ARC+ under way and making way.

[capnsensible]

Those who were crossing in late November 2005 when tropical storm delta took an unexpected swerve towards the Canary Islands may well disagree with the milk run attitude. ?

Granted, weather forecasting has become easier to access now. However, it was very bumpy.

 

[OtherBusiness]

The ones who complain are invariably the ones who have not done it, and will not do it, simply on principle.

I sailed in the first one in 1986, when it came to Barbados, and it was absolutely brilliant, with excellent camaraderie on both sides of the pond, and along the way as well on the various different radio nets.

I remember helping do "Arc Control" in the little green hut on the breakwater of the deep water harbour. May well have spoken to you on the VHF!

 

[Bajansailor]

Quite possibly if you were on duty on Christmas Day - we arrived at about 0800 hrs after a 25 day passage.

Re 'Other Business', is this the Beneteau of that name that used to live here?

 

[capnsensible]

I see the first two have arrived. I'm sure they will love discovering their 'new world'!

Most of the fleet seems well bunched up not far away. Guess the diesel dock is gonna do well!

As always, a couple of stragglers and two who didn't make it. Frustration having probably spent a lot of time and money in the preparation to have early problems....I know what that's like! But to not leave at all must be very hard to bear.

 

[OtherBusiness]

Quite possibly if you were on duty on Christmas Day - we arrived at about 0800 hrs after a 25 day passage.

Re 'Other Business', is this the Beneteau of that name that used to live here?

It isn't, though I know the one you mean. Dark blue hull I seem to remember

 

[capnsensible]

Busy out there, Arc on way too...but slowly.

 

[Roberto]

Tragic accident on a French boat, one crew passed away
World Cruising Club

 

[capnsensible]

How sad. Saw a number of racing yachts heading up there, I guess their routers suggested it for speed.

Not for me, I go the sunny route.

Thoughts with the survivors.

 

[Frogmogman]

Tragic accident on a French boat, one crew passed away
World Cruising Club

Struck on the head by the boom apparently. The victim Max Delannoy was 73 years of age.

The boat, an X 4,3 is called Agecanonix (the name of the oldest inhabitant of Asterix’s village - Geriatix in the English version).

 

[Daydream believer]

Serious question here & not wishing to belittle the tragedy. But deaths must happen for all sorts of reasons on long passages. They could be injury, even MOB & subsequent drowning, or medical issues. Possibly heart attack, being a likely one that can strike un-announced to anyone. This cannot be the first such incident on the ARC.
So if this happened mid voyage, say 10 days from land; what does one do with the unfortunate?
There would normally be an inquest if close to home, but how long can one keep it on board & how. The crew would be undergoing severe mental trauma, but just lobbing a corpse over the side could leave questions about murder etc. Leaving a body to deteriorate in the heat could also be a bit- well -unbearable.
So what would one do when far from land?

 

[dunedin]

Struck on the head by the boom apparently. The victim Max Delannoy was 73 years of age.

The boat, an X 4,3 is called Agecanonix (the name of the oldest inhabitant of Asterix’s village - Geriatix in the English version).

Very sad.

Most boats have preventers on most of the time, but always a risk if removed for a manoever or if proves not to be strong enough. It’s often the case that one problem leads to more, and that’s when the serious accidents happen.
Thoughts with the family, and the rest of the crew having to sail on after such a tragic event.

 

[Frogmogman]

Serious question here & not wishing to belittle the tragedy. But deaths must happen for all sorts of reasons on long passages. They could be injury, even MOB & subsequent drowning, or medical issues. Possibly heart attack, being a likely one that can strike un-announced to anyone. This cannot be the first such incident on the ARC.
So if this happened mid voyage, say 10 days from land; what does one do with the unfortunate?
There would normally be an inquest if close to home, but how long can one keep it on board & how. The crew would be undergoing severe mental trauma, but just lobbing a corpse over the side could leave questions about murder etc. Leaving a body to deteriorate in the heat could also be a bit- well -unbearable.
So what would one do when far from land?

Exactly what the crew of Agecanonix did. They made a Mayday call, the cruise liner Mein Schiff 1 diverted and evacuated the victim, and the other two crew members (one of whom was injured). Sounds like an excellent piece of seamanship by the crew of the cruise liner in very difficult conditions. The cruise liner no doubt has some suitable refrigerated storage for the body and facilities to provide medical attention to the injured crew. The yacht has been abandoned, and is being tracked.
What an awful tragedy.

 

[Minerva]

Serious question here & not wishing to belittle the tragedy. But deaths must happen for all sorts of reasons on long passages. They could be injury, even MOB & subsequent drowning, or medical issues. Possibly heart attack, being a likely one that can strike un-announced to anyone. This cannot be the first such incident on the ARC.
So if this happened mid voyage, say 10 days from land; what does one do with the unfortunate?
There would normally be an inquest if close to home, but how long can one keep it on board & how. The crew would be undergoing severe mental trauma, but just lobbing a corpse over the side could leave questions about murder etc. Leaving a body to deteriorate in the heat could also be a bit- well -unbearable.
So what would one do when far from land?

Good question. I presume there could be no expectation of retaining the corpse on board, in the tropics. It would I imagine it would have to be a sea burial.

How the skipper / crew then deal with the ramifications I have no idea. Going to be a traumatic experience then be grilled in presumably a police station at the end of the voyage. Grim.

 

[capnsensible]

Serious question here & not wishing to belittle the tragedy. But deaths must happen for all sorts of reasons on long passages. They could be injury, even MOB & subsequent drowning, or medical issues. Possibly heart attack, being a likely one that can strike un-announced to anyone. This cannot be the first such incident on the ARC.
So if this happened mid voyage, say 10 days from land; what does one do with the unfortunate?
There would normally be an inquest if close to home, but how long can one keep it on board & how. The crew would be undergoing severe mental trauma, but just lobbing a corpse over the side could leave questions about murder etc. Leaving a body to deteriorate in the heat could also be a bit- well -unbearable.
So what would one do when far from land?

Some years ago I took the old ship captain medical course. The subject of death on board was included.
Log. Fill in every detail you can think of. Include witness statements.
Take pictures for any inquest, however distressing. Do not allow these into public domain.
Commit the body with dignity. A sleeping bag, suitably weighted...bye anchor...or a sewn shroud. Use the departeds stuff.
Note lat and long to pass to relatives.
Bag rest of deceaseds kit.
Get over significant mental trauma.

I added the last bit.

 

[Roberto]

A video taken from the rescuing ship (link from the FB page of the sailboat)
SOS im Atlantik: „Mein Schiff 1“ rettet zwei französische Segler!

 

[Laser310]

I did ARC in 2007, and there was a fatality then as well.

The injured sailor was evacuated by a nearby ship and died onshore - in Barbados I believe.

We were quite near the boat on which the injury occurred and monitored/assisted with communication.

 

[capnsensible]

First boats in. Party on!

 

[capnsensible]

This rally is now over for another year!

Still some in the ARC heading steadily towards St. Lucia. And amazingly, two of the 5.8m racers have arrived in Antigua.