Missing 75´s.y. Lady Domina

[sinbad7]

Blue Pelican..

Perhaps I´m asking TOO much,but, do you happen to remember WHICH AREA they were asking weather info for? Surely not the local waters?

TORE

[onestepcsy37]

If the above alert was raised by anyone in this thread you would have heard about it (from them) before now, it went out on the 13th of May....nearly a month ago...

never mind.

[tdominic_97]

ok, 2 questions, 1. If they took a straight shot. the trip could still take this long? 2. If they were asking weather info from Puerto Rico. aren't they going the wrong way?
Just wondering. Spent my Sunday morning drinking coffee and reading this.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by tdominic_97

ok, 2 questions, 1. If they took a straight shot. the trip could still take this long? 2. If they were asking weather info from Puerto Rico. aren't they going the wrong way?
Just wondering. Spent my Sunday morning drinking coffee and reading this.

We do not yet know whether Blue Pelican remembers the content of the transmission from the PR coast guard, so no idea what weather was requested by the Lady Domina.

And yes, it could take that long if the boat had difficulty of some kind. Reports here have varied as to its condition/state of repair, and we have no departure date.

All we can assume is that on the day Blue Pelican heard the coast guard transmit to the Lady D, it was within about 25 miles (vhf range) of Puerto Rico.

Since the lookout for her was initiated in May, no report has been made; this sort of indicates that she was not seen, but gives no idea as to the present condition of the vessel or its crew.

Ann

[David_Old_Jersey]

At the risk of adding only to the speculation!.............but is it not possible that they delayed the start of their voyage either in Puerto Rico (on the hook somewhere quiet) or even a side trip elsewhere - whether by choice ("why rush? no one will miss us!") or from dull events (waiting for weather?), hence the call for a local(?) weather forecast.

[Astrid]

At the risk of adding only to the speculation!.............but is it not possible that they delayed the start of their voyage either in Puerto Rico (on the hook somewhere quiet) or even a side trip elsewhere - whether by choice ("why rush? no one will miss us!") or from dull events (waiting for weather?), hence the call for a local(?) weather forecast.

Certainly possible. If I were making the voyage in my boat, I would have left St. Martin and headed NNW to pass north of Puerto Rico (which might be why the capt was concerned about Puerto Rico weather reports) and then north to catch the Gulf Stream off Florida. Once in the Gulf Stream, I would head on up the US coast, passing around the north Atlantic subtropical Gyre, then catch the Azores Current south of Labrador and have pretty favorable wind and current to the Azores. It would certainly be easier on the fuel budget and speed would be better. Albiet, the distance is longer, adding about 1200nm (at a guess), but I would not have to be battling the current and north east trades. If fuel, water and food was favorable, one could bypass the Azores completely and head directly for the UK, Vigo, or one of the northern Biscay ports.

[Blue Pelican]

Originally Posted by sinbad7

Blue Pelican..

Perhaps I´m asking TOO much,but, do you happen to remember WHICH AREA they were asking weather info for? Surely not the local waters?

TORE

The answer that we heard Coast Guard provided was for local offshore waters of Puerto Rico. Whilst we are convinced it was a Lady Domina that we heard being spoken to, we cannot guarantee that this was the missing vessel. The Coast Guard's answer was conducted in a routine way. The weather around that period was a mix of light to moderate winds, and pleasant conditions. Around PR we were seeing some more North than expected, but nothing strong or exceptional.

[boatman61]

If they were off Puerto Rico the odds are they'd be going via Bermuda to the Azores... makes no sense to go that far W only then to try go straight across as the crow flies.. the Stream would be hard work and just push them W and N... it also makes more sense fuel wise... its only 900 miles to Bermuda then 1200 odd to the Azores.. with favourable currents all the way.
Has anyone thought of checking out Bermuda..?

[tdominic_97]

If they left St. Martins on March 31St and hit Puerto Rico around April 30th, I wouldn't expect them in the Azores till Christmas

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by la vida nueva

Hey Barnacle, Explain, please. Could they not have been weighing anchor, having spent a considerable amount of time in Puerto Rico?

Where are the best free anchorages in PR?

At #256 it says they took off from St Martin. I am not sure Puerto Rico is on the logical route from St Martin to the Azores.

It sounds more like a route to the Bahamas, Florida, or thereabouts.

b.

[Astrid]

It makes sense if you are worried about fuel consumption. Direct to the Azores from St Martin would be a tough road to travel against the prevailing winds and current. If you head WNW or NNW you can catch the Stream and more favorable winds until you can catch the Azores current which will take you to the Azores proper. If one decides to go farther to the north of Bermuda, you are pretty much set for making landfall in the UK or one of the Biscay ports. I think they decided, without letting anyone else know, that they had chosen one of the more northern routes rather than trying to sail direct to the Azores.

[SaltyMonkey]

It did cross my mind they might be gunkin' in the Bahamas, but why no word?

[la vida nueva]

Lots of great points, as always.

[sww914]

The problem is that it appears that there are several different families involved, waiting for answers. I could see a single person or even a single family failing to contact friends or relatives for a while but not people with 2-3-4 different sets of associations. That indicates trouble out in the middle more than lazy cruising.

[la vida nueva]

Sometimes I just scratch my head and wonder.

Sailing Savoir Faire: Life Raft Found In Lady Domina Search Area