UK yacht Cheeki Rafiki missing in mid-Atlantic

[boatman61]

Cheeki Rafiki found and identified by a diver.. no response from inside..... fingers crossed for the/a raft..

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Cheeki Rafiki found and identified by a diver.. no response from inside..... fingers crossed for the/a raft..

Let's hope they keep searching past tonites deadline

Dave

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Cheeki Rafiki found and identified by a diver.. no response from inside..... fingers crossed for the/a raft..

That's actually real good news! I really hope the raft is missing that gives new hope that they will be found somewhere in the search area. Hope we get more details soon.

[weavis]

BOatie where did you get this info? I cant find it anywhere

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by weavis

BOatie where did you get this info? I cant find it anywhere

Beeb has it

[weavis]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Beeb has it

Bloody google. Did not pick it up and show it..

[tonywatson58]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Beeb has it

BBC News - US ship finds hull of missing yacht

[andbell]

How the (about to swear) does finding the hull not change anything for the USCG? (their words not mine) surely they have to enter and search for the life raft

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by andbell

How the (about to swear) does finding the hull not change anything for the USCG? (their words not mine) surely they have to enter and search for the life raft

They are it seems.

[tonywatson58]

Originally Posted by andbell

How the (about to swear) does finding the hull not change anything for the USCG? (their words not mine) surely they have to enter and search for the life raft

well at least they can now check if the liferaft is still on board...hopefully not...

[Zanshin]

I like the (ostensible) US Coast Guard quote from that BBC article:

They now expect to find the rest of the vessel soon, the spokesman added.

I wonder what that could be? The sunken keel? But it remains to be seen whether or not the liferaft remains aboard - I certainly hope it isn't aboard and that this is part of rest of the vessel that SAR will find soon.

[scuba0_1]

Wonder if they're going to try to tag it and lift it or sink it. They certainly can't leave it. Wonder how the keel ripped off

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[weavis]

Video on the page

BBC News - Missing yacht: Footage from scene amid debris report

[ka4wja]

Just some relevant info...

Originally Posted by mbianka

Some of the latest log entry from one of the crew of GERTA4. Who have to leave the search area but, seems other boats may be heading into it from the ARC rally:

"It was a rough night for Simon, who was apparently on his lay day. Due to the search-and-rescue operation at hand he’d spent most of his lay day making sure we arrived well into the search area, which we did. In all honesty, it was a rough night for all, with extremely inclement conditions and terrible visibility.
The weather in that area this afternoon and tonight (Friday 23 May 2014) is:
Seas 10' - 12'...Winds 25 kts (mostly S and SSW)
And while only slightly worse tomorrow, there is a Gale building to the west, and while this may pass north of the area, it will effect weather in this "search area"...


We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day for searching today, but sadly we were unable to see anything. Nothing came our way. It is with a great sadness that Gertha has to stand down from our part in the search. We have a broken propeller, which means we are unable to motor, and a limited supply of provisions. The decision has not been taken lightly, but under the circumstances, staying much longer might mean that further down the line we would require assistance ourselves, which is of no use to anyone.

This is an important point for EVERYONE here (and everyone sailing offshore), there is only so much another cruising boat can do in situations and weather conditions like these....(this is not a summer day's rescue in Biscayne By!!)





We had heard some radio chatter from both US and UK search and rescue teams, and we know too that other ARC vessels are bound for the search area. There is a large operation going on here, and we will very soon be replaced by more boats. That said, it is a sad and difficult decision to take and we are sorry that we never did see anything.
I will second any nomination for free food and drink for this crew (and alt the brave crews of these boats out there trying to help!)

And, as I wrote above....I hope everyone here reads this and understands this would be the same if another cruising vessel in a rally, etc. needed assistance from another boat...
At sea, offshore, in typical N. Atlantic weather....there isn't too much that another small boat can do...(yes, they can toss some jugs of water, dry-bags of other stores, etc. into the sea for you to pick up....or maybe even toss a throw-line to use as zip-line to pass supplies along...but not too much more...)
And, of course ALL of this requires good ship-to-ship radio communications via HF-SSB radio for ranges from zero miles out to 1000+ miles....as well as VHF-FM comms when within 20 miles....
Having this HF-SSB communications capability allows MULTIPLE vessels (and other stations) to get instant access to the live data / positions / requirements / assistance / etc....as well as others which have more capability to offer assistance, etc...
(please note, I'm NOT advocating anyone trying to run an ad hoc RCC out at sea...not at all....but if you are looking for some help from someone, it's best to have a lot of "someones" out there waiting, rather than just one (such as a rally organizer, etc..)


I'll say it again when you come across the crew of GERTA 4 they deserve a big thank you and a round of drinks for their efforts. The same for the crew of Maliasi!
Here we all seem to be in agreement!!!

BTW, the above referenced weather/sea conditions are why getting another cruiser to get into the water and make a very dangerous ingress into the up-turned hull looking for evidence of a liferaft, and/or human remains, is probably a BAD idea....
This is best left to the professionals to determine if it is safe to proceed...
(even swimming up to the semi-floating hull in these conditions is not something most ocean sailors should attempt...unless of course there is noise/evidence that there are human beings asking to be rescued!!)
I know we ALL wish we could help....and I know we ALL would want to do something...but, until you are out there, looking at the seas, etc. and wondering how you're going to safely get back on-board your own boat, etc. you're not likely to fully understand the risks involved here...
Undertaking this would be an "all-hands-on-deck" MOB-type endeavor....and this would be a very tiring and stressful event for all on-board, even if everything worked out perfectly....and if not, there could be some serious injury involved to the crew in the water, etc...

So please, if you are ever in a situation like this...THINK before you act...and then use caution!!!



Fair winds...

John
s/v Annie Laurie

[Astrid]

a little more:

Coast Guard Spots Capsized British Yacht off Massachusetts, But No Sign of Crew - NBC News