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Old 20-01-2012, 18:18   #16
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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Originally Posted by Boatguy30 View Post
Sweet as you're OK, but what were you doing in the middle of the coral sea in the middle of cyclone season??????
"in the middle"? pass!
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Old 20-01-2012, 18:37   #17
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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Very sorry to hear of the loss of your vessel.
Wonderful to hear of your successful rescue.

When you feel up to it, could you write a detailed post describing the lead up to the need to be rescued and how the rescue eventuated. Your experience will be an invaluable learning tool for the rest of us.

best regards
David
I will post an account leeding to the resque when we feel up to it David.
I do intend to write the whole story for pubilcation in the near future.
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Old 20-01-2012, 18:45   #18
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

Likewise I am glad to see that you are OK and very sad to hear of the loss of your vessel.

This is one hellva way to make your introduction to CF. A special thank you for being willing to post of your experience of loosing your boat.

No doubt you will get a lot questions about what, where, why etc and why did / didn't you do x, y or z. I am willing to bet that most of the members on CF are genuinely wanting to know details that will help them better prepare for for off-shore hazards and real life experience trumps book-learning every time. Sure, some may be just critical for the sake of their own egos but please don't let that put you off from sharing the painful details that may help others.

Once again, it is great news that you are safe and welcome aboard!
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Old 20-01-2012, 18:48   #19
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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Sorry for your loss but glad you got off OK.

Just to recap are you saying:
Following seas rode up the back steps and filled cockpit area?
and
Poor cockpit drainage and poor engine room hatch seals & drainage gutters on a outside accessed engine room allowed the engine room to fill?

Can I ask how many and what size drains are in the cockpit?
(gets out hole saw to add more)
There were two approx 1/2" drain - holes in the cockpit floor - carefull as in some conditions water shoots up through the holes. Holes in the eng-compartment bulk-head for wireing allowed water into the aft cabin once the water passed that level - not sure where the water entered behind the toilet into the head.
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Old 20-01-2012, 19:07   #20
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

If you were 300 miles east of OZ you're close enough to the middle of the Coral Sea. If you voyage in cyclone season you're a fool.
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Old 20-01-2012, 19:27   #21
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If you were 300 miles east of OZ you're close enough to the middle of the Coral Sea. If you voyage in cyclone season you're a fool.
Wow Boatguy that was harsh! I am glad you and your crew are safe, please follow through with your story as we can all learn from it. I have made mistakes and found myself over my head, and I'm sure others have also including Boatguy. Lives are whats important here not casting blame. My interest as a future builder is how the damage to the craft could have been avoided so a rescue was not required. Dave.
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Old 20-01-2012, 19:27   #22
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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If you were 300 miles east of OZ you're close enough to the middle of the Coral Sea. If you voyage in cyclone season you're a fool.
Not necessarily,
There are periods in between where it is glassy calm, so you need to motor.

Did a run to Vanuatu a few years back at the beginning of March, glassy calm for the entire trip did 8 knots the whole way fishing every seamount on the way.
Fantastic trip
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...st-7082-2.html
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Old 20-01-2012, 19:28   #23
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

The question of why you were where you were where and when is fair enough but perhaps one that would be better asked later in the conversation!

And any judgement should be reserved at least until the question was answered; if indeed any judgement should be made unless requested by the OP.

IMO.
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Old 20-01-2012, 20:07   #24
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

Very sorry for your loss, but am glad you all are safe.
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Old 20-01-2012, 21:11   #25
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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Originally Posted by cat man do View Post
Sorry for your loss but glad you got off OK.

Just to recap are you saying:
Following seas rode up the back steps and filled cockpit area?
and
Poor cockpit drainage and poor engine room hatch seals & drainage gutters on a outside accessed engine room allowed the engine room to fill?

Can I ask how many and what size drains are in the cockpit?
(gets out hole saw to add more)
Looks like the walk through transom doubles as the main CP drain. Always going to be wet in a following sea. Great feature for bay play though.

Regards.
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Old 20-01-2012, 21:25   #26
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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Originally Posted by cat man do View Post
Not necessarily,
There are periods in between where it is glassy calm, so you need to motor.

Did a run to Vanuatu a few years back at the beginning of March, glassy calm for the entire trip did 8 knots the whole way fishing every seamount on the way.
Fantastic trip
Some are just lucky. A yachty has no business being in the coral sea during cyclone season.

Your coments remind me of the Darwin news report regarding the wake-boarder who skis on the Croc infested Adelaide River. Its perfectly safe as long as one doesn't catch you.


BOM predicted an above average cyclone activity for the Coral Sea, pre season.

Regards.
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Old 20-01-2012, 22:03   #27
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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S V Minx was abandon in the early hours on Wednesday Dec 21, 2011 during a dramatic, life threatening rescue. Position : 17*20' S 154*13' E approx 380nm East of Mackay on Australia's Eastern Coast.
We are forever grateful for the assistance by the aircraft crew from the RCC and the crew of the ship Ocean Lord (coal carrier) during the three and a half hour rescue operation.
We had endured 72 hours in rough seas (3-4 metres) and winds to 35knots with a developing cyclone chasing us.
We could not sail with the damage to our Genoa and main sail and when both sail drives failed within 24hours we had run out of options. Water began entering our engine compartments, salon area, the head and aft- cabin from the surging sea. We deployed a para anchor which held us in positions for the pending rescue.
The para anchor was severed accidently during the first rescue attempt which send us drifting.
Launched in 2007 Minx was the first production built S-380.
We are grateful for our lifes though have lost everything we owned.
Any feedback, a sighting or information relating to Minx would be appreciated
Very sorry to hear of your loss.

When you're up to it, I'd like to learn more about the sea-anchor. Was it correctly sized etc? How were conditions when riding to it? How did it become severed?

Glad to know you're OK, and hope "Minx" is soon found safe and intact.
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Old 21-01-2012, 00:01   #28
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

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Originally Posted by catty View Post
Some are just lucky. A yachty has no business being in the coral sea during cyclone season.

Quote:
BOM predicted an above average cyclone activity for the Coral Sea, pre season.
A yacht may have no business there if they intend to wallow around waiting for wind but if you are prepared to motor and motor hard, you at New Cal in 4 to 5 days doing 6 to 8kn.
If doing 10kn you are there in 3 days

I trust BOM to get it right for that sort of weather window
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Old 21-01-2012, 00:14   #29
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

People, be polite to one another, especially to the OP, who has just lost his boat, and is being kind enough to share the details with us for our edification.
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Old 21-01-2012, 00:16   #30
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Re: Spirited 380 lost in the coral sea

Thanks Minx, for sharing your experience, and please continue to contribute despite the criticisms of the "Monday Experts" who mostly haven't much sea time of their own. We shall all be wiser for your experiences.
Here's hoping Minx turns up like a bad penny no worse for wear than when you stepped off her.
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