USCG rescue 2 off Key west

[avb3]

**MULTIMEDIA RELEASE** 2 men rescued from storm by Coast Guard in Gulf of Mexico

There have been a number of severe weather systems that have gone through the Florida area. Last night I spent half the night concerned about tornado warnings. Thankfully, we were safe, but about an hour south of me two people got killed when the tornado hit at 4 in the morning.

I would strongly suspect that the sailors were caught up by that same system of storms. Just take a look at the high resolution picture in the Coast Guard news release.

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[Boatguy30]

Wonder what the nature of distress was. Looked good in pics.

[donradcliffe]

"Upon establishing communication with the sailing vessel Ondego's crew, it was determined the vessel's sails had torn, and the hull had cracked and was taking on water and drifting with two men aboard."

"01 January 2016
ready to cross the Gulf
January1st just flew into Houston Texas to meet my brother on his sailboat ONDEGO a 31 foot Bombay sloop waiting on our weather window to sail across the Gulf of Mexico to Key West Florida looks like January 4th or 5th will be our window am looking at a 8 to 10 day sail ⛵ keep watch on our trip up dates later Captain Skunk"

" I bought a sailboat and named it "Ondego" after sail boats that my father had. We sail together when I was young and he died when he was 50. Now am 55 and my journey starts between December 29th and January 12th. (Awaiting for a Northern to blow and catch the back side) I'll be sailing from Galveston to the keys out to the Caribbean and beyond. "

The last quote is dated Nov 3, 2015, so it looks like it was his first trip with the boat.

[motion30]

Dam. it's not like they didn't know the storm was coming. I saw a couple boats leaving the Anchorage, I am in the Keys yesterday morning, I was thinking those boats had about 8 Hours to get secured again

[Dulcesuenos]

We clocked 48 knots in Tavernier with the front, sustained winds were in the 30s all night prior, not a fun tine to be offshore

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[FSMike]

Originally Posted by motion30

Dam. it's not like they didn't know the storm was coming. I saw a couple boats leaving the Anchorage, I am in the Keys yesterday morning, I was thinking those boats had about 8 Hours to get secured again

They were apparently in transit across the Gulf of Mexico from Houston, Tx. That being the case, they may have not had enough time to find shelter once they became aware of the weather forecast. The GOM can be a big space.
You can be pretty sure that forecast did not exist when they left Houston.

[Davy J]

We had beautiful sailing weather Saturday. But we were fully aware that the forecast was for the front to come in at about 2am.

At 3am, the local news stations were all running live reports tracking multiple tornados coming ashore in Sarasota. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be out in those conditions. Glad they survived.

[motion30]

Originally Posted by FSMike

They were apparently in transit across the Gulf of Mexico from Houston, Tx. That being the case, they may have not had enough time to find shelter once they became aware of the weather forecast. The GOM can be a big space.
You can be pretty sure that forecast did not exist when they left Houston.

Well it sucks they lost their boat

[motion30]

[Q UO. TE=Dulcesuenos;2019406]We clocked 48 knots in Tavernier with the front, sustained winds were in the 30s all night prior, not a fun tine to be offshore

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I am just a little south of you at mm 85. I did not know the wind got To 48k but I do know my anchor chain Has not touch the seabed in 2 days

[zeehag]

gawd those fronts can be horrific. btdt, but .... we ran from an extreme front the day the well blew, 2010. the front killed many and spawned tornadoes on land in mississippi... was a sucky experience, yielded our shipwreck in st josephs bay. the boat we were in was larger, but i am not so sure it was exactly sturdy.
what an adventure they went thru in a bombay... damn.
please be are that severe fronts pack winds to 70+ mph, and extreme fronts start at 80 kt winds.
these el nino spawned fronts you are receiving are heavy, and damaging. be safe and aware.

i can hear em yelling back at the vhf about the "mariners seek immediate shelter" message they i know received at 0200. when we received those we yelled back loudly, as the stress grows with each sea....gom can get really bad really fast.

i bet they got some gooood stories now... glad they lived thru it.

[Sdwcheney]

This is why I carry a Para Tech Sea Anchor.

[rognvald]

Av,
One of my friends in a 38' Searay made it into Naples before the height of the storm hit. He said they clocked 80 knots at the marina.

[scuba0_1]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Av,
One of my friends in a 38' Searay made it into Naples before the height of the storm hit. He said they clocked 80 knots at the marina.

Our marina in Naples showed some over 100.
It was a crazy storm.

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[ozdigennaro]

I'll tell you: I want those guys coming after me if I need it. Fantastic team!

[avb3]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Av,
One of my friends in a 38' Searay made it into Naples before the height of the storm hit. He said they clocked 80 knots at the marina.

It was nasty here, but 80 knots on the marina, unless well protected, could cause some anxious moments if the boats aren't tied up properly

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