Pic of grounding at Oregon Inlet this week

[live2kite]

This was the first sailboat I ever saw trying to navigate Oregon Inlet (NC Outer Banks) and they didn't quite make it. I think this occurred on Sunday when NE winds were gusting close to 40 knots. Can't imagine what motivated them to attempt this especially in these conditions but I don't know any details other than the accout below. Don't know the current status of the vessel either. Anyone know the boat or crew??


Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued three people from the crew of the sailing vessel Noah’s Ark II stating that they were listing heavily to one side and had a fouled propeller.
Coast Guard members from Station Oregon Inlet gained visual contact with the Noah’s Ark II at 11:06 a.m. and launched a 47-foot motor life boat to assist, but the crew of the sailing vessel went hard aground inside the inlet and anchored the boat in water too shallow for the station’s motor life boat to transit.
A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., diverted to assist. When they arrived on scene, they hoisted all three crewmembers aboard the helicopter and transported them safely to Station Oregon Inlet.
Credits to tv WNCT

[Pelagic]

Not a wise decision... did the come from outside?

[SilentOption]

This story will likely end up in that magazine that runs the "What we did wrong" storys.

They need to start way back at the beginning like when they decided to get into boating. I'm sure it was entertaining for the surf fishing crowd.

[gonesail]

nice looking ketch. i guess lady luck was not with them this time ...

[camaraderie]

I know the guy you runs SeaTow here and he was out there during the rescue. These pix he took show the 35-40kt. conditions in the inlet.
This is NOT a sailboat inlet in calm weather and currents and shoaling are constant and it requires local knowledge normally.
The story is:
This is a well built Shannon Ketch that was headed from NY to the Bahamas/Florida offshore around Cape Hatteras. The boats props got caught in some line or nets and stopped the engine and they decided to come in the inlet under sail and were hard aground quickly. The depths were such that the CG boat could not get to them and a heli was called in to lift them off. You can see they guy on deck trying to bring the basket down.
Fortunately all were saved and even more fortunately the boat is OK. The next morning with the rising tide she was lifted off and floated clear and was easily towed into Wanchese at the south end of Roanoke Island where she sits on the hard today with little damage. Apparently, the owners want no more of sailing and will be putting her up for sale.
Thanks to Capt. Stuart Wescott for the pix!

[Hud3]

Cam,

Thanks for the update--great pics! Darn shame to end a sailing career that way.

[imagine2frolic]

Is that flatter water behind the boat the channel? Yes, it is a sad way to end sailing.

[rtbates]

A man must know his limitations. And they now know thiers, apparently.

I suppose in a way it is a shame. But, obviously they weren't all that into sailing if this one incedent stops them. And more to the point they couldn't have been too experienced if they chose to enter there given the conditions. Take a look at the chart and tell me if any of you would even remotely consider trying it? Does it look like a possible entry? I wonder what their GPS chartplotter showed?

The up side is hopefully that beautiful vessel will go to someone who has the experience and knowledge to know better than to try to run a tricky inlet in heavy weather in order to get to land when heading off shore was the more prudent thing to do.

Maybe they'll buy an RV with the money from the sale. I wish them the best.
The good news is the vessel isn't too damaged.

[svHyLyte]

For the most part it isn't the sea that sinks boats, it's all the hard stuff around the edges. I'll wager that the crew were relying on an electronic navigation system that told them exactly where they weren't. Frankly, what I don't understand is why they headed for shore to begin with. It's a very sturdy sea boat. It seems to me they could have sailed easterly, across the Stream until they got into relatively calmer seas, hove-too, and put a man over the side with a box cutter to clear the prop.

Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt.

s/v HyLyte

[imagine2frolic]

I once had to go over the side with th box cutter in 50 degree water with only shorts and a t-shirt....talk about purple

[svHyLyte]

See the following:

[stevensc]

Looking at the pictures I think I'd have had a hard time deciding to leave the boat and get into that basket ride.
Of course looking at the pictures and being there are quite different.
Sad story regardless.
Steve

[Pelagic]

Dare I say……. They pulled a Ronnie !

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Dare I say……. They pulled a Ronnie !

OUCH!!!!!!! These guys were lucky enough to pull off to the side of the road to fix their flat!!!!!

[David M]

You always wonder what someones thoughts are before doing something like this. Why would someone try this?...what was his reasoning? Were they oblivious to the facts or knew the facts and thought they could make it through?