Nicholson 38 sunk on Baja Ha-Ha

[h20man]

Surprised that this has not been posted, or that search could not find it.


from:
https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic...on-baja-ha-ha/


Nicholson 38 Boat Bum Gal from Long Beach had sunk on the Baja Ha-Ha. Her track and final resting place entering Turtle Bay are shown below.





Lots of activity on facebook and other forums: https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/th...ha-leg.244369/

[boatman61]

Ahh.. the Copenhagen approach to coastal sailing.. this time in clement weather with no fatalities.

[Don C L]

It will be interesting to see what the further details are, but at first blush it looks like navigation by depth soundings, at night.

[sv_pelagia]

Navionics and Satellite

(chart doesn't really show rocks close to point... satellite does)


BUT: Makes no sense to go in any other way than in the centre.



(In 2013, we entered Turtle Bay in the dark with full moon, dead centre. No problem. Later, leaving in daylight, we saw many lobster floats....)

[Iron E]

First. Glad everyone is safe.

Second, I find blaming autopilot failure perplexing/concerning.

[wholybee]

I am acquainted with the captain that was on this boat. Never met in person. Certainly, fault lies with him. He does have thousands of days as a delivery captain, 500 ton master, etc. He is a professional and has insurance at least. After the payout it might end his career. What he is saying is that they were suffering numerous failures and problems with the rig. They were following the 30 ft. contour to stay out of higher winds and rougher water to prevent a more serous failure that would prevent them from making it all the way to Bandaras Bay. He also claims the autopilot turned on it's own. I do find that suspicious, but certainly it can happen. More likely crew on watch turned to stay on the 30 ft contour and is too scared to admit it. I also think following the 30 contour on a rocky coast will always run you into a rock. That is the underlying cause.

[Iron E]

Originally Posted by wholybee

I am acquainted with the captain that was on this boat. Never met in person. Certainly, fault lies with him. He does have thousands of days as a delivery captain, 500 ton master, etc. He is a professional and has insurance at least. After the payout it might end his career. What he is saying is that they were suffering numerous failures and problems with the rig. They were following the 30 ft. contour to stay out of higher winds and rougher water to prevent a more serous failure that would prevent them from making it all the way to Bandaras Bay. He also claims the autopilot turned on it's own. I do find that suspicious, but certainly it can happen. More likely crew on watch turned to stay on the 30 ft contour and is too scared to admit it. I also think following the 30 contour on a rocky coast will always run you into a rock. That is the underlying cause.

I may be reading it wrong, but it appears that Sandra was the Captain and went below for rest, McCormack took the helm and altered course, or as McCormack states, the autopilot altered course.

McCormack states that winds were offshore at 20, the electronics were glitchy, and the autopilot altered course... which begs the question: Why use autopilot with glitchy electronics and poor weather while hugging the shore?

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Iron E

I may be reading it wrong, but it appears that Sandra was the Captain and went below for rest, McCormack took the helm and altered course, or as McCormack states, the autopilot altered course.

McCormack states that winds were offshore at 20, the electronics were glitchy, and the autopilot altered course... which begs the question: Why use autopilot with glitchy electronics and poor weather while hugging the shore?

Does Sandra hold USCG credentials? McCormack is a 500ton Master. If Sandra is the owner and McCormack brought on to help, he is the Captain, unless Sandra also has the credentials. Plus, McCormack has insurance. So the boat insurance company is gong to go after him and make him responsible.

I'm still confused as to why follow the 30 ft line at all. That was the error, not whether or not autopilot was engaged. I've not heard whos' decision that was, but it would have been on McCormack to overrule that decision if it was not his.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by wholybee

I also think following the 30 contour on a rocky coast will always run you into a rock. That is the underlying cause.

Agreed.

[5BTM]

A waste of a good boat.

My guess is that there was no chart on board, no one took any bearings of the two lighthouses, probably didn't even have a sharp pencil.

At the most critical part of the trip the crew is below resting.

[Kettlewell]

It is the duty of the watch to check and maintain the course, glitchy autopilot or not. When dealing with a glitchy autopilot at night and near the coast I have deliberately altered course to head well away from any potential danger so that I know we can't hit anything.

[Bowdrie]

Numerous rig issues, glitchy electronics, perhaps autopilot issue?
And way too close-in.
Wonder if anybody read any of the cruising guides for that bay, making note of the specific recommendations for approach?
Before there were any "modern/new-fangled" electronics an old salt told me, "Don't you ever try to enter a strange harbor at night".
I still think that's a wise saying.
Very glad all are safe.

[Kettlewell]

Before there were any "modern/new-fangled" electronics an old salt told me, "Don't you ever try to enter a strange harbor at night".
I still think that's a wise saying.

Yes! And, I have met several sailors that lost their boats because they didn't heed this advice.

[JPA Cate]

"Don't you ever try to enter a strange harbor at night"

Good advice then, still the safest advice. I've spent lots of hours jogging around offshore, waiting for the sun to rise, before entering a port / harbor/ anchorage.

[h20man]

Stunning 'revelations' on https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/th...ha-leg.244369/


The person that was supposedly steering the boat had a rather horrible reputation....


Crazy things ......