4 die on Portuguese coast..

[boatman61]

4 Danes have died {2 male, 2 female) have died after their yacht was driven ashore and destroyed.
Apparently they left Peniche after lunch despite warnings from the CG about severe conditions, sea's 6metres plus and strong winds..
Seems the €200k+ boat was gradually driven on to a Lee shore where it broke up on rocks before beaching.
3 bodies have been recovered with the fourth still trapped in the hull.. none were wearing life jackets.

[JPA Cate]

What a sad thing. Bad storms, and getting worse. Remember when zeehag used the word "furycame" for hurricane? We're surely seeing severe weather events.

Rest in Peace, fellow sailors.

[Stingo]

My guess is they were breaking the rule of never sail to a schedule as well as sticking to the 20 metre contour line, which is far too shallow in those weather conditions, in an attempt to avoid orcas

[hasse_A]

So sad.

Very few harbors along the Portuguese west coast are suited for entering/departure with the current rough weather conditions.

They must for some reason have been pressed to head out.
Only speculating here: Were they on their way to Las Palmas to participate in ARC and felt they were late to the party ? Hopefully we will get more information the coming days.

The ARC flotilla leaves Las Palmas on the 19'th of November.

[Matt Johnson]

So sad to hear. I just looked at the weather chart, and can't see why anyone would shove off in these building conditions.

Is there a link to news on this?

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

So sad to hear. I just looked at the weather chart, and can't see why anyone would shove off in these building conditions.

Is there a link to news on this?

Here you go. Note the update in the first line
https://www.portugalresident.com/thr...torres-vedras/

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

So sad to hear. I just looked at the weather chart, and can't see why anyone would shove off in these building conditions.

Is there a link to news on this?

It happened this afternoon, was reported on 8pm TVI News so maybe early yet.

[JPA Cate]

Well, I am glad that there was no 4th person involved, poor devils.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Well, I am glad that there was no 4th person involved, poor devils.

Sorry to note, there are four casualties now. A second women's body was discovered inside the hull when it was washed ashore.

[Love2 boat]

There are old boaters and there are bold boaters but there are no old bold boaters - for a reason. Use this lesson to reassess your risk tolerance - anything can happen at anytime - are you prepared? If not stay in the harbor.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Sorry to note, there are four casualties now. A second women's body was discovered inside the hull when it was washed ashore.

Yeah I said that in the OP.. 3 bodies washed up on beach and one body trapped in hull.
Its in the title.. 4 die on PT coast..
This is where the boat was driven ashore.. on a calm day, now add 6metres sea's and 30kt+ plus onshore winds.

[boatman61]

News shows hull minus keel, rudder and mast being tossed back and forth on beach in the surf.. earlier footage filmed from coast showed the boat sailing under reefed sail being pushed relentlessly towards the shore till it hit shoals.
Its a hard press down the coast to pass Cabo Roca unless you have enough sea room.
Sadly it seems they did not use the shelter of the Islas Berligas to gain enough searoom but followed the conventional 50metre line for Cascais/Lisbon..

[Jim Cate]

There are old boaters and there are bold boaters but there are no old bold boater

Really? Tell that to Web Chiles who recently finished his 6th RTW, this time in a Moore 24... and he is in his seventies.

Old homilies like that which you quote don't really reflect life very well for they ignore all the outliers that don't fit in the picture presented. There are plenty of senior sailors who have lead lives that were bold indeed.

Perhaps the story should read "There are no old, bold and incompetent sailors". That I could perhaps agree with!

Jim

[Franziska]

Terrible as it is, the moment of their capsize was even filmed:

https://www.cmjornal.pt/multimedia/v...ef=DET_Ultimas

[Mrkva]

There is a longer video that filmed probably some time before capsize: https://www.facebook.com/10009418713...13486562027106


Why they didn't attempt to point more into the wind, to get some sea room? Couldn't, or were they intentionally sailing close to shore?



(By the way, at 1:28ish there's another sailboat visible further out. She seems to be handling the situation much better).