Sailing New England to Australia in February

[Compactorguy]

Well they didn't get very far


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[savoir]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Ummm, as a Yank who has been sailing in Oz for over 20 years now, I'd have to disagree strongly with the above statement.

The Aussie VMRs are full of, well, volunteers. They are pretty much funded by subscriptions and a bit of gov money. They don't have any rescue helicopters, C-130s,
150+ foot cutters, or folks trained in the use of such assets. The VMRs are full of good ole boys, some of whom are pretty good seamen, and they have done a lot of good work over the years.

But they are not in any way the equivalent of the USCG. They could not have even considered this rescue, even if it had been nearer to shore.

The crew of the Sedona is damn lucky to have had the real CG at hand! And I'm glad they did... even though I am still an American tax-payer!

Jim

Correct.

Australia's coast guard are just a bunch of hooray Henrys who like to strut around in military style uniforms and act important. Their active role is limited to holding meetings and attending to easy coastal rescues. Even so I can't be too critical. Some years back they did haul me off a sandbar in Lake Macquarie.

Locals might remember when the channel had a huge dogleg near the airport. How was I to know that the can directly in front of me wasn't the next mark ?

No damage done . . . . . except to my ego.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by savoir

Correct.

Australia's coast guard are just a bunch of hooray Henrys who like to strut around in military style uniforms and act important. Their active role is limited to holding meetings and attending to easy coastal rescues. Even so I can't be too critical. Some years back they did haul me off a sandbar in Lake Macquarie.

Locals might remember when the channel had a huge dogleg near the airport. How was I to know that the can directly in front of me wasn't the next mark ?

No damage done . . . . . except to my ego.

I can't believe you would put down the wonderful 'voluntary' work these guys do. No, they are not a paid coast guard like the US has. But they give invaluable service around our country and I for one find them incredibly comforting to be following me when I do a skeg. And for what you call 'easy coastal rescues', in which many lives have been saved. Are you an Auzzie? Because you certainly don't sound like one.

[hoppy]

There once was a couple of Aussie sailors in Nantucket.
They looked at the weather forecast and thought “oh f.ck it”
The son said with glee, "Let’s just head out to sea”
and if things turn to ****, we’ll get out of it,
when the coast guard hoists us up in their rescue bucket

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by hoppy

There once was a couple of Aussie sailors in Nantucket.
They looked at the weather forecast and thought “oh f.ck it”
The son said with glee, "Let’s just head out to sea”
and if things turn to ****, we’ll get out of it,
when the coast guard hoists us up in their rescue bucket

Is your name really McGonagall?

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by hoppy

There once was a couple of Aussie sailors in Nantucket.
They looked at the weather forecast and thought “oh f.ck it”
The son said with glee, "Let’s just head out to sea”
and if things turn to ****, we’ll get out of it,
when the coast guard hoists us up in their rescue bucket

ok oi oi

[StuM]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Is your name really McGonagall?

I think it might be Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings of Sussex.

[Julie Mor]

Almost 200 miles was sailed in the first day heading to Bermuda, then problems started, the alternator on the yanmar stopped functioning properly, wind generator wasn't charging correctly, making it hard for the auto pilot to operate, which was also brand new for the trip, the sails were lowered going into the second night to resolve a remedy, whilst the sails were lowered both the main and smaller headsail were torn,they then started to motor south after around 1 hour of this the motor decided to stop working. The call was put out on the radio, it was not answered, they tried the sat phone and at the same time the epirb was set off, the conditions were only around 15-20 knots at the time the epirb was activated, around 1 hour later the storm hit and both were airlifted off for there safety.

Where to begin?...

So the main and storm jib(?) were both torn. This happened in 15-20 knot winds?

If so, what kind of condition were the sails in when they left?

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by Julie Mor

Where to begin?...

So the main and storm jib(?) were both torn. This happened in 15-20 knot winds?

If so, what kind of condition were the sails in when they left?

Probably the sort of condition any reasonable person would assume them to be in, on a tired 43' raceboat that was sold on eBay for $10K by the charity to which it had been donated after sitting idle for years... that would be my guess...

;-)

[Cormorant]

There's a brief post-rescue interview with NBC here:

After Coast Guard Rescue, Australian Defends Doomed Sea Trip - NBC News

Interesting tidbit is:
"That boat, tracked by the Coast Guard, was, at last update Monday morning, floating somewhere off the coast of Delaware."

[Coastal]

How will they salvage it?

"The pair plan to retrieve the 13 metre Sedona, which remains afloat, and have it shipped back to Australia.”

Read more at Aussie father and son plan to salvage yacht after being dramatically plucked from storm by US Coast Guard - 9news.com.au

[leftbrainstuff]

[QUOTE=Ryan H;1750153]

Originally Posted by Mirage Gecko

From a different perspective try this.
I don't know the area they are in also no nothing about the weather other than what I read on this thread.But from that limited info seems pretty dumb to have a crack in those conditions considering boat ,personal experience of the crew etc as we know it.
But what I would find interesting to know if other boats where in the vicinity at the same time and if so how did they get on?
Chris.[/QU

We're pretty close. Sitting in about 8" of ice plus 6'-9' of snow. This was a picture from the day before that last storm. Can't see the boats, the dock, or the space between them. got another two feet on saturday on top of whats in the picture. Recent high of 1°f on sunday, in the -20's with wind chill. My guess is they just couldnt stand the weather and tried to escape. Still scratching my head as to how though, if I could make it to open water I'd be tempted about now too. :-P

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You can't compare aussie marine rescue with the USCG. In Oz it's the navy that performs all of the offshore maritime rescue.

While the rescued can be abused and harangued for their decisions the USCG once again demonstrate their utter professionalism.

As an Aussie I'm in awe of the USCG capabilities. We have no equivalent in Oz. The RNLI in the UK is also a great organization.

Originally Posted by D&D

Spot on Jim...and well put too.

The differences in immediately available men and machines for marine rescue is frequently noted around OZ as we deal with -- Some would say 'barely', but always with committed effort -- the world's largest marine rescue 'jurisdiction'. Australia's maritime (and aviation) search & rescue zone stretches through parts of the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans and amounts to 52.8 million square kilometres, or roughly 12% of the Earth’s surface.

Oh boy...we would sure love some (a lot!) of those USCG assets!!

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[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by savoir

Correct.

Australia's coast guard are just a bunch of hooray Henrys who like to strut around in military style uniforms and act important. Their active role is limited to holding meetings and attending to easy coastal rescues. Even so I can't be too critical. Some years back they did haul me off a sandbar in Lake Macquarie.

Locals might remember when the channel had a huge dogleg near the airport. How was I to know that the can directly in front of me wasn't the next mark ?

No damage done . . . . . except to my ego.

Australia doesn't have a coast guard. Numerous groups perform close in maritime rescue including SES, police, fire boats, etc.

When called they do a good job. The navy, airforce, sometimes customs and border patrol and commercial vessels are called upon to respond for offshore emergencies.

They have been very effective but it would be great to have a military based coast guard.

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[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by hoppy

There once was a couple of Aussie sailors in Nantucket.
They looked at the weather forecast and thought “oh f.ck it”
The son said with glee, "Let’s just head out to sea”
and if things turn to ****, we’ll get out of it,
when the coast guard hoists us up in their rescue bucket

Sometimes poetry is just a better summary.

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[Roniszoro]

"The pair plan to retrieve the 13 metre Sedona, which remains afloat, and have it shipped back to Australia.

I think these guys have totally lost their minds, on the somewhat optimistic assumption that they had minds to lose. They can have no clue as to the cost of sending a boat to Australia. I can only conclude that they fall into the double digit IQ category. Their past and current behavior certainly supports that.