I have a few questions about this....
Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude
"As Uncontrollable Urge drifted down onto the lee shore of San Clemente Island, the crew attempted to set an
anchor, but it dragged. They contacted the Coast Guard for assistance, but it was too late. The
boat was swept into the pounding surf and broke apart. The
liferaft they deployed was destroyed in the surf, and all six sailors were thrown into the sea. "
1) I'd like to know the type of
anchor?
2) chain or type of
rope rode/ nylon or polyester?
3)
Liferaft brand/size/type
The reason I ask these questions is to better understand the limitations of the
gear. Even if I buy the most expenisve anchor, if it's not going to save the
boat in a situation like this it makes one wonder...
If the
rode was nylon it would have a tendancy to stretch more in the raging surf than a polyester one would. Chain would not stretch but it may not have given the anchor time to dig itself in distance wise?
The liferaft part baffles me....how does one 'fail' in shallow
water? waves pounding a liferaft should not destroy it's bouyancy unless they were in rocks or
coral and it got shredded before they even could board it.
if they were so close to shore why not just swim ashore/get pushed ashore by the large waves wearing pfds?
I ask these questions because I tend to coastal sail which makes the answers useful knowledge to me.