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cruiz9 · 30-01-2015, 18:37

the group: The Multihull Appreciation Society.
3 hrs ·

GUNBOAT

Please say a prayer for RAINMAKER’s crew.
RAINMAKER was dismasted today 36 hours into her passage out of the Gunboat yard about 200 miles SE of Hattaras. From ...the very brief and patchy sat phone call, and various brief texts, the following is all we have been told:
*Everyone is accounted for aboard, including the owner, his son, and three professional crew.
*The rig was promptly cut away.
*The boat was not holed.
*At the last update there were no injuries.
Conditions are evidently quite severe. It is not uncommon for the cold NW winds to accelerate over the Gulf Stream to windspeeds well above what may show on grib files. They have a large South swell, and are faced with deteriorating conditions with a building NW breeze in the Gulf Stream. Waves and swells have been observed from onboard to be getting worse over the course of the day.
An onboard decision has been made to be airlifted off of the boat. The US Coast Guard expects to be on site within 30 minutes.
These people are a part of our Gunboat family. Please say a prayer for the safe recovery of the RAINMAKER crew and the safety of the USCG rescue team that has been dispatched. An airlift is not an easy operation in any conditions, never mind these conditions. The Atlantic in February is a merciless place.
Praying for their safe recovery and return.

Tx J · 30-01-2015, 19:22

Daymn...
May they all make it ashore uninjured and safely.

But we've seen this movie before: New, top-of-the-line pleasure vessel dares the wintertime Atlantic (or fill in the blank) Ocean to blink.
With semi-predictable results: Oceans never blink or back down; and the Coasties roll with the risk, and the insurance pool splashes around a bit (but the 'poolhouse' never loses, just the other 'swimmers').
Prudence ain't just a posh name...

**JPA Cate** · 30-01-2015, 19:26

Of course, one hopes the rescue goes well.

One presumes the cat is insured.

I wonder if we'll ever learn how it came to be dismasted... and why they took it out in this weather, which was predicted quite a while in advance.

Ironically, the Gunboat web site suggests that the Gunboat's speed is a safety factor, allowing you to "sail around storms."

Isn't this at about the same location as last year's Alpha 42?

What a shame. Where's a sad smiley when I need one?

Ann

Geekatlrg · 30-01-2015, 21:20

i am grateful the USCG was there and everyone will sleep on dry land tonight

it was a top of the line boat with a seasoned crew. any given sunday

FamilyVan · 30-01-2015, 21:34

I'm guessing the USCG could have thought of places they would rather be, thankfully the USCG had a top of the line rescue asset with a seasoned crew.

Sent from my SGH-I547C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Dhillen · 30-01-2015, 21:41

Wrong place. Wrong time of year.

An expensive lesson.

Dhillen

yeloya · 31-01-2015, 03:05

I am disappointed to say the least.. That's the second Gunboat dismasted after Phaedo.. I can understand this latter as she was pushed beyond limits for record setting..But this one with professional crew, preassumably sailing moderately, how this could happen ???

Were they carrying too much sails, was the rigging not properly installed, miscalculation of something ??

In any case, for sure the weather was not benign, but shouldn't this kind of boat be OK in harsh conditions ? If the conditions were beyond the capability of the boat how, couldn't they avoid it ?? If there is no hole, no casulaties whatsoever, why they quited the boat ??

Very strange and in any case disappointing..

Cheers

Yeloya

**Hud3** · 31-01-2015, 04:05

They've been taken off the boat...

5 boaters rescued from sailboat 200 miles off NC coast - Richmond.com: Ap

What a beautiful boat! Hope that they can recover it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pDvusSzTvs

motogon · 31-01-2015, 04:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeloya

If there is no hole, no casulaties whatsoever, why they quited the boat ??

That's my thought too. What happen to engines?

bletso · 31-01-2015, 05:32

Further, how does a modern yacht get dismasted in mere 13 ft seas and 40 mph winds? Those are not even hurricane conditions. I know, I wasn't there but 13 footers are not all that bad, not good, but not horrendous either.