Coast Guard rescues sailor in Gulf of Alaska storm

[Nord Sal]

A Coast Guard Helicopter from Sitka responded to an EPIRB signal and rescued a sailor from disabled 33' yacht Ananda approximately 145 miles west of Sitka during a storm in the Gulf of Alaska on Oct 11. The Ananda had suffered rudder damage and was adrift.

Conditions at the scene of the rescue were reported as 70 knot winds, 30 foot seas with darkness approaching.

Hats off to the USCG. Conducting a rescue at sea in these conditions is nothing short of heroic.

https://www.kcaw.org/2021/10/18/coas...west-of-sitka/

[Sam Woodbridge]

Thank you for the post Nord Sal, I live in Wrangell so that hits home for me.

Sam

[PippaB]

I wonder if it's the same Ananda that used to be here? A J/30 so in the right size range. Regardless, hats off to the Coasties, that a nasty piece of water to be in trouble.



https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...co-142750.html

Some interesting details in an alternate story:

The EPIRB’s registration information indicated the vessel had been sold, its registration was expired, and the EPIRB’s batteries were low.

[Nord Sal]

I don't have any idea if that's the same Ananda. The USCG page linked in the KCAW page I posted above said the sailor was a new owner and taking the boat south from its homeport in Seward.

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/81755...r-sitka-alaska

There's a video in the above link but only the audio portion worked for me.

10 foot seas and 40 kt winds in the JE story,

[flee27]

Watching the video it looks like the boat has 2 masts like a Freedom. Glad everyone is OK.

Foster

[tennis4789]

Glad everyone ok.

How would the rescue be paid for?

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by tennis4789

Glad everyone ok.

How would the rescue be paid for?

USCG?

Generally taxpayers, if you were found at fault, or negligent you could be fined, depending on degree of fault the fines could be substantial.

But for circumstances beyond your control or unforeseen mechanical failure generally nothing.

[Oeanda]

Weather windows are pretty slim up this way right now with one system after another marching in.

145 miles out there in that boat... scary. Glad they made it!

[tennis4789]

Could/should the captain have done something different?

Newbie questions. Are most boat incidents avoidable? What's top 3 causes?

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by tennis4789

Could/should the captain have done something different?

Newbie questions. Are most boat incidents avoidable? What's top 3 causes?

Alaska. October. Hmmmmmm. Stay ashore?

1 alcohol
2 speed
3 lack of experience

[Sam Woodbridge]

Originally Posted by tennis4789

Could/should the captain have done something different?

Newbie questions. Are most boat incidents avoidable? What's top 3 causes?

This might be a start of a high jacked thread.

[Don C L]

70 knots and 30' waves? What the Coast Guard can do is truly amazing.

[rbk]

Originally Posted by tennis4789

Could/should the captain have done something different?

Newbie questions. Are most boat incidents avoidable? What's top 3 causes?

Should have snuck to the inside at Cross sound, or Sitka sound and taken the inside all the way down. With the prevailing winds from the North he could have sailed a good portion in moderate conditions all the way south with literally millions of safe harbours. October in the Gulf of Alaska and all the way down the west coast to California should be avoided this time of year, but who knows when the rudder was damaged and how far he drifted before throwing in the towel.

[Jamme]

I truly admire the calm and professional demeanor the USCG keeps even in the hairiest of circumstances. Chapeau and thank you for saving lives!

[OldManMirage]

The boat definitely looks like a Freedom 40. They are reputed to be very good boats, but I am unclear of their ocean abilities. And I know very little about the weather in that area, except that I don't think it is ever easy.

The boat suffered a failure. If it truly had no steerage, almost any boat could become unsafe in those conditions.