Coast Guard Rescue Two

[h20man]

Ok, I may be a bit harsh with the 'idiots' tag... but..

Coast Guard Rescues 2 Idiots... with No GPS, no Radio in journey from Catalina Island To Dana Point (26 miles)


Story follows below:

April 13, 2011 | 7:59 am
Two men who went missing while returning from a sailing trip to Catalina Island were found early Wednesday morning by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Albert Bosco and Kirk Williams had been missing since late Monday afternoon after departing from Dana Point aboard a 26-foot sailboat.

They had informed relatives to call for help if they failed to return by Monday evening. After being alerted, the Coast Guard deployed two 87-foot patrol boats, a helicopter and an airplane, officials said.

The men were spotted on their boat around 4 a.m. Wednesday. Investigators were still trying to figure out why they got lost, said Lt. Ana Thorsson of the Coast Guard.

Thorsson said the incident is a reminder to mariners to carry a marine radio and a GPS device, which the men did not. A Coast Guard boat escorted the two to safety.

Comments are already calling for their submission for a Darwin Award....

[sarafina]

26 miles across the sea....

didn't we have someone around here recently asking details on how to get to Catalina....?

[h20man]

I guess they also did not have life jackets....

here is the official coast guard response:

Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter locates missing sailors off Catalina Island

Details below:

"SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard located two adult males this morning at approximately 4 a.m., who were reported overdue from a sailing trip, Tuesday.

The boaters and sailboat were located south of Catalina Island, Calif., in good condition and in no distress.

Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in San Diego, escorted the boaters to Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, an 87-foot patrol boat, and C-130 aircraft were involved in the nearly 11 hour search. Two Baywatch units and Dana Point Harbor Patrol also conducted mutliple search patterns.

The Coast Guard urges boaters to always have a working VHF marine radio onboard when underway, to file a float plan with family members or harbor masters, and to have life jackets for everyone onboard the vessel."

[h20man]

Originally Posted by sarafina

26 miles across the sea....

didn't we have someone around here recently asking details on how to get to Catalina....?

Arg... It looks like they left Monday to GO to Catalina and were not found.....

at one point they were within 9 miles of Catalina...... and then... no luck...

so 34 hours later... they are found at 4 am... south of the island.....

from here, reproduced below:

Originally Posted by losangeles.cbslocal.com

AVALON (AP) — The Coast Guard and local rescuers are searching for two men who were reported overdue back from a sailing trip.
According to a Coast Guard statement, Albert Bosco and Kirk Williams left Dana Point on Monday morning and were enroute to Avalon Harbor on Santa Catalina Island.
Family members say the last time they heard from the two men was Monday at 5 p.m. when the 26-foot sailboat was reported to be within about nine miles of Catalina Island. Bosco told his family that if the pair had not returned by 5 p.m. Tuesday to contact the Coast Guard.
The agency says an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, several boats and a
C-130 Hercules aircraft have been dispatched to search for the men.

[sarafina]

...http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ime-58627.html

[sww914]

pedrotheconejo (our guy) said here that his name is Roy but neither of the two rescued is named Roy. Maybe one of them is Roy's brother? Maybe Roy hasn't tried yet? Anyway, I'm glad they're safe.

[Starbuck]

Roy is departing from San Pedro, not Dana Point.

Within 9 miles at one point? How was this known? And was visibility under 9 miles at that particular moment in time (I know it can be that low and lower, but were they never able to see Catalina at any time during their foray, and note, at the very least, a compass bearing)? Too bad we'll never have all the pertinent details.

[Connemara]

You are only eligible for a Darwin award if you do something so stupid it prevents you from reproducing. If you have already reproduced, you are forever ineligible.

These guys lived through it, so they are at least potentially capable of progeny and therefore no Darwin for them.

Harsh, I know, but that's natural selection for you.

Connemara

[roverhi]

I sailed for many many years without a radio or an epirb. Did very well thankyou. These guys didn't need either of those items but a friggin compass. Kind of hard to miss California if you head east from Catalina. Were they out of booze and drugs when the CG found them???

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by Connemara

You are only eligible for a Darwin award if you do something so stupid it prevents you from reproducing. If you have already reproduced, you are forever ineligible.

These guys lived through it, so they are at least potentially capable of progeny and therefore no Darwin for them.

Harsh, I know, but that's natural selection for you.

Connemara

Actually you can still be eligible for the darwin award after reproducing. Unfortunately for your kids you have to take them out with you.

[h20man]

Originally Posted by sww914

pedrotheconejo (our guy) said here that his name is Roy but neither of the two rescued is named Roy. Maybe one of them is Roy's brother? Maybe Roy hasn't tried yet? Anyway, I'm glad they're safe.

Hopefully not the same guy. I just noticed... that no one told him to make sure he had life jackets, compass, map and working VHF radio... so just posted to insure the obvious is indeed mentioned....

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by roverhi

I sailed for many many years without a radio or an epirb. Did very well thankyou. These guys didn't need either of those items but a friggin compass. Kind of hard to miss California if you head east from Catalina. Were they out of booze and drugs when the CG found them???

Exactly

[h20man]

Originally Posted by roverhi

I sailed for many many years without a radio or an epirb. Did very well thankyou. These guys didn't need either of those items but a friggin compass. Kind of hard to miss California if you head east from Catalina. Were they out of booze and drugs when the CG found them???

I was not implying that that is necessary, as a working radio is not needed, but.... for a person with not as much experience.... I would recommend it.

Also, in Catalina, I have been there when it is so busy, that getting hold of the harbor patrol is done via VHF.... not actually chasing them down.. So ....


Best,

(Also, every time I hear about all this technology, I am even more impressed with the first known sailors, and Columbus' accomplishment is even more wondrous, at least to me... )

[Connemara]

Ah, Captain Bill, you have found the loophole. Still not too late for me, after all.

Connemara

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by roverhi

I sailed for many many years without a radio or an epirb. Did very well thankyou. These guys didn't need either of those items but a friggin compass. Kind of hard to miss California if you head east from Catalina. Were they out of booze and drugs when the CG found them???

All I need is a tall ship and a star to steer her by... Compass??? Who needs a friggin compass?