Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Here is a link to an article in today's Trinidad Guardian newspaper about a pirogue that was tragically lost at sea at night on Saturday off the Trinidad coast.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/01/11/crew-overboard-2-members-missing
A pirogue typically has a long and lean fibreglass lapstrake hull with considerable sheer and a high bow. They are usually around 18' - 30' in length, and are often propelled by single or twin outboard motors.
For reference here is a link to a fairly typical Trinidad pirogue for sale - note that the beam is relatively narrow : http://ads.boatboss.com/377_Trinidad_Tobago/6859_31_Bowen_Pirogue.html
It would appear from the report that they were using some form of drift net(s) as part of their fauna biodiversity study, and that they had these nets out at night, 14 miles offshore.
We have had strong trade winds in the lower Caribbean recently (its blowing a hooley outside tonight, a good Force 5 - 6) and I can well believe their claim of 4m seas.
Although they say that the nets were 'highly illuminated', I wonder if the vessel was actually displaying appropriate lights indicating that they were fishing or trawling. I hope they at least had red over white all-round lights visible.
It is a very sad story.
I hope that the Authorities in Trinidad will carry out an Investigation similar to what the MAIB might do if this incident occurred in Britain.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/01/11/crew-overboard-2-members-missing
A pirogue typically has a long and lean fibreglass lapstrake hull with considerable sheer and a high bow. They are usually around 18' - 30' in length, and are often propelled by single or twin outboard motors.
For reference here is a link to a fairly typical Trinidad pirogue for sale - note that the beam is relatively narrow : http://ads.boatboss.com/377_Trinidad_Tobago/6859_31_Bowen_Pirogue.html
It would appear from the report that they were using some form of drift net(s) as part of their fauna biodiversity study, and that they had these nets out at night, 14 miles offshore.
We have had strong trade winds in the lower Caribbean recently (its blowing a hooley outside tonight, a good Force 5 - 6) and I can well believe their claim of 4m seas.
Although they say that the nets were 'highly illuminated', I wonder if the vessel was actually displaying appropriate lights indicating that they were fishing or trawling. I hope they at least had red over white all-round lights visible.
It is a very sad story.
I hope that the Authorities in Trinidad will carry out an Investigation similar to what the MAIB might do if this incident occurred in Britain.
