William_H
Well-Known Member
My friend has a Archenbou 35 (how do you spell it?) he was racing just before easter in the ocean off Fremantle. The turning mark was a light post part of a lead mark system called South Transit Mark. 2 other boats were turning very close and with spinacker up the boat rounded up to hit the mark. Now the boat turned into the wind and was held by the spin halyard. Now he should have cut the spin halyard but was distracted to find one of the crew was clinging to the post. A steel structure with ladder. In the distraction the top of the mast was broken off. The crew seemed safe enough clinging to the ladder then was seen to climb up to a platform near the top and my friend then set about tidying the boat for return under engine. He said he had drifted about 2Nm getting tidied up.
A passing Mobo was hailed to help by retrieving the crew off the post. Apparently reluctantly he agreed and took off the crew. Now by this time the local sea rescue organisation had been alerted. Our crew man now on the mobo asked to use the radio to advise sea rescue he was safe. Only to find the antenna lying on the floor. Radio is no good advised the skipper. Anyway despite requests other wise our crew was dropped off at our club which is about 30 mins up river from the sea and about 1.5 hours from the post where he was picked up. Crew man immediately on landing tired to contact sea rescue on phone. "Sorry can't talk now we have a search on." "Who are you searching for?" "Sorry can't tell you his name" it took like 15 mins to convince them that it was indeed him they were searching for.
Anyway poor friend is now waiting for mast repairs. At least he still has all the bits. He lost 6 months last season waiting for mast replacement after losing the original mast. That was chopped away in rough waters.
The mobo skipper obviously had no concern about the situation or indeed that his radio was dead. It is a legal requirement to carry a working VHF in these waters. And why did the crew end up on the post? He must have tried to fend off and leaned out too far. I say never try to fend off anything. Boats are tougher than limbs.
Stories from the antipodes. Believe it or not.
olewill
A passing Mobo was hailed to help by retrieving the crew off the post. Apparently reluctantly he agreed and took off the crew. Now by this time the local sea rescue organisation had been alerted. Our crew man now on the mobo asked to use the radio to advise sea rescue he was safe. Only to find the antenna lying on the floor. Radio is no good advised the skipper. Anyway despite requests other wise our crew was dropped off at our club which is about 30 mins up river from the sea and about 1.5 hours from the post where he was picked up. Crew man immediately on landing tired to contact sea rescue on phone. "Sorry can't talk now we have a search on." "Who are you searching for?" "Sorry can't tell you his name" it took like 15 mins to convince them that it was indeed him they were searching for.
Anyway poor friend is now waiting for mast repairs. At least he still has all the bits. He lost 6 months last season waiting for mast replacement after losing the original mast. That was chopped away in rough waters.
The mobo skipper obviously had no concern about the situation or indeed that his radio was dead. It is a legal requirement to carry a working VHF in these waters. And why did the crew end up on the post? He must have tried to fend off and leaned out too far. I say never try to fend off anything. Boats are tougher than limbs.
Stories from the antipodes. Believe it or not.
olewill
