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11-05-2014, 18:40
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Honokohau, Big Island, Hawaii
Posts: 91
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Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
While acquiring some free dental advice on this forum of all places, I discovered some sad news:
Pete (aka rigormortis), a retired dentist, cruiser and contributor to CF nearly lost his life last December. I can find no mention of it beyond the short epilog to his travel blog. His steel Passport 42, La Rosa, suffered a severe knock-down off the coast of Argentina, ultimately causing it to sink. Pete and his companion survived. He was living the life many of us dream about.
Pete, I am very sorry for your loss. I greatly enjoyed reading your blog. It sounded like a great boat and a wonderful life aboard. I hope you find a way to get back on the water and continue your journey.
With very best wishes,
David
Pete's blog describing his travels:
| what's left of a life
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11-05-2014, 19:22
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#2
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,823
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
What an incredible story!
13+ days south of Mar Del Plata. Lying ahull. Boat rolls 360. No life raft and the dinghy destroyed.
Swimming in the water, at night, 150 nms off shore......
Not a good situation.
You MUST read the last entry in the blog! | what's left of a life
Mark
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11-05-2014, 19:42
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Trunk (boot) of my car
Boat: Tinker Traveller...a dozen feet of bluewater awesomeness!
Posts: 1,223
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
That account certainly qualifies as "harrowing". Good read all around.
It just goes to show you how important luck is. Experienced sailor with a strong sailboat and not so good results on that one trip.
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11-05-2014, 19:44
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,190
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
We need to start a sunk-boat club.
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11-05-2014, 19:47
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#5
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,166
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
What a story. Talk about rescue in a knick of time. Very sorry to hear he lost the boat but he's here to sail another day.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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11-05-2014, 19:49
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#6
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,166
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel heart
We need to start a sunk-boat club.
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Hey man. Glad to see your sense of humor stayed dry.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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11-05-2014, 19:49
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#7
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
We need to start a sunk-boat club.
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Eric, I think it would be a pretty big club. You are in with some pretty good company.
I hope you are all faring well.
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11-05-2014, 20:00
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Honokohau, Big Island, Hawaii
Posts: 91
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel heart
We need to start a sunk-boat club.
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Yes, Eric, I was certainly thinking of you and glad that you are well enough to start a club : )
The only bigger club would be the almost-sunk-a-boat-club.
D
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11-05-2014, 20:10
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#9
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
Now comes the hard waters. There is a large text/guide book for the Argentine, Cape Horn, and Chile canals written by a couple of long time southern sailors. They describe our next passage with these words:
‘The route between Rio de La Plata and the South end of the continent, is considered, without exaggeration, one of the toughest a yacht is likely to meet. A long record of wrecks, accidents and misfortunes, amplified by time, could not but strengthen the discomfort sailors feel leaving Mar del Plata.’
So, I guess we’re in for it. We leave in 4-5 days. Hope to make Ushuaia, Argentina in 3 weeks, insha’allah.
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The last entry in the post before the sinking.
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11-05-2014, 20:15
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#10
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Registered User

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 3,900
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Hi Eric, Glad you're still with us.
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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11-05-2014, 20:33
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: South Pacific
Boat: Oyster 53
Posts: 359
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel heart
We need to start a sunk-boat club.
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Good on ya.
Hang tough.
Dhillen
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11-05-2014, 21:19
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 24,285
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Rigormortis,
Glad you made it safely. Sorry for your loss. We wish you a speedy recovery.
Ann & Jim Cate
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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12-05-2014, 08:50
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Canada or Spain
Boat: Jeanneau SO 43 DS
Posts: 1,158
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel heart
We need to start a sunk-boat club.
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Don't take this personally, but I don't think folks will be lining up to join.
__________________
Prairie Chicken
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`· ...¸><((((º>
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12-05-2014, 09:40
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,622
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
I'd like to try and learn something from this, since I know nothing about storms and sailboats.
What is the correct tactic? What direction should you keep the boat pointed? Would a sea anchor and a drogue have helped in this situation?
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12-05-2014, 09:54
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#15
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,823
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Re: Rigormortis: Acknowledging loss of La Rosa off Argentina
Quote:
Originally Posted by socaldmax
I'd like to try and learn something from this, since I know nothing about storms and sailboats.
What is the correct tactic? What direction should you keep the boat pointed? Would a sea anchor and a drogue have helped in this situation?
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Yes, lying ahull is a very old technique thats pretty well discredited. It means lying broadside to the waves, without sails or power.
The options are, because it was wind on the nose, hoving to or a parachute sea anchor off the bow. Probably not strong enough for the parachute so hove to.
If wind up the bum then keep sailing slowly, under bare poles if necessary. with drogue out the back. The idea is to reduce the energy. In 13 meter seas, 45 feet, a boat could pitch pole, so just take it slow.
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