Spirited 380

[catty]

Originally Posted by spiritcat

Heard from Jon, see attached email:

Hi Peter

True story!
Yes, thankfully we are alive!
Last Port was Noro (Solomons) to position 17*20.443' S - 154*17.623' E about 380 Nm East of Mackay where I had no option other then to activate the EPIRB at 2:15 on Dec 21 2011 after loosing drive and with blown out main & genoa in 3 to 4 mtrs swell with a Cyclone developing and chasing us.
An Australian plane and the "Ocean Lord" a large Indian/japanese owned ship (coal carrier) assisted in a dramatic rescue operation.
We endured 72 hours in rough conditions before calling for assistance.
The plane and Ship reached us some five hours after the EPIRB.
e spent 16 days abord the Ocean Lord disembarking at Newcastle NSW on Friday Jan 6 2012.

Do post the above if you choose, we are hopeful for any information relating to Minx.

Great to hear of your trip to New Cal' Peter...
Fare winds....

Cheers - Jon

Never good to hear about a potential loss of a good yacht, but luckily all the crew are safe and sound.

Peter

Thanks for posting Spiritcat. Heres a picture of "ocean Lord". Can't blame the guy for wanting to jump ship .
Regards

[rexd666]

Good to hear all are safe.

Hopefully Jon hears more about the boat, and shares with us. Interested to know what led to loss of drive with two engines? Always thought of that as a lower probability with two.

Hopefully no one is too disappointed that it was right way up.

[Ozbullwinkle]

Very glad to hear that all crew are safe and sound. Maybe loss of drive is a way of saying that they had also run out of fuel seeing that their sails had been blown out. Not really the best time of year (late December) to be doing an ocean passage in an area where a cyclone can develop quickly which has resulted in the loss of the vessel. Wonder if they only had a main & genoa and nothing in reserve like a storm trysail. Shame they didn't leave the EPIRB behind on board Minx to keep track of it's fate until the battery ran out.

[rodcat]

Wonder if the enginenstopednworking due to the engines being swamped with water as the engine covers under heavy conditions seem to leak

[catty]

Originally Posted by rodcat

Wonder if the enginenstopednworking due to the engines being swamped with water as the engine covers under heavy conditions seem to leak

Yes, more information would be nice.
According to pilot charts, SE (quadrant) winds predominate in December so landfall in Australia even with just the drag of the mast or jury rig, wouldn't have taken forever. (Id be suprised if a boat like that can't do 3 knts downwind in 20 under bare poles) Surprised at no mention of storm sails onboard a "blue water boat" but its early days. Historical weather data for Frederick Reef shows max gusts at around 30Knots at the time so typical tradewind conditions.
3 to 4 meter swell goes with the territory. Maybe the decaying low further north was the last straw. His actions don't show much confidence in the sea keeping abilities of the boat.

Time will tell and hopefully no one clobbers the boat in the mean time.


Regards

[h20man]

Is this not the thread where the OP is the skipper of minx?

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...sea-75182.html

[ray ja]

Originally Posted by rodcat

Hopefully it works this time
No a floating container hit us you can see in pic where it hit the stern

my name is Ray jaarola and i have salvaged the goodship sv wendera i hope to have the catamaran in Esperance soon call me on 0419962510

[ray ja]

please call 0419962510 thanks heaps Ray

[waikikin]

Originally Posted by ray ja

my name is Ray jaarola and i have salvaged the goodship sv wendera i hope to have the catamaran in Esperance soon call me on 0419962510

It would be interesting to read the story of the salvage Ray. All the best in your endeavours from Jeff.

[ausaviator]

Paging RODCAT, sounds like your boat is ready for pickup and wasnt cut up with a chainsaw.

Ray_ja, is it owned by an insurance company?

[downunder]

Spirited 380 Lynx was today recovered by the owner from 70+ days adrift in Coral Sea and 2 cyclones off Innisfail.

Said in CH 9 TV report tonight.

Hull in good condition.

Owner is elated.

[Mr B]

And right side up,

[sonora]

Glad I decided to build a catamaran, and a Spirited 380 at that.

Regards

S.V. Sonora

[category4jay]

Originally Posted by sonora

Glad I decided to build a catamaran, and a Spirited 380 at that.

Regards

S.V. Sonora

Welcome to the CF Sonora. Where do you plan on building your cat?

[category4jay]

Just an observation but I have read that there have been about 20 of these boats launched and of those 2 have been abandoned at sea. Maybe these boats aren't blue water vessels as others have suggested earlier.

Also is Spirited Designs owned by the Jeff Schionning of Schionning Designs? If so are there issues with some of his other designs? Please dont get me wrong all of the Spirited and Schionning designs are fantastic looking. I'm just curious.