Rescue off Western Australia, crew ok, boat lost.

[GILow]

Sorry for the Facebook link, I can’t seem to find any other.

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianM...9682924850044/

Solo crew member safe.

For those that don’t have access:

Australian Maritime Safety Authority - AMSA

Yesterday we coordinated a rescue approximately 150km off the coast of Exmouth in Western Australia.
One person on-board a yacht reported the vessel was taking on water after dismasting in heavy weather, and they were abandoning into a life raft.
We tasked our Perth Challenger jet and a rescue helicopter from Karratha to respond, and diverted a nearby cargo ship to the area.
The Challenger arrived on scene and confirmed the yacht had sunk, and remained overhead as the solo sailor was winched to safety by the rescue helicopter.
This rescue was another example of how vitally important it is to carry a registered beacon. Thanks to beacon registration information we were able make contact with the sailor’s emergency contact and received important information which lead to immediate tasking of rescue assets.
Register your beacon here: http://ow.ly/wPdg50C0qFS

[LittleWing77]

It's always a relief when the sailor is recovered!

Wonder how he was dismasted?

Warmly,
LittleWing77

[JPA Cate]

Looks like he scuttled her, too. Pretty grim event to have to live through.

Ann

[GILow]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Looks like he scuttled her, too. Pretty grim event to have to live through.

Ann

Not sure about that... if you look at the early footage the boat is very low in the water, he’s in the life raft waving to the AMSA jet.

I think, from that, the boat really was on its way down already. I can’t imagine he’d have scuttled her until he was sure of rescue, and in those seas he couldn’t have got back to the boat to scuttle her safely.

I will see if I can find out more, but I’m betting he left the boat at the last minute, like all good sailors should do.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

It's always a relief when the sailor is recovered!



Wonder how he was dismasted?



Warmly,

LittleWing77

There is a mention of bad weather. I’m not sure, but I think that part of the world produces some nasty seas as a result of waves reflecting off the continent.

I think it may actually be near where Jon Sanders had to abandon a reasonably new boat he was delivering after it started to leak too badly to stay ahead of the water ingress. I seem to recall that this came about from a bad sea state.

Edit: yes from my quick and dirty google plus some dodgy geography it seems Sanders was in a similar location.


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-...rescue/6579042

[BobFord]

Weather from the Southern Ocean can be very severe but is usually predictable. I sailed from south to north last year and experienced 35knot + wind and seas approx. every 7 to 9 days. It can be handled but will sort out any defects in boat or crew !!

[Max Nankervis]

Looks like the white yacht turned red as it sank! Perhaps it was embarrassed at being "scuttled". Or was a it just a quick paint job?

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianM...9682924850044/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-...rescue/6579042

But a good advertisement for having a registered beacon.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Max Nankervis

Looks like the white yacht turned red as it sank! Perhaps it was embarrassed at being "scuttled". Or was a it just a quick paint job?

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianM...9682924850044/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-...rescue/6579042

But a good advertisement for having a registered beacon.

Different events. I linked the Sanders story because it happened in the same area, but a few years ago.

[JPA Cate]

Just thinking, how would you actually know it was time to leave? At first, there's just the inrush of water; you try to stem the flow. Obviously, if you can't, then you don't have to think about scuttling the boat. But at some point, the stern goes down, or the bow, and suddenly you CAN'T get out in time to get clear of the suction of the boat's sinking.

So, how would you pick the moment, knowing that life rafts aren't really all that safe, either? and knowing that you bear the responsibility for the welfare of the crew (if any)?

Imo, not an easy question to answer....

Ann

On edit:watch how the boat in the video sinks.

[olaf hart]

I thought the rule was you only boarded your life raft from the top of your mast....

Not sure what to do if you are dismasted .

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by olaf hart

I thought the rule was you only boarded your life raft from the top of your mast....

Not sure what to do if you are dismasted .

Why, you get into the raft sooner, that's what, and ya don't have to climb the mast first!

Jim

[Wotname]

Hmm... I know there are only scant details ATM but AFAIK, this guy was ~90 nm off the coast. The continental shelf is relatively narrow around Exmouth so I am speculating he was near the edge of the shelf with the corresponding disturbed seas.

IIRC, John Sanders came to grief only 5 nm off the coast where the coast line is an extended line of steep cliffs. Also disturbed seas but for a different reason.

[rosco4271]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Looks like he scuttled her, too. Pretty grim event to have to live through.

Ann

Lots of talk about scuttling a boat but I have never seen a boat and I have been on many that could be intentionally scuttled without a lot of work. So the Scuttling idea is BS

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by rosco4271

Lots of talk about scuttling a boat but I have never seen a boat and I have been on many that could be intentionally scuttled without a lot of work. So the Scuttling idea is BS

No, not BS. Usually easiest is to cut engine intake hose or toilet intake hose. A lot of water can come in through a 3/4" hole. Pretty exciting. Another option would (in some boats) to pull the knot meter transducer.

Plus we know someone who DID scuttle his beloved boat when he had to leave her.

Ann

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by rosco4271

Lots of talk about scuttling a boat but I have never seen a boat and I have been on many that could be intentionally scuttled without a lot of work. So the Scuttling idea is BS

I agree with Ann and I would go so far to say I have never seen a boat that can't be scuttled with relative ease.