Sailboat Sinks off Waikiki After Fire . . . No Deaths

[h20man]

Looks like a sailboat burnt and sank off Waikiki...
Thankfully no lives lost.

From Star Advertiser:
Two men who jumped off a burning sailboat in waters about half-mile to a mile off the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel this afternoon appear to have suffered only minor injuries.

The two were picked up by a commercial vessel and brought to Kewalo Boat Harbor. Officials had planned to bring the boat, the Keaoleleana, to Ala Wai Boat Harbor but it sank.

[SVMorningStar]

Ouch!

[h20man]

Some more picts:


and

[zeehag]

absolutely horrible. and horrifying. worst thing that can happen to you on the sea

[hummingway]

That must be so terrifying. At least they were close to shore and in warm water.

[Starbuck]

I'd love to read the interview w/ this crew and learn the details.

[sailcruiser]

That's an awful site to see. Very sad indeed.

[S/V Alchemy]

Somehow, the fact that they still had sail up made it worse.

[virginia boy]

How awful for them! I see the orange life raft but what's the blue thing in the water?

[h20man]

More picts and details from Star Advertiser:

Plumes of black smoke billowed from the 62-foot ketch Keaoleleana, which caught fire Thursday offshore of Waikiki, as the Honolulu Fire Department fireboat, Moku Ahi, battled the blaze.





Ronald Woodard Jr. and his father, Ronald C. Woodard, were rescued by a dive boat and taken to Kewalo Basin.

[h20man]

From an interview with the survivors they explained what happened:

"Fire, just boom, really quick," the father replied. "Within two minutes, we were totally engulfed."

The Woodards say the engine was in neutral while they were sailing.

From the time of the alarm, it took about half an hour to get the fire under control. Fire officials say the challenge was shooting enough water to extinguish the flames without sinking the fiberglass vessel.

But at about 3 PM, the "Keaoleleana" sank 800 feet.

"I don't know why or how it started," the elder Woodard said.

The Woodards say the custom-made sailboat was insured for $500,000, but was worth three times that.

[SVMorningStar]

No matter where you are watching from, land or water, a burning boat is a horrible sight. No wonder the "old time" sailors in wood ships feared fire so much!

[zeehag]

should fear fire more, now as our boats are accellerants.

[reed1v]

Very convenient to have the boat sink right in front of Waikiki Beach. Seems to be a popular spot for boats to sink. Can simply swim to shore or get picked up by surfers, other rec boats, etc. Safest place to have your ship self destruct, or over on the sand bar in Kaneohe Bay, another spot popular with boat fires.

[Sea Frog]

I am sure now that I will be installing a serious fire-extinguishing system aboard. I was sort of thinking, but now I am rather positive.