Sailing New England to Australia in February

[Julie Mor]

It looks like the belief "sail to the SW quadrant of a hurricane, it's the safe side" isn't panning out too well.

[Jason Flare]

Originally Posted by Julie Mor

It looks like the belief "sail to the SW quadrant of a hurricane, it's the safe side" isn't panning out too well.

The boat may be afloat at the end of the storm, in which case it survived.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Julie Mor

It looks like the belief "sail to the SW quadrant of a hurricane, it's the safe side" isn't panning out too well.

Not necessarily.

They may have only encountered 40 knots instead of 70. Chances are the big issue was the cold. I can't imagine the misery of 40 knots and 20f.

[jrevkin]

The were rescued at 0900 h EST this morning, 140 miles south of Nantucket, by a USCG Jayhawk chopper.

Australia-Bound Sailors Rescued At Sea During Blizzard « CBS Boston

backstory.

Father-son duo delays trip back home to Australia - NewportRI.com l News and information for Newport, Rhode Island: Local State

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by Julie Mor

It looks like the belief "sail to the SW quadrant of a hurricane, it's the safe side" isn't panning out too well.

Originally Posted by savoir

Not necessarily.

They may have only encountered 40 knots instead of 70. Chances are the big issue was the cold. I can't imagine the misery of 40 knots and 20f.

In the summer, the wind and the storm surge are the killers. In the winter, it's the cold. The backside of a storm in this area can be 20-30 degrees colder than the front side. I'm sitting at the top of Narragansett Bay. The storm has passed. The wind is NNW 30+ with gusts to 45. The temp is 13F and dropping. I haven't left the house all day. It's the sensible decision in weather like this.

Just like those of us in the Northeast can't appreciate how deadly the 120 degree temperatures in the desert are, those from OZ who think that "cold" is 32F are going to make some bad decisions. I'm glad all are alive, well and, hopefully, a little more respectful of Mother Nature.

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by Capecoder

Coast Guard saves father, son on sailboat during blizzard - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Does this mean they get a new 90-day entry stamp that gives them enough time to buy another boat and do it again?

[Coastal]

From: CG AIR STATION CAPE COD

Coast Guard rescues Australia-bound sailors

Pair makes it 200 miles into a 10,000-mile journey

A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod helicopter crew returns Sunday from rescuing a father and son from a sailboat about 150 miles south of Nantucket. After navigating through low visibility and near hurricane-force winds, the crew safely hoisted the men and returned to Air Station Cape Cod. The sailboat had to be abandoned.

CG AIR STATION CAPE COD — The Coast Guard rescued a father and son Sunday morning who were trying to sail from Rhode Island to Australia as the height of the snowstorm descended on the area.
The Coast Guard received an alert beacon signal from the operator of the Sedona, a 43-foot sailing vessel, at 4:50 a.m., according to a news release. After contacting the men via satellite phone, the operator reported that the sailboat had lost power and its sails were torn in the storm.

Coast Guard Lt. Bryan Hoyt, stationed at Air Station Cape Cod, said a MH-60 helicopter left the base at about 6:30 a.m. and headed to the Sedona, which was about 190 miles southeast off the shore of Cape Cod. The operator reported the helicopter arrived at the boat at 8:48 a.m., according to the release.

During the rescue, the conditions steadily worsened; the four-member crew was dealing with low visibility, 25-foot seas and winds hitting 55 knots, or about 63 mph.

“They were right in the eye of the storm,” said Hoyt, who was the backup pilot on the mission and remained at the base.

Both men on the sailboat had to ditch their craft and jump into the 43-degree ocean, where they were met by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Everyone was returned to the helicopter safely despite the heavy westerly winds and thunder and lightning in the area, Hoyt said.

The helicopter returned to the base at about 10:50 a.m., the release states, and the men received medical attention there before being evaluated by local emergency medical personnel for possible cold-weather injuries. The Guard release did not note their names nor current medical status.

According to the Newport News, the Sedona was owned by Jason McGlashan, who purchased it on eBay, the online auction site, for $10,000. Jason McGlashan told the paper he and his father, Reg, planned to make the 8,600-nautical mile voyage to Port Macquarie, Australia, over six to eight weeks.

“We’ve never done anything like this. Dad’s not even a sailor, but he’s a quick study,” Jason McGlashan told the Newport Daily News. “We've got plenty of food, plenty of booze, good sails and all the safety gear you could ever need, so we’re going to be OK.”
The boat left Conanicut Marina on Narragansett Bay on Friday, Hoyt said.

[Suijin]

I'm a bit flabbergasted that they set out at all.

In retrospect, they're lucky that they got into trouble this early and it came to an early and non-lethal conclusion.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Coastal

From: CG AIR STATION CAPE COD

Coast Guard rescues Australia-bound sailors

Pair makes it 200 miles into a 10,000-mile journey

A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod helicopter crew returns Sunday from rescuing a father and son from a sailboat about 150 miles south of Nantucket. After navigating through low visibility and near hurricane-force winds, the crew safely hoisted the men and returned to Air Station Cape Cod. The sailboat had to be abandoned.

CG AIR STATION CAPE COD — The Coast Guard rescued a father and son Sunday morning who were trying to sail from Rhode Island to Australia as the height of the snowstorm descended on the area.
The Coast Guard received an alert beacon signal from the operator of the Sedona, a 43-foot sailing vessel, at 4:50 a.m., according to a news release. After contacting the men via satellite phone, the operator reported that the sailboat had lost power and its sails were torn in the storm.

Coast Guard Lt. Bryan Hoyt, stationed at Air Station Cape Cod, said a MH-60 helicopter left the base at about 6:30 a.m. and headed to the Sedona, which was about 190 miles southeast off the shore of Cape Cod. The operator reported the helicopter arrived at the boat at 8:48 a.m., according to the release.

During the rescue, the conditions steadily worsened; the four-member crew was dealing with low visibility, 25-foot seas and winds hitting 55 knots, or about 63 mph.

“They were right in the eye of the storm,” said Hoyt, who was the backup pilot on the mission and remained at the base.

Both men on the sailboat had to ditch their craft and jump into the 43-degree ocean, where they were met by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Everyone was returned to the helicopter safely despite the heavy westerly winds and thunder and lightning in the area, Hoyt said.

The helicopter returned to the base at about 10:50 a.m., the release states, and the men received medical attention there before being evaluated by local emergency medical personnel for possible cold-weather injuries. The Guard release did not note their names nor current medical status.

According to the Newport News, the Sedona was owned by Jason McGlashan, who purchased it on eBay, the online auction site, for $10,000. Jason McGlashan told the paper he and his father, Reg, planned to make the 8,600-nautical mile voyage to Port Macquarie, Australia, over six to eight weeks.

“We’ve never done anything like this. Dad’s not even a sailor, but he’s a quick study,” Jason McGlashan told the Newport Daily News. “We've got plenty of food, plenty of booze, good sails and all the safety gear you could ever need, so we’re going to be OK.”
The boat left Conanicut Marina on Narragansett Bay on Friday, Hoyt said.

Nice looking boat for $10k. At least they havn't lost too much then.

[Dhillen]

"She'll be right mate," seems like that philosophy doesn't always work out especially for intended Darwin Award recipients like these two first class fools.

Losing their boat and everything on it is the lightest of penalties they suffered while deserving oh so much more.

Dhillen

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Nice looking boat for $10k. At least they havn't lost too much then.

Not monetarily, perhaps, but an event like this can be very hard on their self-esteem.

None of the people I've known who survived losing a boat took it easily.

Ann

[downunder]

Another rescue. Bet both the crew and the search crew are thankful for EPIRB.

Another rescue in USA - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[Evenstar]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Nice looking boat for $10k. At least they havn't lost too much then.

?? All the gelcoat had flaked off...not looking too nice from people I've talked to.

[Coastal]

Here's the CG video of the rescue.
Oh, you know they totally messed up, these two but my God I'm happy to see that they're in good shape. Look at the Dad, Reg. Boy, he looks happy to be alive, also looks totally ticked but that's a luxury right now & he knows it. Look at Jason, he's totally spent. I'm so sure he tried. God love em.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5LOWGhB5TY

[savoir]

The boat was floating on its lines, the mast and boom were intact.

Oh well.


Is that snow flying past the camera ?