Family of three rescued off the coast of St Marteen.

[neilpride]

The St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation rescued three people from a sinking sailing vessel on Wednesday morning.
At approximately 11:00am, Sea Rescue received a distress call from the vessel Gem stating that the boat was taking on water and sinking. The voluntary crew of the Sea Rescue vessel Rescue 01 quickly responded to the call and proceeded to the last known location of the Gem, armed with a pump.
By the time Sea Rescue arrived, the Gem had already drifted about one mile out of its reported location. It became immediately clear that the 50 foot sailing vessel was taking on a lot of water and indeed sinking.
Water intake was at such a high volume, it was determined that deploying the pump would not help. Instead, the decision was made to remove the three persons from the sailing vessel.
After the French family of three was safely on board Rescue 01, a quick tow was started to see if it would be possible to tow the vessel to shallow water to be retrieved later. However, after some 15 minutes, it became obvious that the vessel was going to sink and the tow was terminated. The Gem sunk about five minutes later.
The on-scene coastguard and Rescue 01 proceeded to the Simpson Bay Coastguard Station where the three persons were later taken onshore and assisted with finding accommodations for the night.
According to the family, the Gem was their home and they were on their way to crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Azores. Sea Rescue explained that the family left Marigot earlier and probably hit something in the water, which caused the vessel to take on water and start sinking.
Retrieval of the vessel is not likely since it sank in very deep waters.

[DennisM]

Thankfully, they're all safe. Regrettably, a beautiful boat was lost.

[boatman61]

Bumma... glad they got back close enough for a dry rescue...
Heartbreaking to lose your home tho'... known some its happened to in the Med
Be interesting to hear what happened... is that an OVNI...

[MarkJ]

This is not the Australian Beneteau 50 Gem. Both Gems were Beneteau 50's
They were both anchored together in St Martin earlier this year, but the Aussie one has headed up the east coast of the USA for summer.

So sad for the French Gem, beautiful boat, nice people!


Mark

[Teknav]

Did they hit a submerged container? So sorry for the loss of their boat!

Mauritz

[Paul L]

Mark, what make of boat was Gem?

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Did they hit a submerged container? So sorry for the loss of their boat!

Mauritz

No idea, i guess they hit something , because such a fast flooding can be only in a collision , rudder lost or trhu hull fitings or prop stufing box dont sink a boat so fast, i dont know, just speculation...

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Mark, what make of boat was Gem?

Read the first line of mark's post.

[Khagan1227]

That really sucks, hopefully they are well insured.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Read the first line of mark's post.

I got thrown by Not the Australian. A Bene 50. It'll be inetersting to hear what took it out.

[marc2012]

Oh Lord here we go again? Sorry about the boat,glad all ok.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by neilpride

No idea, i guess they hit something , because such a fast flooding can be only in a collision , rudder lost or trhu hull fitings or prop stufing box dont sink a boat so fast, i dont know, just speculation...

Failed hose clamp is all it takes.

[SecondBase]

Reliance Controls THP205 Sump Pump Alarm and Flood Alert
by RELIANCE CONTROLS


I buy a couple more of these non-marinized devices every time I read one of these unfortunate stories -
$14 for instant alarm
$28 and you gain "fore or aft" indication

Seconds gained when seconds count. Assess the situation before leak site descends into 52 degree water.
Maybe a seacock can be closed in time. Or a collision mat slung. Or Or Or................

9 volt batteries don't rely on ships power.

I highly, highly recommend a FEW of them for every delivery Captain's bag.
I have no connection to the vendor but ADD them to your amazon shopping cart now. Get a few extra for friends.

[deluxe68]

Originally Posted by SecondBase

Reliance Controls THP205 Sump Pump Alarm and Flood Alert
by RELIANCE CONTROLS


I buy a couple more of these non-marinized devices every time I read one of these unfortunate stories -
$14 for instant alarm
$28 and you gain "fore or aft" indication

Seconds gained when seconds count. Assess the situation before leak site descends into 52 degree water.
Maybe a seacock can be closed in time. Or a collision mat slung. Or Or Or................

9 volt batteries don't rely on ships power.

I highly, highly recommend a FEW of them for every delivery Captain's bag.
I have no connection to the vendor but ADD them to your amazon shopping cart now. Get a few extra for friends.

That sounds like a good idea, cheap insurance.....glad everyone got off the boat safely.

[CrippleCreekers]

Very sobering reminder of the extremes in our passion. Unbridled joy; proximate to near disaster. Thank God the family is safe.Thanks for the news.