Rescue from s/v "Elusive" by tanker "Bow Clipper"

[Cormorant]

I hope we get more detail on what happened out there. Glad everyone is safe.

Norwegian tanker rescues three from sailboat | WAVY.com

Norwegian tanker rescues three from sailboat

By Rachel West
Published: Friday, May 23, 2014, 1:27 pm


PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of three people from a sailboat during a storm off the coast of Virginia Beach Thursday.
Larry Monesson, 60, Sean Monesson, 40, and James Moore, 40, were rescued from the Elusive, a 41-foot sailboat. The Coast Guard said the vessel was threatened by storms about 350 miles east of Virginia Beach.
Moore’s father contacted the Coast Guard after his son sent him a message via satellite phone around 1 a.m. Thursday.
A 600-foot Norwegian flagged tanker responded to a Coast Guard request for assistance and made contact with the Elusive.
The crew of the Elusive abandoned ship and boarded the Norwegian tanker. All three were safe.
“The early communications by the crew of the Elusive and the proactive response by the crew of the Bow Clipper allowed the watchstanders to arrange for the Bow Clipper to be in position to effect an immediate rescue when the situation aboard the sailing vessel Elusive deteriorated,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tim Eason, the 5th District’s search and rescue mission coordinator. “Additionally, the crew of the Elusive took the proper precautions before departing port by ensuring they had a working satellite phone and personal locator beacons.”

[captain58sailin]

Good news for a change.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

Good news for a change.

+1... Glad all are safe

[Cormorant]

A bit more detail here:

3 rescued 350 miles off Virginia Beach

[...]
The father of James Moore contacted Coast Guard 5th District Command Center watchstanders at about 1 a.m. Thursday reporting he received a message via satellite phone from his son. The message stated the crew of the Elusive were experiencing high winds, 25-foot ocean swells and engine failure, but were attempting to repair the engine and not requesting assistance at the time.
District command center watchstanders established a communication watch with the crew of the Elusive. The watchstanders asked for possible assistance from ships in the area.
The crew aboard the Bow Clipper, a 600-foot Norwegian-flagged tanker, responded to the Coast Guard’s broadcast and contacted the crew of the Elusive via radio.
At about 5 p.m., a crewman aboard the Elusive said the situation worsened, and the crew intended to abandon ship and transfer to the Bow Clipper.
The two crews coordinated the rescue and at approximately 7:15 all three people were reported safe aboard the Bow Clipper.
[...]

[mbianka]

Glad they got picked up. Sounds like the trip was no longer "fun". Hope there was more to their decision to abandon than just engine failure. Wonder what kind of boat it was? Sounds like there might be a nice chunk of change waiting if someone finds it and brings it back.

[MarkJ]

"Elusive" could be a pretty common name for a boat but I remember one on the VHF either in Grenada last year or the Bahamas the year before.

Dont know what sort of boat it was.

Glad they were able to get off.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by mbianka

Glad they got picked up. Sounds like the trip was no longer "fun". Hope there was more to their decision to abandon than just engine failure.

Yepper. Wonder why not just tough it out? 41 footer. Sheesh. High winds and waves are somewhat normal risks of offshore sailing.

[Tx J]

Originally Posted by mbianka

Glad they got picked up. Sounds like the trip was no longer "fun". Hope there was more to their decision to abandon than just engine failure. Wonder what kind of boat it was? Sounds like there might be a nice chunk of change waiting if someone finds it and brings it back.

Great that the crew is OK now.
My first thought when reading "a 41' sailboat" was maybe one of these classic (and bee-ute-eful) C&C designed, Capital Yachts built, 41' Newports: NEWPORT 41 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com
(yeah, I've read some on how they're dawgs to sail, still got the looks). Although there are various other 41'ers around, even cats I guess. Hope the boat does get salvaged somehow, hate to see one lost.

[Cavalier]

"At about 5 p.m., a crewman aboard the Elusive said the situation worsened"

I wonder what worsened (other than the engine failure) which prompted them to abandon?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

"At about 5 p.m., a crewman aboard the Elusive said the situation worsened"

I wonder what worsened (other than the engine failure) which prompted them to abandon?

Speculation alert!!

If we assume the crew to be good quality experienced, but 'normal' cruisers...

Engine breaks down. Why need it offshore? Because no solar or wind generation.
House bank low so no auto pilot. Crew tired.
Trying to fix engine so often trying to start it. No success so engine battery now flat.
Without either battery bank the engine will never start.
350 nms off shore but where were they heading? 2,000 nms to Europe? Or 350 nms upwind to USA?
If they were originally headed to USA they wouldnt have to provisions to divert to Azores/europe.

Then psychological difficulty of 25 foot seas etc.

As I said its just speculation, but it could show a causal chain for reasonable people to abandon ship...


Mark

[Cuttyhunk]

Power of the internet, below from the USCG documented vessel search by name:

MRY = Morgan?


Vessel Name: ELUSIVE USCG Doc. No.: 1239355
Vessel Service: RECREATIONAL IMO Number: *
Trade Indicator: Recreational Call Sign: *
Hull Material: FRP (FIBERGLASS) Hull Number: MRY31098M82D
Ship Builder: * Year Built: *

Length (ft.): 41.5
Hailing Port: NEW YORK NY Hull Depth (ft.): 4.2
Owner: SHOHAM MONESSON

Hull Breadth (ft.): 13.8
Gross Tonnage: 9
Net Tonnage: 8
Documentation Issuance Date: July 01, 2013 Documentation Expiration Date: July 31, 2014
Previous Vessel Names: No Vessel Name Changes Previous Vessel Owners: No Vessel Owner Changes

[LeaseOnLife]

MRY31098M82D

MRY = Morgan
31 = Morgan Out Island 41
Hull number 098
M82D = model year 82, November
from:
Boat Model - Morgan Sailboats

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

... Engine breaks down. Why need it offshore? Because no solar or wind generation.
House bank low so no auto pilot. Crew tired.
Trying to fix engine so often trying to start it. No success so engine battery now flat.
Without either battery bank the engine will never start.
350 nms off shore but where were they heading? 2,000 nms to Europe? Or 350 nms upwind to USA?
If they were originally headed to USA they wouldnt have to provisions to divert to Azores/europe.

Then psychological difficulty of 25 foot seas etc.

As I said its just speculation, but it could show a causal chain for reasonable people to abandon ship... Mark

For want of a nail the shoe was lost ...

[Cuttyhunk]

I didn't include the address above, but the hailing port is in New York state. I wonder if they were bringing her north for the summer...

[Tx J]

Originally Posted by Cuttyhunk

Power of the internet, below from the USCG documented vessel search by name:

MRY = Morgan?


Vessel Name: ELUSIVE USCG Doc. No.: 1239355
Vessel Service: RECREATIONAL IMO Number: *
Trade Indicator: Recreational Call Sign: *
Hull Material: FRP (FIBERGLASS) Hull Number: MRY31098M82D
Ship Builder: * Year Built: *

Length (ft.): 41.5
Hailing Port: NEW YORK NY Hull Depth (ft.): 4.2
Owner: SHOHAM MONESSON

Hull Breadth (ft.): 13.8
Gross Tonnage: 9
Net Tonnage: 8
Documentation Issuance Date: July 01, 2013 Documentation Expiration Date: July 31, 2014
Previous Vessel Names: No Vessel Name Changes Previous Vessel Owners: No Vessel Owner Changes

Could well be, the USCG HIN/MIC code link is here: Manufacturers Identification Code (MIC) Database , MRY is one code for a Morgan/Catalina:
MIC:MRYStatus:In BusinessCompany:CATALINA YACHTS/MORGAN DIVCompany Official:PAUL RUMMELParent Company:CATALINAParent MIC:CTYAddress:7200 BRYAN DAIRY RDCity:LARGOState:FL.

I'd guess the "82" is the year built, 1982.
Closest match on Sailboatdata.com is a Morgan Out Island 416, built 1981-86, nice traditional design.
MORGAN OUT ISLAND 416 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com