Problems on a Race from China to SF Bay

[John A]

I just received a notice from Latitude38's lectronic latitude. Containor ships are being diverted and possible para-rescue tems will be flown out.
Below is an small part of the report and the address of additional info.


If you thought conditions were blustery on San Francisco Bay today, be glad you weren't several hundred miles offshore where 60-knot gusts hammered the back end of the Clipper Round the World Race fleet. According to race organizers Clipper Ventures, four crew aboard the vessel Geraldton Western Australia were injured earlier today when violent winds and seas hit a portion of the 10-boat fleet, roughly 400 miles from the Golden Gate. Since early this month, the fleet of identical sisterships has been racing from Qingdao, China, to San Francisco, a distance of nearly 6,000 miles.


Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

[Doodles]

What another taxpayer financed rescue? Popcorn is ready!

[John A]

Good grief Doodles, why pay them to train for a rescue? And what's the difference, in expense, between training and a rescue?
Oh, I get it, no more government in our lives. Right?

[foolishsailor]

Ah for gods sake lads,

Considering all those fellas pay to "race" around the world wouldn't it be fair they got a free ride in on a lovely coast guard helo complete with a lovely ice cold Pinot grigio?

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by John A

Good grief Doodles, why pay them to train for a rescue? And what's the difference, in expense, between training and a rescue?
Oh, I get it, no more government in our lives. Right?

Sorry, I guess I wasn't facetious enough with the popcorn reference. I was anticipating a lot of criticism about the use of the Coasties for the rescue which I fully support. I have no problems with using government services for any rescues included 16 years olds from the Southern Ocean. Like you John I think its excellent training and doesn't cost the millions often argued.

[YADO]

The boat was disabled because the wave tore the wheel and helm off, according to an interview.
A lot of sailors will hook their tether to the binnacle. I did too until someone pointed out that some of the binnacles on older boats aren't that well secured.

Now this is something that haunts my mind: The story of a husband and wife sailing in the Pacific, she heard her husband scream and she came up to see him wash overboard with the wheel in his hand. A wave took him and the helm overboard.

The lesson is, I think, to NOT count on the helm to keep you attached to the boat.
The question is: Can a wave rip off the helm if no one is holding on to it? I have my doubts but maybe it can happen.

[John A]

Depends.
I've heard of EVERTHING being ripped off the topsides of a boat.

One of the delightful things in life is that anything can happen.

[casual]

I,am sure that the majority of distressed people on boats are or were at one time MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS to the Tax base.In all likely hood small users of the Goverment programs available.

[bobconnie]

Ive seen 100 ft Halibut boats with the Wheel house and half the bow railings gone !! and that was in the summer time LOL in the Gulf of alaska !! so ANYTHING can be torn off a sound boat by the right seas and conditions!! The west coast of the US is famous for wreaking boats!! To bad these sailors had a problem, but when ya go to sea to race ya gotta take what comes ! Us cruisers could have changed course and gotten away from the storm but these guys were RACING !! I guess that makes a difference?? Being me,"a confirmed scaried cat" Thats what I would have done, but then Im always gonna chose the safest way possible, and I don't race Im to Lazy to race! ya have to change sails and stuff like that !! Wow thats way to much effort for me LOL But all kidding aside, racers are different folks from cruisers and I guess thats a good thing !as they said in the 60s different strokes and such !!