Yacht Broaches

[CHAZ]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Any German speakers..?

Yes, but you wouldn't understand

The boat was the German "MERI TUULI"
http://http://www.marinetraffic.com/...MMSI=211502660

from a German sailing school named "Well-Sailing".
http://http://www.well-sailing.de/we...ling_news.html

On the afternoon of 10.04. the s/v Meri Tuuli (13,50m, Typ X-442) broached in a big wave during the aproach to the harber of Figueira da Foz. Wind was sw 4-5.
All five crews were washed over board (all PFD's).
The skipper got back on board and shot a flare. All crew was picked up by the rescue vessels(2).
The skipper then tried to rig a tow but one off the rescue boats met a big wave and broached too (that's when the two lifes were lost) and any towing was abandoned.
The skipper was experienced and knew the coast well.

I hope this helps a bit.

Martin

[CHAZ]

Sorry about the links.

Here we go again

MERI TUULI - Vessel's Details and Current Position - 0 - 211502660

and

Well-Sailing: Aktuelles

That's all I found about this sad story.

Martin

[boatman61]

Thanks for that.. it does get bad there.. big local fishing boats have been rolled in the recent past.. this year the rains been really heavy so there'll be loads of sediment coming down the river..
they have a Dredger working the channel up to the docks nearly full time to keep it open for shipping... if the swells is up your as well doing the extra 60 miles down to Peniche.. for info on entry status for ports along the coast in blowy weather call Roca Control on 16.. very helpful I've found..
But.. end of April onwards the sea's ease off.. but that does not mean get casual.. use the leading marks..
Ballsy Skipper..
As you say.. a very sad accident.. once again my condolences to the familys.

[Pelagic]

It appears that the rescuers made a tragic mistake in trying to tow a heavy displacement, probably flooded sailboat with a light displacement rib in steep sea conditions, instead of just saving the yacht crew.

[bobconnie]

Harbor entrances with Bars are bad anywhere! Theres a bunch on the Northern Cali coast and many on the Oregon coast! anytime the wind blows hard and it's been raining, ya better have a tide book or ask for the tides from the Coasties, cus you are gonna need that knowage for sure to be safe, and keep your boat in one piece! A lot of us have jogged off on a bar entrance waiting for tide changes to get inside !! Ive come close to broaching a time or two myself! I feel for the folks who tryed to help the boat out ! Heck of a job, lot's of folks have gone away trying to help others !

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

It appears that the rescuers made a tragic mistake in trying to tow a heavy displacement, probably flooded sailboat with a light displacement rib in steep sea conditions, instead of just saving the yacht crew.

If the skipper was on the boat trying to rig a tow I doubt very much they'd have left without him.. machismo and adrenalin would not allow it.. don't know if the tow was actually attached..
there's always lots of fishermen on the breakwaters 24/7, also the marina manager should have the 'local' story so may get an account when I go down in the week.

[CHAZ]

Originally Posted by boatman61

If the skipper was on the boat trying to rig a tow I doubt very much they'd have left without him.. machismo and adrenalin would not allow it.. don't know if the tow was actually attached..
there's always lots of fishermen on the breakwaters 24/7, also the marina manager should have the 'local' story so may get an account when I go down in the week.

Thanks Boatman61, I would like to know some more about this story.

I read about 4-5m waves with at least two 8m (the ones that rolled the two boats) and a closing of the harbor for small vessels. But this is from the boulevard press so it's reader beware.
the same for the previous article, it's from the sailing school that run(s) the Meri Tuuli so reader beware about some details in the story.

All this awareness about bewareness brings me close to broaching too

Martin

[goboatingnow]

Its why I stay well offshore in big swells that dog that coast line. It can get very nasty


dave

[Nicholson58]

Panoramio - Photos of the World

found this photo on Google Earth - if the link works. Rough approach in bad weather.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Panoramio - Photos of the World

found this photo on Google Earth - if the link works. Rough approach in bad weather.

Huh!

Dave

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Huh!

Dave

SORRY, Tried something new & now I can't find the same shot. here are a few others. It looked like shoals & big rollers.

[Astrid]

Here's a German news item. It appears the vessel in question was from the Well Sailing school in Hamburg as Chaz said earlier.


Unglück: Hamburger Yacht in Portugal gestrandet - zwei Tote | SegelReporter

Well Sailing:

http://www.well-sailing.de/

[goboatingnow]

Wind over tide approach, with the river flooding , not a good judgement call.

dave

[CHAZ]

And this from Astrids link

Moving North | Time Bandit

It seems they acted smarter on Time Bandit.

Martin

[boatman61]

Yup... Time Bandit definitely made the right call..
The skinny I got today in Fig was that they called in while still over the horizon and were told the Port was closed.. nothing more was heard until a couple of hours later when they tried to make the entrance.. from here I can only surmise they hit hard as they lost the mast... they then tried to motor out of trouble but had not cleared the wreckage and fouled the prop in short order leaving them helpless and being driven on shore... they were lucky they hit sand as there's a rock breakwater for the harbour then another big rocky groyne about 600metres down the beach.
Waves/swell was around 5-6metres... apparently they'd picked up all the crew and the skipper when a big wave caught the big rib and flipped her... that's when the rib driver and yacht skipper died..
Why did they try coming in...
Teutonic pride..? Guess we'll have to wait for the inquest..
Rudders smashed but remarkably no visual damage to the hull apart from a bit of scouring from the sand.. oh.. and the mast/rig..