Ohana-uli was a well traveled
Lagoon 440. They left
Australia last season and did a 3,000 mile transit through
Indonesia to
Malaysia. Then a crossing of the
Indian Ocean, that got short circuited by a Covid lockdown in the
Maldives. When that became undesirable tbey sailed direct to Tanzania. A few months in Tanzania and the
skipper having a bout of malaria had them leave to
head back east to the
Seychelles after it opened up to cruisers.
There was a low east of N
Madagascar that was teacking west. It had some enhanced winds on its SW side that funnelled north up the NE side of Madagsacar. When Ohana uli was about 250 miles east of Tanzania they setoff their 406mhz Eprib and reported taking on
water.
A
commercial ship was directed to their position. At some currently unknown point they took to the
liferaft. After the ship arrived a rescue was attempted in conditions reported to be 35kts and significant seas. The raft was damaged in the rescue attempt and the occupants ended up in the water, and eventually
lost.
Probably the only thing you can learn from this right now is a reenforecment that a rescue by a large commecial vessel is extremely dangerous.
( this is very raw for the
family and many cruising friends, please respond appropriately)