At Sea Rescue

[markpierce]

GF found her photos of the 2003 rescue of three sailors by the cruise ship Statendam on the way from San Diego to Hawaii. After the sailors came to the ship on their OB-powered dinghy, the sailboat was left to its own devices.





Taking into account the overboard-suicide, we arrived with two more souls than when we departed. As this was my first, I didn't know how exciting ocean cruising could be, whether on a boat or ship.

[roverhi]

What were the circumstances of the abandonment of the boat?? Looks like about as benign conditions as you'll find out there and the boat looks okay. Was the sailboat ever seen again??

[Sabbatical II]

Originally Posted by roverhi

What were the circumstances of the abandonment of the boat?? Looks like about as benign conditions as you'll find out there and the boat looks okay. Was the sailboat ever seen again??

The circumstances might have included an insurance policy. If it wasn't a medical emergency it's hard to imagine leaving that boat in those sea conditions if one didn't have insurance.

Greg

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by roverhi

What were the circumstances of the abandonment of the boat?? Looks like about as benign conditions as you'll find out there and the boat looks okay. Was the sailboat ever seen again??

Here is a written account found on the Internet:

"Statendam Rescues Sailors: It’s been an eventful month for Holland America’s Statendam which at present is sailing San Diego-to-Hawaii itineraries. On top of a passenger overboard (never found), anti-cruise demonstrators waiting on the dock at Molokai to protest the “big ship’s” arrival, and the rough seas that prevented the ship from arriving there the first time -- Statendam recently rescued three men off a 45-foot yacht, who’d called in a distress signal to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"Upon receiving the request, Statendam motored directly to the yacht, making its maiden voyage, which had been taking on water in 25 ft. seas. Ship officers and crew managed, in dramatic fashion, to bring the three men on board as a Coast Guard plane hovered. The rescuees remained on Statendam until it arrived in Honolulu. Alas, because the ship detoured out of its path to conduct the rescue, it had to kibosh its only other planned call this year at the small island of Molokai, a move which no doubt will disappoint planned demonstrations against the ship once again."


There are gross inaccuracies in this account. There was no helicopter hovering let alone in view. The only thing "dramatic" was seeing the sailboat from afar, appearing and then disappearing behind the gentle waves as the ship approached. The ship had no difficulty locating the boat, requiring a 600-mile detour. I never got the full story, but it seems the sailors had "difficulties" with the boat and one was feeling ill. Perhaps "maiden voyage" had something to do with it.

The detour lengthened the planned five-day leg to Hawaii to six.

[Unicorn Dreams]

CIRCUMSTANCES

Stubbed tou or hangover maybe.

Wish I was in the neighborhood then, EASY MONEY