Missing 75´s.y. Lady Domina

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by Blue Pelican

We heard a one sided VHF conversation between US Coast Guard, Puerto Rico and Lady Domina broadcast 3rd May as we were passaging along the Puerto Rico coast.
It seemed Lady Domina was requesting weather information only, certainly not assistance. Their position we presumed was most probably lust north of Puerto Rico. Our interest was piqued because we knew of the boat, her owner and one crew member from our time in Hartman Bay, Grenada. We suggest any interested party contact the US Coast Guard Puerto Rico to see if they may know anything further.

Can you confirm the date of vhf contact 3rd MAY? Is correct 3rd May?

[Blue Pelican]

Was either the 3rd of May, or possibly the second. No log was made since we were not participating and it was not a matter of safety or emergency. So, yes, either the 2nd or 3rd of May.

[hellosailor]

Sinbad, the USCG knows very well that the US military will not give them any access to satellite imagery. That information is all highly classified, even the fact that they have enough resolution and frequent coverage to do the job, which is publicly known, is still classified and can neither be confirmed nor denied.

Yes, it is that simple and that final. When Coyote was lost mid-Atlantic their Congressmen even asked the military for that assistance, and it was denied for exactly that reason. And from the military point of view--there's no change, that's a national security issue.

From the postings about the boat and owner, and the informal "crew wanted" with an assumption of money but no commercial charter, one can assume the owner was doing things on the sly and trying to remain off the radar. That doesn't mean he isn't entitled to rescue, but it does mean he's made it much harder and the system he is dodging and flaunting, has limited resources to deal with that.

There are other satellite imagery assets besides the US military, you might try finding out if anyone was covering that area and pass around a very large hat asking for their assistance instead.

Other than asking other vessels to keep an eye out...I can't see making a great fuss over someone who wanted to stay off the radar. There's no saying he's in distress, leave him be. Or if the "crew" he picked up hijacked the boat for one drug run. You-know-what happens.

[europaflyer]

Originally Posted by Blue Pelican

Was either the 3rd of May, or possibly the second. No log was made since we were not participating and it was not a matter of safety or emergency. So, yes, either the 2nd or 3rd of May.

That's the power of the internet for you. Alive, well and back in the Caribbean (or just possibly never left and the folks back home panicked - not the first time that's happened!).

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by Blue Pelican

Was either the 3rd of May, or possibly the second. No log was made since we were not participating and it was not a matter of safety or emergency. So, yes, either the 2nd or 3rd of May.

8 days since the Vhf contact along the north coast of Puerto Rico put Lady Domina almost at half way to Azores at 5 or 6 knts , some info posted in this topic dont macht with a 3rd may vhf contact along Puerto Rico, maybe im wrong?

[europaflyer]

It's supposed to be 41 days since they left. I was assuming the VHF contact 8/9 days ago was after returning from an abortive attempt? Either way, we're not getting the full story here. If they didn't leave until 9 days ago then there is no problem, if they returned 9 days ago then there's been a breakdown in communications somewhere but they're OK.

[sinbad7]

'Curiouser and curiouser,said Alice" The VHF conversation from Lady Domina overheard North of Puerto Rico 2/3 May certainly puts a new twist to the conondrum!

I never had any answer to a request made earlier to the St. Martin harbor control re confirmation of their departure from Marigot Bay.

Guess we´ll just have to wait and see.

Tore

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by sinbad7

'Curiouser and curiouser,said Alice" The VHF conversation from Lady Domina overheard North of Puerto Rico 2/3 May certainly puts a new twist to the conondrum!

I never had any answer to a request made earlier to the St. Martin harbor control re confirmation of their departure from Marigot Bay.

Guess we´ll just have to wait and see.

Tore

St Martin Harbour Control??? we have the grey zodiac from the gendarmes and the black zodiac from Customs and we have the white pathetic zodiac with 2 local guys asking for money fees for anchoring in marigot,,, apart from that no one is patrolling the harbour, now can you confirm the exact date of departure asking to the office in the Ferry terminal or Port la Royale marina office in case the Cap make a formal check out form in st martin?? i guess you be surprised!!!

[sww914]

The Coast Guard does not have access to realtime satellite imagery. If they did, they could probably stop the flow of drugs into Florida by boat.

[sinbad7]

I have sent an SMS request to Puerto Rico coast guard to verify the VHF traffic with Lady Domina 2/3 May. Friends of the crew have also phoned the coast guard with the same request and they are searching through their logs for verification.

Tore

[evenv]

Hi Tore,

Just confirming what you said - we've contacted USCG Puerto Rico by phone, waiting for their reply. Norwegian authorities are also informed about the information.

Even

[barnakiel]

According to the 220 hp engine specs it consumes 5l per hour=120 pr day=33 days on 4000l diesel. She has an estimated speed of 5-6 kn in optimal conditions.

According to most sources of information on diesel engines I read, an engine that burns 5l of diesel makes out 25 hp of engine power.

...

A 220 hp engine run at 120 hp will ask for 25 liters per hour. 625 liters per day.

...

Right or wrong?

If right, then that ship had powering range enough to reach the Azores only if powering very slow and in flattish seas.

barnakiel

[evenv]

BluePelican: Could you estimate how sure you are that it was actually Lady Domina you heard? And: Was it Lady Domina or the USCG you heard? If Lady Domina, could you say whether you heard any accent or anything indicating the caller was Scandinavian? Grasping at straws here, but any information would help.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A 220 hp engine run at 120 hp will ask for 25 liters per hour. 625 liters per day. Right or wrong?

If right, then that ship had powering range enough to reach the Azores only if powering very slow and in flattish seas. barnakiel

This is a big 6 cylinder 4.2L turbo charged engine, so I would say right.

Pete

[sinbad7]

Wreckage has been found by the French Coast Guard on the 30th April.
Only one photo can be identified as boat wreckage,a piece of the grp hull.
I wonder if anyone could notice any difference in the grp layup between a
factory and a self constructed hull? I presume the missing French yacht
was a standard factory construction,whereas Lady Domina was self constructed.

The wreckage location,as indicated on the attached OCPN map also tallies with
the EPIRB rapports received from the French yacht and the prevailing wind at the time.

Tore