The Sea is a Harsh Mistress

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by accomplice

Sad news indeed.

How cold is the water there now? Is it common to call off a search so soon?

Please forgive my ignorance, but as a mono-hull sailor I do not understand the "about to capsize" -- unless they were swamped, how would they know that capsize was imminent, and yet not be able to prevent it?

It's a structural failure.

I don't want to start any multi versus mono discussion, but 50% of mayday calls in the English channel seem to be from capsized or structurally failed multihulls, although they are not popular here and make up at most 1% of the fleet.

The water is around 20 degrees so there will be a certain amount of survival time. God help them; pray that they will be found. Maybe they can last until morning. I am haunted by that mayday call -- the skipper exceedingly calm and methodical. Now in the water somewhere . . .

[MarkJ]

Terrible story in a place which one thinks is so close to everything.

[s/v Beth]

Wow, it gives you pause. I hear over the VHF at least twice a year. Mayday, Mayday, .... we are holed and sinking. But they always seem to find them and get them off before they are treading water.
I thought multihulls were always spost to float, even if they break up?? What gives?

[Dsanduril]

Not much, but what there is at the moment, I guess the morning may bring more news:

Isle of Wight: Island lifeboats join Channel search

[nigel1]

Bit more of an update
MAJOR CHANNEL SEARCH OPERATION UNDERWAY - Island Echo - 24hr news, 7 days a week across the Isle of Wight

[FlyingCloud1937]

UPDATE TUESDAY: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have this morning confirmed that a man has been successfully rescued after being spotted on top of his dismasted and battered trimaran around 18 nautical miles south of Portland. It was initially thought the wreckage had been spotted earlier on in the search, however it was later confirmed that the yacht and any crew were still missing at sea.
Search and Rescue teams were stood down in the very early hours, with the Island’s lifeboats returning to station by around 03:00.
Amazingly, shortly before 04:00 this morning – nearly 12 hours after the mayday call was heard – HMS St Albans spotted the trimaran and one crew member before alerting HM Coastguard, resulting in Weymouth All Weather Lifeboat launching to the area.
Despite the conditions, the lone sailor has survived the ordeal and is recovering in hospital.

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937

UPDATE TUESDAY: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have this morning confirmed that a man has been successfully rescued after being spotted on top of his dismasted and battered trimaran around 18 nautical miles south of Portland. It was initially thought the wreckage had been spotted earlier on in the search, however it was later confirmed that the yacht and any crew were still missing at sea.
Search and Rescue teams were stood down in the very early hours, with the Island’s lifeboats returning to station by around 03:00.
Amazingly, shortly before 04:00 this morning – nearly 12 hours after the mayday call was heard – HMS St Albans spotted the trimaran and one crew member before alerting HM Coastguard, resulting in Weymouth All Weather Lifeboat launching to the area.
Despite the conditions, the lone sailor has survived the ordeal and is recovering in hospital.

[Dockhead]

RESCUED!!!!!!!

BRAVO!!!!!

Man Rescued from Troubled Trimaran - Isle of Wight News On Air and On-line

What extraordinary great news!!!

What a hairy night that guy must have been through.

[IdoraKeeper]

Dockhead, it's a commendable display of humanity that the rescue saved one. A real shame if others were lost. I should hope to be so composed if my boat was coming to pieces.

[Wotname]

Excellent news!

Does anyone know if there are any crew still missing?

[Sos]

One of the reports said there was only one crew aboard so a good outcome. The weather was grim yesterday morning. It must have been tough.

[boatman61]

Fingers crossed the only loss is the boat..

[carstenb]

My wife and I were just talking about this the other evening. This is the first season where we haven't heard a mayday on the VHF. Usually we hear one or two

And we sail a lot. Halfway across the Baltic and all around Denmark and sweden.

Very happy to hear, they found him and even more happy that it wasn't me.

Makes a case for having a personal EPRIB on your PFD doesn't it*

[monte]

Good outcome, lucky guy! Sure does make a good case for plb, AIS sart or at least a handheld VHF...some flares...survival suit...the guy could have had them all for under a boat buck..

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by carstenb

My wife and I were just talking about this the other evening. This is the first season where we haven't heard a mayday on the VHF. Usually we hear one or two

And we sail a lot. Halfway across the Baltic and all around Denmark and sweden.

Very happy to hear, they found him and even more happy that it wasn't me.

Makes a case for having a personal EPRIB on your PFD doesn't it*

Absolutely. I have a PLB lanyarded in my life vest. This whole story would have been relatively trivial if this guy had had one. Even a handheld DSC radio would have gotten him rescued - they were searching for him for hours.