew loses their sailboat.

Two nights ago, a young Austrian couple originally sailing their vessel on an across the Pacific ocean cruise were delivered to Pago Pago by an American Samoa-based long-liner fishing boat. They were picked up in the vicinity of Rose Atoll, which is some 130 nautical miles east-southeast of Pago Pago. Reports state the young man claimed their sailboat had "problems with the rudder". The young woman reportedly said nothing to the press. Both youngsters, who seemed to be in their late 20s, had no apparent injuries and appeared to be in good health..

Further details are unavailable at this time.

Anyone with excessive time on their hands and hi-speed internet is asked to, perhaps, do a little digging - maybe starting with the Pacific Puddle Jumpers crowd? - and relay what they find. I can't locate the couple on-island and by a few casual comments made believe the couple have already flown out of here. For reasons yet unknown a wall of silence blocks further inquiries.

Should no further news come about then just chalk this up in the "Boats Lost 2013" column.

We now return you to your regular reading....

Austrian or Australian?

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

Austrian or Australian?

With utmost respect, I ask that you please look at my logo and my home port. I would not make the typo error betwixt Austria and Australia.

So: they are from Austria.
That other place - the one without the kangaroos...

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

Austrian or Australian?

Austrian, the one with snow capped mountains. Yacht Gobo.

Austrian couple rescued from yacht - National - NZ Herald News

[boatman61]

And another dream bites the dust... bet the boats salvaged in the next coupla days... anyone here still in Pago Pago... met a some members who'd been there a coupla years...

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

Austrian or Australian?

Must be Austrian. No Australian woman could: "reportedly said nothing to the press".

[deepblueln]

Has this been a bad year for boats, or is this many losses normal?

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by deepblueln

Has this been a bad year for boats, or is this many losses normal?

I think the amount of people who consider crossing an ocean to be as risky as a round of golf (and requires as much planning and skill) has increased dramatically.

It sounds overly salty but it really is true: the ocean doesn't suffer fools, at least for very long.

[kentobin]

Pacific.scoop.co.nz » Couple rescued from Austrian yacht

Couple rescued from Austrian yacht
10:28 August 7, 2013 0 comments
Press Release – Maritime New Zealand

An Austrian couple have been rescued from their 12.8m (42ft) yacht Gobo, 220 nautical miles (407km) east of American Samoa, after encountering difficulties for the second time in a week.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said the skipper of the yacht made a distress call at around 11pm last night, indicating they were prepared to abandon ship.

A Cook Island fishing boat, FV Taimana, was close by and the couple were successfully transferred at around 9am this morning.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Mike Roberts said the skipper reported ongoing problems with the yacht, including steering difficulties.

Last week, on 31 July, the skipper made a distress call by satellite phone to maritime rescue authorities in Germany, reporting a leak, damage to rigging supporting the mast, and an overheating engine.

The German authorities contacted RCCNZ, which arranged for the 55m (179ft) Canadian sail training ship (barque) Picton Castle to rendezvous and assist with repairs, including work on the shrouds supporting the mast, the water pump, and installing an auxiliary bilge pump.

“After those repairs, the skipper’s intention was to continue the voyage, but obviously conditions have since deteriorated,” Mr Roberts said.

“This was a serious situation in a largely empty area of ocean, and to successfully transfer the pair to the safety of the FV Taimana was a good result.”

The couple are expected to be delivered to Pago Pago in American Samoa in the next two days.

The yacht remains afloat at present and mariners will be advised of its position.

ENDS

[kentobin]

http://www.sail-world.com/Cruising/s...=0&tickerCID=0

Buyer Beware. It was a 1988 Jeanneau Sun Legende 41, and they had bought it - with a survey** - in July in Tahiti. However, trying to cross the Pacific, an Austrian couple had so much trouble with their boat that they finally had to abandon it. The shrouds were giving way, the water pump had packed it in, the engine was overheating, the bilge pump was not active and they even had steering difficulties.

Finally the couple, identified as Irene Humer and Christian Ecrhardt - a practicing physicist before the voyage - were rescued from their 12.8m (42ft) yacht Gobo, 220 nautical miles east of American Samoa.

[Jimbo485]

We met them in Bora Bora last year. Nice couple, I helped them with a few things. But it was a little case of "Sheldon Cooper goes sailing."

[David_Old_Jersey]

I am guessing they discovered why the PO stopped in Tahiti.......

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I think the amount of people who consider crossing an ocean to be as risky as a round of golf (and requires as much planning and skill) has increased dramatically.

It sounds overly salty but it really is true: the ocean doesn't suffer fools, at least for very long.

The huge statistical blip has been the large number of classic and tall ships lost. Yes some inexperienced people have lost their boats in the last 12 months but the losses with all hands have been, as far as I am aware, mostly of experienced skippers, including Lady Domina.


Mark

[rs8684]

@ jim; please explain the "Sheldon Cooper" reference....