Atlantic Rescue

[tome]

see <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/13/uyot.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/09/13/ixportaltop.html> here</A>. Poor sod made it almost to the Scillies before losing his rudder.

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[mirabriani]

Know the feeling.
On the maiden voyage of the third dinghy I built I foolishly launched her into
rather choppy seas. A 15 foot double ender, she sailed and tracked beautifully,
until I came to bring her round.
After three attempts to bring her through the wind the rudder failed. (in my haste to launch I had not strongly bolted through the connection with the tiller)
I had to retrim the sails and steer by leaning over the stern and holding the rudder.
At one point I thought I would be swept around Dungeness, but I made it back to the beach safely. Somebody else must have had the same thought because the inshore lifeboat appeared and inquired regarding my wellbeing. They seemed rather dissapointed that I was safe, but I hasten to add that it was nice to know they were so quickly on hand. I suppose I went down as a "life saved"
It took a year or so to live it down at the Varne Boat Club
Regards Briani

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[BlueSkyNick]

A real shame to lose a boat like that one.

A great demonstration in the value of an EPIRB, though.

<hr width=100% size=1>It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

 

[Bejasus]

doesn't say anything about the boat being lost in this bulletin. What would be the likely outcome of a boat being abandoned in conditions like this? Assuming that she was left in the best condition and setup possible. (apart from having no rudder that is.)

May seem like a dumb question, but if she was a long way from land with no immediate danger of running aground, sea anchor out and a storm jib, could she last long enough for a recovery, given better conditions.

P.S. I'm no sailing expert, although that may not be immediately obvious. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Jacket]

Provided there's no other damage, she should last well. After all, a large number of the boats abandoned during the '79 Fastnet were later recovered, while from time to time you hear of boats being found drifting, months (in at least one case, years) after being abandoned.

Still, I wonder if there was more damage than mentioed in the report. It if was just a rudder failure, couldn't he jury rig something to get him closer to Europe, and then accept a tow?

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