USCG Search for missing couple in Atlantic

[Sea Wolf]

Sad. We all know the risks when we choose to cruise… but to make any off shore voyage and especially to cross the ocean without an EPIRB is just foolhardy.

I hope they’re found and will keep them in our prayers.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by Sea Wolf

Sad. We all know the risks when we choose to cruise… but to make any off shore voyage and especially to cross the ocean without an EPIRB is just foolhardy.

I hope they’re found and will keep them in our prayers.

You should read the entire thread. They limped back in.

[Amapola]

Sudden storms can be deadly, especially during this time of year.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

The sailors didn't call in, their relatives did. So the sailors didn't know the CG was looking for them and therefore had no reason to report in that they were fine.

Regardless, the Relatives should have been able to inform the crew that they had been reported as Missing, as we heard.

Seems strange that the crew didn't know they were being searched for.
They had communication with relatives.
Why not the CG.

Why did they " find" them 80 miles offshore.
The CG should have had their iridium phone number to call.

They called in to the Relatives.
Probably worried about being charged for the locate.
Weird.
BYD

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Amapola

Sudden storms can be deadly, especially during this time of year.

It's one thing you can count on mid summer in Florida....
Violent Thunderstorms and Hurricanes!

I love the cold, dark, wet, lonely weather in Washington.
Wonderful!
Boatyarddog

[merrydolphin]

Wow, sooooooo glad that they are ok.

That has always been a fear of mine. Being struck be lightning while out to sea. Always apprehensive in an electrical storm. I carry a Garman Inreach. I can put out an sos or distress message WITH TEXT included. “Struck be lightning, all ok. No radio. Turned around, heading back.” Or what ever. This works nearly anywhere on earth! You need an inexpensive account, and the device is only 2-300 dollars. I keep in the oven that is grounded along with a spare gps. And handheld VHF. As a faraday cage.

The other factor that came to mind when I first read this is: There is no question that a senior aged coupe is a short handed crew that perhaps is also a little lacking in physical ability. I say this because I have cruised this way a good while myself. Two people are short handed to begin with, then we plug in our age and there is no doubt that a crew of 3-4 with a mix of ages and abilities is a definite safety factor. When I look back at when I was in my 30-50’s, there is quite a change in what I could do then and now. Again, soooooo glad that they are ok and will have some sea stories to tell! And I hope, really hope that they had an EPIRB. A must. ( unless you really don’t want to be rescued: some people don’t. )

[dannc]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

...

Why did they " find" them 80 miles offshore.
The CG should have had their iridium phone number to call.

They called in to the Relatives.
Probably worried about being charged for the locate.
Weird.
BYD

The USCG was searching based on the daughter saying there had been no further contact with the crew. The USCG does not charge for their efforts. My understanding the USCG is prohibited from charging.

Later,
Dan

[jeanathon]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

Regardless, the Relatives should have been able to inform the crew that they had been reported as Missing, as we heard.

Seems strange that the crew didn't know they were being searched for.
They had communication with relatives.
Why not the CG.

Why did they " find" them 80 miles offshore.
The CG should have had their iridium phone number to call.

They called in to the Relatives.
Probably worried about being charged for the locate.
Weird.
BYD

Have you considered that due to the lightning strike the phone might have worked once then died, or perhaps went overboard, or perhaps was stored below so it wouldn't go overboard and had no reception?
There many other possible scenarios then they worried about being charged.

[Cynara]

I didn't read your entire post so I may have missed something.

I read you had taken the sails down. Do you still think that was a good choice.

We were in 60+ knots and hove-to.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by Cynara

I didn't read your entire post so I may have missed something.

I read you had taken the sails down. Do you still think that was a good choice.

We were in 60+ knots and hove-to.

The boat is now safely back in the US.


Later,
Dan

[Cynara]

Thanks but I was asking about the the other story

[PippaB]

Originally Posted by Bobby Lex

According to the Coast Guard BOLO the boat had "no registered EPIRB".

SMH

Bob

Originally Posted by Stewie12

Certainly makes a case for getting an EPIRB.

Originally Posted by Sea Wolf

Sad. We all know the risks when we choose to cruise… but to make any off shore voyage and especially to cross the ocean without an EPIRB is just foolhardy.

I hope they’re found and will keep them in our prayers.

This seems to be a common sentiment here on CF, but why "should" they have had an EPIRB? Cruisers go sailing voluntarily. Why not just be responsible for ourselves? Why do we expect someone else to risk their lives to rescue us from poor decisions/bad luck when engaged in a voluntary pursuit? Some people will want that safety net, and society provides it, fair enough. But this couple didn't call for help, or ask for it, or anything else. If their position on responsibility is that they will take care of themselves why should we say different? In the end, what difference would an EPIRB have made in this case? Zero, none, because they would not have set it off.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by PippaB

This seems to be a common sentiment here on CF, but why "should" they have had an EPIRB? Cruisers go sailing voluntarily. Why not just be responsible for ourselves? Why do we expect someone else to risk their lives to rescue us from poor decisions/bad luck when engaged in a voluntary pursuit? Some people will want that safety net, and society provides it, fair enough. But this couple didn't call for help, or ask for it, or anything else. If their position on responsibility is that they will take care of themselves why should we say different? In the end, what difference would an EPIRB have made in this case? Zero, none, because they would not have set it off.

Exactly..

[CaptTom]

I can't pass judgement without knowing exactly what was said, and what was heard, on that initial phone call. If the sailors indicated they were in any kind of peril, then it's on them. If the relatives took it upon themselves to declare an emergency without justification, then it's their fault.

More likely it was a case where the sailors said something a sailor would understand, but a lubber wouldn't.

It does seem odd the sailors never called back to give status updates. But again, I wasn't there. Maybe there was a reason not too.

The lesson in all of this is communication. Make sure you're understood when you do communicate, and provide status updates if you've reported any anomaly.

[JPA Cate]

There's a sort of vibe here that the people who rescued their boat and themselves following bad weather offshore somehow did something wrong. I'm feeling they did everything right! They took care of themselves and their boat. As experienced cruisers, they decided they didn't need help; they needed perseverance including taking care of each other. PippaB is correct, they wouldn't have set off an EPIRB for a situation they thought they could deal with. Why on earth would they?

They might be remiss in their communications to those ashore with whom they had a verbal contract, but unless those people told them they had been reported overdue, how would they know? For example, Jim and I spent years telling our loved ones when we were leaving and when we thought we'd be in port (with a safety factor for delays), but they only heard from us after we had cleared Customs and completed entry formalities. This was back in the days of snail mail, although in countries where third party traffic was allowed, we would get radio patches to talk to our mothers, when they were alive. There's no need to travel as if you have an umbilicus ashore, unless that's what you want.

Ann

On edit: Actually, from an emotional point of view, it can feel extremely important to get the boat to safety yourselves. After our knock-down and then the dismasting, we felt kind of battered emotionally; it was very important for our self esteem to bring the boat to safety ourselves. And in fact, the water was on the outside, and although quite battered (when the mast came down it did a lot of damage), we had full diesel tank, and we just motored. Those guys sailed! Good on them!