Has anyone seen or heard from the S/Y 'Colros'?

Re: Has anyone seen or heard from the S/Y \'Colros\'?

Did post this on Ship's forum before seeing major thread here - perhaps it would be worth contacting Herb so he can alert other vessels via his Southbound II net? He put out an alert for a missing yacht which we listened to last year between Caribbean and Azores. Word spread very widely in both the sailing and commercial shipping communities. That boat did turn up eventually in Horta after engine failure and light winds slowed them down and lack of power stopped them transmitting via SSB. You can get Herb's e mail address by Googling Southbound II
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Just to add a note of thanks from David's family for all the efforts that the people on this site have been making to track down his progress (or lack of it) and to keep this thread alive.

As you can appreciate, we are all desperate for news of him after such a long time at sea. I only hope that with all the contacts that have been made, some news will come through from someone soon.

As has already been said, David is an excellent sailor and understands boats from both a sailing and building viewpoint. He also has survival training on his side. David is a strong character and has looked forward to his single-handed sailing expedition around the world for many years. Being alone is something he does very well, so I am not overly concerned that he would have a mental breakdown if stranded. I also doubt that he would have deliberately gone AWOL. However, with the weather so much against him right from the start I realise that an accident is not out of the question and I am keeping my fingers crossed for his safety at this point and hope that we hear something, preferably from him, soon.

Once again, thank you all for you efforts.

His sister Julia
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

I think you're in the best place to get help and if anyone does find anything they'll know where to let you know
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

This in from Colros' previous owner:

"David did have a DSC VHF radio fitted, model Simrad RD68, which I fitted on 18/8/03 but I didn't register it with the radio licensing people -- but I believe David did. The address of the ship radio licensing people is Radio Licensing Centre, The Post Office, P.O. Box 1495 Bristol, BS99 3QS."

Do you think there's anything to be gained from my contacting the Radio Licensing Centre, and if so, what should I ask them?

Thanks again to all for your outpouring of interest and help. It's really amazing and very heartwarming,
Barbara x
 
Re: Has anyone seen or heard from the S/Y \'Colros\'?

Dear "Skents",

I will do as you suggest and email Herb at Southbound II. Thank you for this suggestion!

Barbara x
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

I dont believe you will get any further information from them, over and above what is available on a public database here http://www.itu.int/cgi-bin/htsh/mars/ship_detail.sh?lng=en&1643648&COLROS

This shows that his MMSI is 235037168 This is a specific number for his radio to enable other vessels with a DSC set to call him directly.

However, they would still need to be in reasonably close range for David to receive their call.

Hope this helps if only a little bit
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

This is such an obvious request it's going to sound silly and perhaps you've all tried this anyway, but can everyone out there who reads this try calling him using MMSI 235037168 ? Maybe one of you IS within reasonably close range.

Thank you to all,
Barbara
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Certainly worth a try, as you say Barbara. However, I think you should pass this on to Falmouth CG if you havent already, as they have far greater reach, and can use it through all the proper channels.
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Thanks for the suggestion. I've just emailed Falmouth CG and asked them to try this.

Regards,
Barbara
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Reply from Falmouth Coastguard:

The details you sent regarding callsign and MMSI number may be useful so we have asked all the original MRCCs make a VHF/RT and VHF/DSC call and made a further broadcast to vessels in the Atlantic to do likewise. If this gets any response we will obviously advise you
Regards
MRCC Falmouth
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

I am not sure if this has already been mentioned, but noonsite (www.noonsite.com) sometimes puts missing yacht information under news - lots of cruisers use this site.
Good luck with your search
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Just to say thank you to everyone for your help and support. It is really heartwarming at this deadfully difficult time.

Linda x
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

I can’t believe it was just over a week ago that I told Barbara that her message about David had appeared on Boatwatch and then on this site. How could I have realised when I suggested she get in touch with “this chap in Bermuda” (Sorry Martin, but I did also add I’d read some of your contributions and you seemed to know what you were talking about.) how many people would get involved and offer their services? The words from Trevera are short but true. Readers would not believe the number of messages that are being sent behind the scenes and the number of expert people giving up their time and energies, and I add my thanks to those sent by his family. To Barbara too, for her huge efforts keeping a host of friends informed and her unstinting work at the keyboard!
David estimated his journey would take approximately 50 days if he went from UK to Tobago, without stopping, as was his initial plan, but was allowing provisions and water for 90 days as he only carried enough fuel to run his engine to recharge his batteries or to motor in an emergency.
He was totally aware of all the pitfalls and joys that this voyage might bring.
He took a very large kite with him in case he could fly it as an alternative to a jury rig if necessary. It was designed to take off from water and he thought it might be useful in the trade winds.
He knows about storm tactics, carried several ropes for towing, storm jib, had his matching jibs made to his own specifications so that they could be reefed in various combinations, and his mainsail cut and stitched vertically. He would hove to and bunker down when necessary, and that was one reason he fitted the dome. He took a Silhouette (17FT?) to the Med in the early 80's, and crossed Biscay in a Folkboat more than once. The boat and David were prepared to an exacting standard, his eventual aim being to sail to the Pacific Islands and in the Southern Ocean.

Although I was away when David left, on my return I checked the Winlink position reporting page most days, as I had arranged with him prior to his departure, hoping he had left a position and I followed various boats as they made their crossings, imagining David was doing the same and presuming that his only problem was a lack of e-mail by “packet” radio. Although these boats reported in a variety of languages, which I didn’t always understand, several were motoring, giving me the impression that winds were quite light. On the assumption that a smaller, heavy boat would travel more slowly, I was not initially concerned. I have jottings of some of their callsigns. Would anyone have tried to contact these boats individually? Would this be an idea if it has not already been done?

I feel sure David was mentally prepared for the voyage. His sister Julia, has expressed her views and I totally agree with all she has written.
David’s philosophy on sailing is similar to those of the “Jester Challenge” (google it).
“The Jester Challenge is not just about self-reliant ocean sailing – it is also about camaraderie …”
David is the epitome of self-reliance. Everyone contributing here and behind the scenes is providing the camaraderie.
Difficult to imagine most of the time lately, but I try to picture him on his sturdy little boat, doing what he loves.
Thanks to all of you, from all of us wondering and waiting.
Margaret
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Margaret, thanks for your wonderful posting. I too am deeply impressed by the calibre and character of boating people and everyone who has contributed here who has taken our cause to heart. As a landlubber (sorry, folks!) I'm touched by your spirit, energy, and determination to "pull together" and if our combined efforts can bring David home, he should be arriving very soon. I can report that Dick Durham, the Features Editor of Yachting Monthly emailed me today to get a photo of David and Colros that he will post in their News Pages. And I also spoke to Mark Lang at ITV Plymouth who hopes to do a story on the local 6pm News. All this concern and support has been generated by the kindness of the contributors to this Forum, and I can't thank you enough. I tried (but failed) to post a photo of David on this site, too, so I'm going to ask Martin Smyth if he can do it for me.

Bless you all and "fair winds" - as David would say,
Barbara x
 
Re: Update re the over-due S/Y \'Colros\', Newlyn - Madeira

Sorry it's not a lot of help but I've just had a long chat with a freind that lives over in the sunnier part of the world and he's going to put the word out to see if anyone has seen or heard anything
 
Re: A photo of David, Skipper of the S/Y \'Colros\'

Barbara has kindly sent me a photo of David, with a request to post it here :

[image]
DavidColros.jpg
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I shall try to find out a bit more about the Winlink reporting system - I have a ham radio friend in Australia who is very much involved in systems like these (Mike set up a vessel reporting system called 'Yotreps'), and I am sure that he will be able to offer some useful advice.
 
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