Sailing New England to Australia in February

[Exile]

It's been a little over 24 hrs. since their last AIS blip nr. Block Island. Any chance they turned around and are holed up somewhere with their transponder turned off? Hard to believe they didn't somehow learn about the forecast given the size of the storm.

[RTB]

Originally Posted by Exile

It's been a little over 24 hrs. since their last AIS blip nr. Block Island. Any chance they turned around and are holed up somewhere with their transponder turned off? Hard to believe they didn't somehow learn about the forecast given the size of the storm.

That would be very good news. Otherwise, they are about to get their butts kicked. My fingers are crossed for those guys.

Ralph

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by tartansail

Tell me any sensible person who has sailed in bad weather would choose to go out in this:

Aside from those tightly-packed isobars, the most sobering part of that forecast that jumps out at me is the warning:

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY

If I'm gonna be sailing with ice on the deck, I at least want to be doing it on a boat with a freakin' TOERAIL... ;-)








Hard to imagine a less suitable boat for dealing with heavy weather with freezing spray, than the one those guys are aboard... That oversized raceboat wheel that forces one to step out of the cockpit on to the deck to maneuver around it could be deadly, with ice on deck...

[JPA Cate]

NB for newbies: there are times when conditions are such that rescues cannot be effected in a timely fashion.

Let's hope they decided to head for shelter, and wait it out. They might then only be cold and miserable, but still have their lives.

I still wish them good luck...and am certain they need it.

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by Jon Eisberg

Aside from those tightly-packed isobars, the most sobering part of that forecast that jumps out at me is the warning:

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY

If I'm gonna be sailing with ice on the deck, I at least want to be doing it on a boat with a freakin' TOERAIL... ;-)


Hard to imagine a less suitable boat for dealing with heavy weather with freezing spray, than the one those guys are aboard... That oversized raceboat wheel that forces one to step out of the cockpit on to the deck to maneuver around it could be deadly, with ice on deck...

FWIW, apparently, they understand that going on deck is lethal. The boat is set up so that they shouldn't have to leave the cockpit.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[JulieMac]

Any word or sighting of these ignorantly optimistic chaps?

[savoir]

If they arrive in Bermuda you would expect it to be sometime on Tuesday.

[gah964]

Originally Posted by savoir

If they arrive in Bermuda you would expect it to be sometime on Tuesday.

if that's true they are in the mouth of the beast.

[JPA Cate]

Wish them well, guys, it may not help, but it cannot hurt!

Ann

[Island Time O25]

This is probably the craziest shakedown cruise I've ever heard of. Hope they make it OK and tell about it.

[Oceanride007]

I came across another Aussie in Hawaii, few years ago, he'd bought a wooden boat worked long and hard and was ready for his voyage. Much was wrong.
A concerned American arranged for us to meet.
Enough to say he had friends who all told him not to do it.
This voyage ended in tragedy.

I heard his name mentioned in the news when I was back home in Australia in reference to coroners court I provided testimony and last photo of him.

He told me "I don't want your help"
Thing is, nothing could stop him.


'Nonchalant' solo sailor died from misadventure

[savoir]

In March 2007 I met an Aussie guy in Ala Wai who was repairing a boat and talked of sailing it to Australia. He was in the boatyard between the docks and the bridge. He was short, thin and aged about 60. He was quite friendly but I did not see him sailing. I left in April.

Same guy ?

[Oceanride007]

No Cookies | Herald Sun

Heres a photo of him and his boat. My image that I gave the coroner.

[Oceanride007]

I feel a bit bad that I never started a thread with this info years ago. Sad because not enough is learn't from mistakes. But if I do get a little interest here, I will start a thread. Sorry in advance for thread drift.

[JPA Cate]

Oceanride007,

If you can figure out how to make the thread sensible, go for it! Lots of newbies read the posts, and we never hear of them. But the ones that want to set off and do it, IMO, ought to understand it isn't like buying an SUV and driving across the US or Canada, or Australia, for that matter.

Ann