Yet another mid ocean rescue... by blind luck

[Jim Cate]

More serendipity at work!

https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic...rescue-updates

One lucky bugger!

Jim

[JPA Cate]

Wow, I bet the guys who spotted him are as chuffed as the rower!

Ann

[Jamme]

One lucky bastard!! All’s well…
Let’s pray for the Yasukole’s crew as well. Fair winds.

[Wotname]

Yes, a very timely rescue for Aaron Carotta.

The incident also highlights the folly of depending on a Spot device as a PLB. A proper 406 MHz (Cospas-Sarsat) PLB would have saved Aaron from drifting around for almost 4 weeks. It is crazy that someone who believes they are capable of a circumnavigation by a rowboat would risk having a second rate alerting device. Aaron buy a lottery ticket and a 406 PLB (or even better a EPRIB).

[Don C L]

The Coast Guard must be wondering how many other adventurers are out there sitting on inner tubes waiting for someone to fly by!

Now under what mindset would one think an EPIRB is not a wise choice for a jaunt in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Too heavy for a rowboat? Too expensive?

[requiem]

Originally Posted by Wotname

The incident also highlights the folly of depending on a Spot device as a PLB. A proper 406 MHz (Cospas-Sarsat) PLB would have saved Aaron from drifting around for almost 4 weeks.

The article is a bit unclear; what I can tell is that both Aaron and the Yasukole had a Spot, the Yasukole had an EPIRB, and Aaron possibly had a 406 MHz PLB. (Some reports indicate the beacon was triggered when his boat was overturned, and that the beacon was also damaged.)

What does annoy me is the general lack of attention to the specifics of these devices: Yasukole's EPIRB was registered to its previous owner, and SPOT's bent pipe architecture means it's not going to work once far from land (i.e. much of the Pacific.)

I am curious as to what Aaron actually used; 500 miles east of the Marquesas should put him well outside of SPOT coverage. Some years back I do recall a case of hikers turning on a distress device only for short periods ("to conserve battery"), with the end result that a distress signal was transmitted without a location.

[GreenHeaven]

What INEXPENSIVE device is available that can broadcast your position in the middle of the pacific just to leave a breadcrumb trail for family to follow

[PNWSalmon]

Garmin inReach at roughly 12 bucks a month?

[GreenHeaven]

Originally Posted by PNWSalmon

Garmin inReach at roughly 12 bucks a month?

coverage worldwide? really? middle of pacific?

In reach Mini is 400 euro....

[PNWSalmon]

Originally Posted by GreenHeaven

coverage worldwide? really? middle of pacific?

In reach Mini is 400 euro....

Yes the iridium network, which is what this device uses, has worldwide coverage. That includes the middle of the pacific.