BBC Reporting missing crew from a yacht off Australia

[Merlin29]

I head a breaking news report on radio 4 this morning that a catamaran has been found off the north coast of Australia. The table has been set for dinner but none of the three crew were on board. Anyone else heard anything about this?

 

[ChrisE]

See the post below on the Marie Celeste.....

 

[Merlin29]

ok. Thanks. Wierd!

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/04/20/1176697042357.html?from=top5

 

[dk]

Bet they went for a swim with the sails up.

 

[Magic]

BBC carrying it here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6574547.stm

 

[davidfox]

Noticed on the BBC website a picture taken from the port side, 2 fenders hanging off the port side forward, sort of implies that they got off into the life raft?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

that's an interesting comment - would they really bother to put fenders on the boat just to get into the liferaft. I know I wouldnt.

 

[tcm]

oh, that's not very proper, especially from someone in Lymington, you ought to be ashamed of yourself at even think of getting into a liferaft without fenders out. You should put away the ensign as well, really, and lock the companionway door too cos it's not fair to leave that equipment in the way of temptation.

 

[tcm]

wow. Why the hell did i bother getting crew? Or indeed er buying a boat... Posibly a rough pie actually ate the crew.

hm, I fear they are not at all ok.

 

[roger]

News report this AM said the liferaft was missing. Makes it even stranger.

 

[PintPlease]

if conditions are so bad as to require abandoning to a liferaft who's going to be cooking? Also lifejackets/EPIRB still there.

i suspect we'll never know. poor souls

 

[Captain Haddock]

Hopefully the GPS track will lead rescuers to them. It's a mystery, why launch the life raft? The table set, engine running and all computers running. I wonder what the log says?

Maybe someone came alongside and they transferred across for some reason... bizarre!

 

[shamrock]

It's all a bit odd, the report talks about rough weather but the table set for dinner isn't something most of us would do in a blow. Jib torn but main OK. Engine running.

Our best hypothesis is something like: Weather OK, one or two crew below preparing grub, one on deck falls overboard for some reason. Standard MOB drill, engine on, turn round, furl jib. Attempt to recover MOB but something goes wrong - perhaps the jib furling wasn't made off properly so jib unrolls - crew attempting recovery get dragged in too. Boat keeps moving, jib flogging (eventually tears) crew left to their fate.

Very sad business whatever's happened.

 

[Deleted member 478]

[ QUOTE ]
It's all a bit odd, the report talks about rough weather but the table set for dinner isn't something most of us would do in a blow.

[/ QUOTE ]Not odd at all, they were on a cat.