Atlantic 57 Catamaran Capsized

[Boatguy30]

Originally Posted by Cottontop

According to the story, a delivery trip. As I recall, the capsize of "Anna" in the Indian Ocean was also on a delivery trip.

It was the s Pacific near Niue. Owner and one crew aboard.

[Seaslug Caravan]

Originally Posted by smj

Since your from Australia you've never heard of the Great Lakes, bodies of water in the US that are quite large and known for nasty weather and seas. And that's where the CW 42 capsized.

Thank you smj for the geography lesson. Yes we are well versed in world geography here in Aus.

Not only did the A 42 Capsize on a lake, but it did it in a sheltered bay on the said LAKE.

This from our very own CF search engine.


Registered User


Join Date: May 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Boat: Liberty 458
Posts: 22
Catamaran Capsizes on Little Traverse Bay
by Cliff Biddick

Tuesday, October 19th was much like a lot of others in the fall in Northern Michigan. The East wind blew up Lake Charlevoix creating a sea that gently, but relentlessly, rocked the tug “Heather B” when my cell phone rang.
Jeff Pulaski, the Service Manager of our Harbor Springs yard was on the other end. “Are you in the middle of anything?” he asked. After 35 years in the boatyard business, I have come to expect the unexpected on a regular basis. “We have a customer who has capsized his 42’ Atlantic catamaran in the middle of Little Traverse Bay,” he said. The Coast Guard has taken him and his two friends to shore and they are fine, but the boat is drifting, pushed by the East wind out of the bay. Can you help him?

.........

Why the catamaran capsized remains a mystery. The owner and his two companions had been sailing several hours in 15 to 18 knots of wind. They were inside the cabin with the boat on autopilot. In what can only be considered a 'microburst', it went over in less time than it took the owner to shut off the autopilot. He and the crew simply 'walked' up the wall and onto the ceiling where they remained dry for an hour and a half until the rescue divers from the Emmet County dive team arrived. The owner actually called the Coast Guard using his cell phone as his masthead antenna was 70’ under water.
__________________

Once again, crew inside cabin nice and snug.


Hope you have a nice day

[Cottontop]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

It was the s Pacific near Niue. Owner and one crew aboard.

You're right, you're right. Oh dear, the memory's going. Thank goodness everything else is working just the same as years ago.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

Thank you smj for the geography lesson. Yes we are well versed in world geography here in Aus.

Not only did the A 42 Capsize on a lake, but it did it in a sheltered bay on the said LAKE.

This from our very own CF search engine.


Registered User


Join Date: May 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Boat: Liberty 458
Posts: 22
Catamaran Capsizes on Little Traverse Bay
by Cliff Biddick

Tuesday, October 19th was much like a lot of others in the fall in Northern Michigan. The East wind blew up Lake Charlevoix creating a sea that gently, but relentlessly, rocked the tug “Heather B” when my cell phone rang.
Jeff Pulaski, the Service Manager of our Harbor Springs yard was on the other end. “Are you in the middle of anything?” he asked. After 35 years in the boatyard business, I have come to expect the unexpected on a regular basis. “We have a customer who has capsized his 42’ Atlantic catamaran in the middle of Little Traverse Bay,” he said. The Coast Guard has taken him and his two friends to shore and they are fine, but the boat is drifting, pushed by the East wind out of the bay. Can you help him?

.........

Why the catamaran capsized remains a mystery. The owner and his two companions had been sailing several hours in 15 to 18 knots of wind. They were inside the cabin with the boat on autopilot. In what can only be considered a 'microburst', it went over in less time than it took the owner to shut off the autopilot. He and the crew simply 'walked' up the wall and onto the ceiling where they remained dry for an hour and a half until the rescue divers from the Emmet County dive team arrived. The owner actually called the Coast Guard using his cell phone as his masthead antenna was 70’ under water.
__________________

Once again, crew inside cabin nice and snug.


Hope you have a nice day

Here's a picture of Little Traverse Bay.
Appears to be a small part of Lake Michigan?

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

I wonder whether its another case of the "warm, comfy, enclosed wheel house
syndrome" where one is divorced from the elements and can't react quickly enough to a catamarans "achilles heel" , the sudden unexpected increase in wind strength. ?

This would be my guess also. I've never sailed a cat with a forward cockpit or one with twin exposed helms on the hulls. Many times the weather has been bad enough with my bulk head helm to wish for inside protection. It has to be X times worse for the exposed helms.

[Seaslug Caravan]

Originally Posted by smj

Here's a picture of Little Traverse Bay.Attachment 136504
Appears to be a small part of Lake Michigan?

Yes . Very good SMJ. It is part of Lake Michigan.

A SMALL and sheltered part as you point out.

Thank you for highlighting my point.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by smj

Here's a picture of Little Traverse Bay.Attachment 136504
Appears to be a small part of Lake Michigan?

Here we can see better and it answers your question:

[Seaslug Caravan]

Mr Polux, we are getting a little side tracked here.

You have posted a map of Great Traverse Bay.

Little Traverse Bay (the scene of the flip) is 18 NM to the North.

The easterly winds on the day in question would have been offshore and likely
a little puffy.

Hope this has cleared the Geography lessons up.

[Boatguy30]

You get about 25 knot Westerly sea breeze in that bay in the summer. Lake Charlervoix is nearby but has different conditions due to land interference.

I'm headed up that way right now. Never seen an Atlantic 42 around there or heard the story. Guess Atlantic cats attract microbursts? Only possible explanation

[seaskip]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

You may well be correct.

It is advertised as a cruiser suitable for a couple or single handing.

I wonder whether its another case of the "warm, comfy, enclosed wheel house
syndrome" where one is divorced from the elements and can't react quickly enough to a catamarans "achilles heel" , the sudden unexpected increase in wind strength. ?

Time will tell.

Well, I'm going to be the honest one. ( for a change. )
I'm guilty your honour, of drifting downhill in 5-10 or 12 with the moon out, sitting cosily on the lounge on a cat, with a good 360 view, and thinking, it doesn't get better than this.
But I'm going to thank Seaslug for the warning to a new multihull sailor, and even in benign conditions, wander around outside a bit more, keep an especially good eye out for dark clouds, have the sheets and halyards ready to run, and probably spend the extra power on running the radar.
1. Apologies, this has absolutely nothing to do with the thread, but I'm not alone there. Everyone's guessing so far.
2. Any additions to my warning thoughts very! gratefully accepted.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

Yes . Very good SMJ. It is part of Lake Michigan.



A SMALL and sheltered part as you point out.



Thank you for highlighting my point.

Incorrect again! But nice try:-)

[PhiSig1071]

If the guy had a Chris White Atlantic on the great lakes its probably safe to assume he was a performance sailing enthusiast, right? When you push the limits sometimes you exceed them, and there are consequences. I've been an avid motorcyclist all my life, I have held a national instructing certification and a racing license. When I was just riding around on the street well within my limits I never had any problems, but I've laid it down on the track a few times.

[smj]

Supposedly the Atlantic that flipped in the Great Lakes was sailing in 15-18 kt winds before they got a microburst that flipped them. They stayed inside the inverted boat but were able to make a call for help with their cellphone! I saw the boat a few years ago and it appeared to be in great shape.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[mindsofman]

I sail this area regularly with deliveries.
North and south, mostly solo.
I can attest to those midnight winds, the
Reason why I sail light canvassed at night.
Just about rolled a 55ft Hatteras one
Night when hit by a succession of three
Large waves , came out of nowhere on a
Calm evening..
Things are changing out there and a
Little more care is needed by the boating
Fraternity.

[Just Another Sa]

Originally Posted by bluemotion

Three Man were luckily rescued from a capsized Leopard 57, by the Bulkcarrier
"Aloe" offshore the Dominican Republic. The Rescue was assisted by an Hercules Airplane.
Found the News this Morning on an German sailing website.
The Leopard left Chesapeake on 12th of November and was bound for St.Martin

Bluemotion

Seems like a case where saving the boat instead of just the crew would have been an easier job than what they accomplished.
Take the sails off the mast with what ever means necessary, cutting the mainsail of the mast with tools if necessary. Jib is always an easy task, just fully release halyard and sheet.
Then tie anchor bridle to the tow rope somewhere high up on the ship at the stern, ask them to align the vessels sterns toward each other and ask them to pull forward with reasonably short cable, initially pulling the boat up as much as forward (by their propulsion, not by human power). Then just watch the boat going bow over stern and following nicely behind the ship there after, until the tow rope can be released.

Yet have anyone ever heard or seen that even be tried?
Would be easier than climbing up the side of the ship in waves and less risky.