Yes, this is a sad and tragic event!
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who've just gone through this, especially the parents/family of the
lost child!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Polux
A child died. Very sad I can't imagine the father's pain.
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Looking at the video that Polux linked to, it seems the seas had laid-down quite a bit by the time of the helo
rescue, and there appears to me, to be no reason for abandoning ship???
It seems that that boat could've sailed on for many more miles, without problem....or simply lie to a
sea anchor 'til better
weather...
But, I will not speculate further here....this is not the time/place for that...
Perhaps Atoll will start a new thread about 2015 and the
Azores...
But, 'til then, many will find this thread helpful...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-122743-5.html
Chuck, makes a great observation here....April is VERY early in the season....heck April isn't in "the season" at all!!
I crossed in late June (June 26 to July 16, 2007; S. FL to Horta, and then onto Gib..), had one wicked Full Gale from a nasty Low/front coming off N. America and some other average
weather.....but no Storms.....
(had the
autopilot drive bracket come loose in that Gale, at night of course, so had to hand steer 'til morning when I fixed it....but no damage, no issues at all!!)
Unless you need to be in N. Europe or N. UK in the middle of the summer, June has almost always been the preferred month for a west-to-east Atlantic sailing passage....
{having written that, my parents crossed in April / May....left S. FL April 2nd for
Bermuda, then left
Bermuda April 30th for Horta, arriving May 13th...all in the late 70's....and they "sailed", 'cause the
lost the
diesel just 150 miles out of Bermuda! And, it was cold and rough, the whole way....reefed main, lots of weather, etc....I was happily warm in S. FL. and I flew over that summer!

}
Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckr
We crossed over in 2013 and did not even think of leaving Antigua until May. We left May 1 as we watched front after front come off the east coast of the USA and just did not feel it was a good time to go. We had one window that kinda looked good the week before we left and talking with Chris Parker and looking at the models I decided to sit as if the front moved farther south than forecast it would not be good. We sat. We found out 2 other boats left on the window and both did not make it to the Azores as we got boat watches on the way across and once in Horta we found out a 3rd boat also was missing. The front did come down farther south and it got real nasty.
It just seems a bit early to cross right now but what do I know.
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My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who've just gone through this sad event!
And, I'm not sure anyone who has just been hauled up into a chopper from the N. Atlantic and/or who has just lost a child, would ever agree that there could be some good to come out of their tragedy, I think there are lessons to be learned here...
1) The N. Atlantic isn't a lake...she can be a
bitch!
2) Non-trade winds sailing across the N. Atlantic (west-to-east) requires something more than "milk run" skills...like night and day, different!
3) The weather in a west-to-east crossing of the N. Atlantic must be respected....the Lows/Fronts coming off N. America are often underestimated...
Again, my prayers go out to all....
And, fair winds to everyone..
John