British couple rescued in Pacific....boat found washed up on Australian coast

I've never been there and generally admire Australians and Kiwis- some of the best pilots I'v'e known are Kiwis - but I know their laws on imigration etc, I normally admire them for that but in the case of a couple with a wrecked yacht, come on !

Is there any way of petitioning the Aus government ?

I have no connection with the owners but would hope their retirement dream may be restrored to some extent...
 
I don't mean to sound harsh but what would you expect the Gov't to do? Why should the Aus taxpayer foot the bill? The owners weren't insured - voluntarily. They abandoned the boat without opening the seacocks - voluntarily. They have been terribly unfortunate and this further setback must be awful for them, but choosing to go sailing uninsured it is entirely their responsibility and no one else's. Sadly, in this case fate had dealt them cruelly.
 
As I understand it this couple are being hit with import / conservation clean up taxes ?

This is clearly daft and could be waived, if the Aussies are as switched on as I thought they are.
 
In UK Flotsam (which this vessel probably is) remains the property of the original owner and as Aus law is generally derived from British it would be a reasonable assumption that the same is true there. Thus they would be liable for the clean-up - and if Aus Govt wants to be stiff on what it quite rightly sees as pollution on its pristine and very remote beach then expect big bills, or DIY (and scuttle it in international waters).
Import taxes? That would be a bit much - though if they can show they can't even sell the wreck at the $2000 figure mentioned above then its value is arguably somewhat less, and import duty on that isn't going to be very much at all - if you can persuade the Revenue Service with that logic which is probably easier said than done. Sounds like someone is trying to make a point.
 
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wazza said:
I too thought she was in good condition...
No washboards in & the hatch wide open and she obviously sailed/floated all the way to Oz unaided. Seems strange to abandon her.
Does anyone know the reason for the SOS??? Surely can't be 'just' because it was rough, as they must've seen a lot of rough weather up to that point...
With regards to the boat being stripped, seriously what did they expect???
Click to expand...
Well, this is a strange story indeed. More strange when realized for what it was. 40 foot boat, F 8-9 reported with big swell...

Couple months passed, but IIRC it sounded like they haven't seen rough weather up to that point. At least the were not prepared for such. It just sound simple panic.
Now I wouldn't blame anyone with head injury seeking immediate help, as no telling how bad injury this is; but seems just some scratches. Frankly, they went into bad weather forecast (and say they didn't know...); reported boat has capsized - which this boat easily may, but would rather not retain mast in such case - so probably just knocked hard so they were thrown about and banged heads. Seems they were not prepared to stay safely in bunks; if this boat can be prepared for storm at all, I'm not sure.
The only 'damage' reported was "a lot of broken glass and cutlery" all over, lockers open and stuff scattered. Hatch over toilet damaged so they could not close it - water was entering (into a shower...). Bilge pump stopped working (note single). They also reported rigging and sail in perfect condition, engine working; dinghy on deck and outboard intact. After capsize...
Easily seen on videos, seems also no water inside and rudder working from the looks.

So they called Mayday, waited quite long time aboard (couple days?) till the weather calmed down, and then stepped off the boat not even closing doors behind, not to mention turning the engine off... At least less pollution risk, fuel probably burned.
Open boat then sailed for more that 3 months (was weather a good one?) making it still in good shape to Australia.

I'm not trying to imagine what they thought later about their actions. If they thought.
Certainly cannot imagine what did they expect...

"Windigo psychosis", may I add, is different disorder, actually.
http://www.aol.co.uk/video/dramatic-sea-rescue-caught-on-camera/517536772/

Personally - this I appreciate: http://www.3news.co.nz/Yachties-return-to-heroes-welcome/tabid/423/articleID/277273/Default.aspx
Makes interesting contrast.

P.S.
Such a panicky story I know from here. Bigger crew, a few hours from shore on Baltic, strongest boat imaginable (happen to know her) steel Roberts 44, in best shape. It wasn't even real storm, just up to 9. Panicked crew required rescue, somehow taking over the skipper, who was a young one, but good. On boarding the ship they broke mast, and lost the skipper who fell overboard entangled in the rigging - but he was alive, just wasn't saved, no-one tried... though it was reported that he probably have lost his grip and was nowhere to be found.
After some search done by owners (Club boat, chartered for this trip) boat was found and towed to port - only there authorities discovered the skipper, still entangled in rigging...

Something must have changed in ways of sailors, from what I recall.
 
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