Solo Sailor Missing in Bass Strait

[Wotname]

Not a good way to start 2021.

A solo sailor's yacht has been found in Bass Strait after 3 days of searching - no sign of the sailor yet.

https://www.2st.com.au/news/national...in-bass-strait

[boatman61]

Well it's a bad way to see out 2020 for sure..
After 3 days all I can say is condolences to his family..

[StuM]

I'm getting a 404 with that link.


But this one worked for me to the same site:
https://www.2st.com.au/news/national...missing-sailor

[chrisr]

been a bit of that going around lately in this part of the world

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...st-243338.html

decent size boat (18m) but i suppose this doesn't help if you part company with it. happens i guess...deepest condolences to family & friends...

cheers,

[grantmc]

Very sad. Especially so for the family.
Hop that they recover the body.

[Wotname]

Local Tassie ABC news reports the search is now officially called off.

[JPA Cate]

Rest in peace, fellow sailor.

Condolences to friends and family.

Ann

[icemate]

Never want to hear this kind of news. Sailed the Pacific solo myself and I would never let myself topside until I secured my inflatable suspenders to the lifeline while I was still in the hatchway. All we can do is pray some fishing boat finds him alive. Pray for his family.

[Bundyon]

Old Stan is a friend, I am hoping he is found alive but one has to realise that wil be highly unlikely. His wife had died in his arms, her last words to him were; " Go & buy that boat that you have always wanted"!
"Munyana" is a 57' steel Ketch, beautifully fitted out with the best of everything, it was fitted with high solid safety rails, a strong, mechanically sound 220h.p. M.A.N. etc. Stan had solo sailed her from Cairns, tracking the East Coast. Not sure where he actually tracked South East from the mainland to head for Tassie, he was talking about making a straight through run from Newcastle.
"It's okay sailor, we'll take the watch from here"
The last couple of months here in Australia and particularly on the East Coast we have had several tragedies and near tragedies involving boaties, most of them have been experienced sailors?! In November, a good mate on his trawler, tied up two boats from me, stepped onboard late at night and slipped, falling in to the water. I found his body washed up in front of my boat early the next morning. Pete was an extremely experienced skipper. Please be careful out there guys, accidents happen, regardless of experience!

[Mr B]

Very sad to hear, We have had some very high winds over the last week or so here,
This piccy is from Lakes Entrance with Bass Strait in the distance,
No Boats have been going out,
You can see how rough it is out there,

[BugzyCan]

Condolences to Family and Friends.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Bundyon

Old Stan is a friend, I am hoping he is found alive but one has to realise that wil be highly unlikely. His wife had died in his arms, her last words to him were; " Go & buy that boat that you have always wanted"!
"Munyana" is a 57' steel Ketch, beautifully fitted out with the best of everything, it was fitted with high solid safety rails, a strong, mechanically sound 220h.p. M.A.N. etc. Stan had solo sailed her from Cairns, tracking the East Coast. Not sure where he actually tracked South East from the mainland to head for Tassie, he was talking about making a straight through run from Newcastle.
"It's okay sailor, we'll take the watch from here"..........

Thanks for providing some of the back story and it must be hard losing a friend this way. It sounds like he did manage to live his dream for some (short) time - we should be thankful for such opportunities.

The media reports down this way were saying he departed from Eden on Boxing Day (26th) bound for Deal Island. He was reported overdue on the 30th.

The vessel has been towed to Deal Island so both the VIC and TAS police can inspect the vessel. Note - Deal Isand is the land border between VIC and TAS.

[Wckoek]

That was a large yacht for a single handler.
I assume it is a motorsailor from the engine size?

[Bundyon]

Yes, a pilot house motorsailor, but with in mast furling & electric winches etc and a determined sailboat skipper!

[Wckoek]

Originally Posted by Bundyon

Yes, a pilot house motorsailor, but with in mast furling & electric winches etc and a determined sailboat skipper!

I personally is very in much of favouring motorsailor for long distance cruising, but this shows that no design or boat is infallable for accidents.
I hope that miracles do happen and he did survive and found.