US Navy Rescues SV Malia off Hawaii 12 days after Mayday

[jmschmidt]

Before the CG made flares mandatory back in the 70's they were dirt cheap. The 12 ga. ones are nothing more, and quite a bit less to make, than a 12 ga. shotgun shell. I can by shotguns for 50 cents a piece. As soon it became required the prices on all signally devices skyrocketed. When they make EPIRBs, AISs and the like mandatory they will cost thousands.

[ka4wja]

Okay, I read the news stories and the postings here on this rescue...and like everyone else, I'm glad he okay....but...

Peter's words here are much more informative than the "news" stories...

Originally Posted by roverhi

He was in Honokohau Harbor, Kona, HI over last winter working on the boat. He had little money so was doing everything on the cheap.

I have no idea how little funds he was making do with, and he may even been close to homeless and destitute, but I suspect that he had some money (or assets worth as little as $150), which could've been spent on a VHF-DSC radio.....


I quick press of the DSC Distress button (on any VHF radio sold in the past decade and a half!) would have gotten his position and pertinent vessel details through to the USCG, all other vessels (pleasure boats and commercial ships) in the area, as well as most probably the US Navy...(of course this assumes he'd have gotten an MMSI# and either inputted his position info into the radio, or had it connected to a GPS)

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

An EPIRB or PLB or GPS coordinates radioed in with the MAYDAY call could have solved the mystery of "where is he" in minutes, rather than 12 days.

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I hope the dopey old idiott buys a bloody EPIRB. Or his family tattoo one to his butt.

Originally Posted by crazyoldboatguy

Maybe he can sell his story and spend some money on decent communications equipment.....like a satellite phone.

So, while it's nice to recommend EPIRB's, sat phones , etc....
For clarification for those that may not be fully aware....he was within VHF Radio range of the USCG (and a plethora of other vessels) when he first called Mayday, but had not given his position in the Voice Mayday (why we don't know)....so, if he'd actually had a VHF-DSC Radio and had actually used the DSC-Distress button, he'd been found in short order....

Now, if he was really going to go forward with his plans to head to Costa Rica, then an EPIRB would be recommended....



{Probably doesn't apply to this fellow, who appears to have close to destitute, but for most sailors (even those on VERY tight budgets) it boggles my mind that many will have a smart phone / tablet / laptop.....and a 20+ year old (non-DSC) VHF Radio...and some will also have a 15-25 year old (non-DSC) SSB Radio....and think nothing at all wrong with those, yet change/upgrade their smart phone / tablet / laptop every year or two.... Just seems odd to me.....}



Fair winds to all...

John
s/v Annie Laurie

[crazyoldboatguy]

It appears he may well have been within radio range for much of the time he was "missing". If he was within 3 miles of a naval vessel when he made the last call, he would have had visual contact, I would think.

Let's also remember, his first distress calls were about his taking on water. There he was, many days later and apparently still afloat. That's one slow leak.

Frankly, I hope little more is publicized about this person because I fear it will get rule makers to requiring certain stuff on boats. This is the cost we pay for our liberty - having to underwrite the cost of these searches,

[snort]

The forestay is flopping around in the video I saw. The mast is in one piece (don't know what happened to the other mast on the 25-footer) and the boom is intact.
I'm really not sure why he couldn't have gotten himself back to port on his own. Maybe we'll know later.

[crazyoldboatguy]

The boat is described in one place as a cutter. The mast is set amidships so it ain't likely a schooner. You can easily sail a ketch if you lose the mizzen and that ain't the forestay, it's the jib halyard. I don't see a rig surviving the loss of the forestay - besides, if you did, tie that puppy down and jury rig the rig.

Curious.

[snort]

If that was the jib halyard, then even more reason for him being able to sail it back.

[Boatguy30]

I could be wrong, but I believe Hawaii hs had n epirb requirement of some sort for quite a few yers now.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

The Navy vessel that found him was just 3 miles from his position when he made his last radio MAYDAY call that brought him to the attention of the rescue authorities.

This made me think that the security surveillance around Hawaii is a bit lacking

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

I could be wrong, but I believe Hawaii hs had n epirb requirement of some sort for quite a few yers now.

EPIRB or VHF. EPIRB is not required but advised.

His position put him downwind of his destination. He was first reported south of Hawaii and ended up south of Oahu so he was not making any ground to windward to his destination.

If it was a Bayfield 25 masthead sloop with a long keel he could have been out there for a very long time before getting to port with normal northeast tradewinds.

It is good that he's safe but he did seem a bit shy of being prepared.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Yeah there is a lot wrong with that report, from the video the mast looks fine, don't know about the other one though
Again from the video boat doesn't look like one that has been shredded from a storm or anything, wonder what really happened?

How long do you think before EPIRBS become mandatory like flares and life vests?

EPIRBS are mandatory in many juristrictions now. Sooner the better.

[sanibel sailor]

Originally Posted by downunder

EPIRBS are mandatory in many juristrictions now. Sooner the better.

To make it easier for others to rescue the destitute, ill prepared who plunge themselves into trouble? I prefer less rules and more naturtal selection.

Just reading between the lines but- destitute, divorced, estranged from family, living on a boat, then lost at sea after exercising poor judgement... think he might drink a bit?

[Valmika]

For 99 dollars he can get a spot messenger and his son can pay the 99 dollar a year subscription if he is worried. That way he can find him anytime.

[Red Sky]

Saw him on the news last night saying something about losing his VHF antenna and then jamming a piece of coat hanger wire into the coaxial connection to be able to get off the second distress call.

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

This made me think that the security surveillance around Hawaii is a bit lacking

I had the same thought here. Ignored? or a glimmer of hope that I can "use the fantail" without surveillance. With that thought, not having a fantail, I think I will go "really upset" my back porch, in a snowstorm!

Woodsy. For a reason unknown.

[clownfishsydney]

Just saw the NBC news and it said he lost both masts. He also said he was going for a drink now, I cannot say I blame him for this.