Sailing Vessel 'Quantum Leap'

[SkiprJohn]

Owner has plans to move boat - Mauinews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Visitor's Information - The Maui News is the latest news. She was abandoned about 700 miles from here and set adrift with her main still up. If you do a search the Hawaii Tribune-Herald has a couple articles to fill in the story from the hired Captain's point of view.

[rgscpat]

Sounds like the owner's issues, if any, are primarily with the delivery crew and not with the Coasties. And I wonder if he's completely clear on the owner and captain's responsibilities. It would be good to hear an update on the skipper's side of the story.

[TaoJones]

Related thread: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...sea-70987.html

[rgscpat]

So, reading from the other thread, delivery captain Philip Johnson was seriously injured during rough weather.

According to Cruise Ship Law ( : quantum leap : Cruise Law News ) the boat had mechanical problems throughout much of the journey.
"After the sailboat left California, it began experiencing problems with its generators and batteries, which compromised power to the sailboat's satellite phone and GPS. "

( Rescue at sea | StAugustine.com Rescue at sea | StAugustine.com ) was an account by passenger witnesses. "The sailboat encountered rough swells and a rogue wave that knocked out its power and injured the captain. "

Not saying that this is at all the case here, and knowing that a boat can be perfectly sound when it leaves the harbor and then develop issues, but:

Out of curiosity, how often do delivery captains take command of a vessel for which they have concerns about its safety and ability to complete a passage? And, if a delivery crew is injured while on a vessel whose equipment proves deficient in some way, how likely is the owner to have some liability for what happens?

[SkiprJohn]

It appears you've read some more of the links other than the initial that I provided. From the local paper Hawaii Tribune-Herald and an interview with the hired Captain it sounded like his first sail from the coast to the Big Island. Definitely not an experienced Captain and it didn't mention if he'd had a Captain's license. It also sounded like the owner was going to make more repairs when the boat got to the islands so the mechanicals certainly could have been in poor shape when they set sail.
The tragedy is the boat and I hope it will recover. I hope too that Mr. Johnson recovers from his injuries. I also hope there was some sort of insurance that will help.
kind regards,

[SkiprJohn]

Man recounts rescue at sea | Hawaii Tribune Herald

is another bit of the story.