Sailor Lost; 406 EPIRB Activated 30nm N of Key West

[H34]

First and foremost - the search for Jay and the 40' trimaran 3/4 TIME continues on!

I sailed out of KW on my H34 to Boca Grande Channel then dodging miles of shallow shoaling, speed 3 knots, on course 007 into the gentle rolling sea. The sunset was splendid beauty. Wind speed was a gentle breeze from the N. Caught a Spanish mackerel but lost it in the final rinse cycle.

Arrived at 0400 to the recovery EPIRB location - where the fiberglass wooden trimaran "3/4 Time" very possibly impacted with Tower W (whiskey).

After conducting numerous analysis and various thoughts into the speed, time, distance, course, wind, weather conditions, speed overground conditions and on site observations - I have come to this firm 100% conclusion that Jay collide with the non lighted tower that has a very LOUD continuous fog horn. The EPIRB was located by the Coast Guard approximately 1.5 nautical miles SSW from the tower. Directly in correlation with the impact sinking theory.

According to the Coast Guard Rules of the Road - ALL vessels shall maintain a look out. At 0400, I'm 100% certain Jay was in a deep exhausted sleep and collided into the base of the tower. It is conceivable the mast rigging was snarled. I observed a rapped wire oddly hanging from the SSE quadrant of the base platform. I would estimate the base height to be approximately 40 feet.

In the pitch black dark with 3 to 4 foot waves the boat must of flooded and sank. In the sinking process went upside down preventing the massive debris field. Jay's VHF radio did not operate.

When arriving at the EPIRB recovery location (34 nm N of KW) it gave me a sense of eerie feeling. Cruising with the full Moon, I finally saw the bright light - - it was not the light from the tower. It was from a sailing vessel with anchoring and steaming lights on - destination Key West. He radioed me regarding my vessel did not appear on his radar scope. I affirmed to him I have radar reflectors. I then radioed back was here doing investigative analysis into a lost sailor. He sailed on.

Today I mailed a formal request to the Coast Guard base on the Freedom of Information Act, release of all information on 3/4 TIME.

Our next assertive effort is to organize an underwater search. This effort is going to require support from the SCUBA community. It is time for Mel Fisher to come to aid of a lost sailor. It is now time to respectfully request that the Conch Navy be activated!

I think the Cruisers Forum can be a great asset in the search recovery process. I think that the great state of ALASKA along with the world will help to find JAY and 3/4 TIME.

Any thoughts, suggestions, comments, donations are welcome.

In closing:
To those that have thanked us for our efforts. Perhaps we are ALL making our contribution for coming to the aid of lost mariners.

Bravo Zulu to You!

Very sincerely, thank you ALL for your efforts, support and helpful comments.