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

Local press?

Has anyone contacted the newspapers in Cornwall?

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/

Or even the marinas/harbour masters in Falmouth/Penzance/Newlyn/Fowey/Plymouth and asked them to put a notice on their boards?

Falmouth and/or Plymouth are usually the first port of call for yachts returning from far flung places...you never know what route they've taken

Ok it's not the right time of year to return, but there are still some people who come and go

Just a thought, sorry I can't be of more help

G
 
Re: Local press?

any help is still help , I'm still struggling to locate anywhere that I can send an e mail to the RN , US Navy , Australian Navy , New Zealand Navy , so anyone with any contacts , time to use them
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Margaret has kindly sent me a photo of David on board Colros, which I shall post below :

[image]
DavidColros1.jpg
[/image]

Margaret has also noted that David had reported that he did not intend to stop at Madeira - rather the intention was to just sail close enough in order to relay a message back home via mobile phone.
Hence David stocked the vessel with 90 days worth of provisions, to enable him to easily cross the Atlantic non-stop without re-provisioning.

As Twister Ken has noted, it is possible that David was so enjoying being at sea (rather like Moitessier, and the tame seagull) that he decided to carry on - perhaps south, towards the Falklands and / or Cape Town?
I think that sailing for David is as much (if not more so) about simply being at one with the sea and experiencing all her moods, as it would be about making landfall after a long passage, preferably on a little remote island.

And it is possible that the weather circumstances dictated a passage to the west of Madeira and the Canaries, out of range of a mobile phone signal.

It is very obvious that a lot of thought, care and attention had gone into making Colros as safe and as seaworthy as possible during the major re-fit that David carried out.
For instance, he re-built the cockpit, making it much smaller, and absolutely self draining.
The only through hull fitting below the waterline was for the engine cooling water intake - all others were welded up.
All of the deck hatches were made of steel, and could be properly secured. And an observation dome was fitted in way of the companionway for looking out while down below.

There was another thread on the forum recently asking contributors for their dream destinations. Margaret told me that one of David's is Bora Bora, in the South Pacific.
Perhaps he decided to 'do a Moitessier' and keep going, with the ultimate objective being to reach the Society islands via Cape Horn, following in the wake of Moitessier who did precisely that?
We know that he is a staunch admirer of both Moitessier and Blondie Hasler.
And we know that long ocean passages can have a profound effect on the persons doing these passages - Jonic has noted the effect his transatlantic had on him, and I felt similar feelings after my first crossing.

However at the same time we know that he would be worried about his family worrying about him, re lack of news if he didnt 'report in'.

Which tends to bring my thoughts back to the possibility of being dismasted west of the Canaries, and drifting across. David is a former Army officer, and hence has good survival skills training.
And his little steel vessel could hardly have been made any more seaworthy than she already was, apart from additional 'safety' equipment being fitted.

I think we are all of the opinion that there is a very good possibility that he is still out there on the big ocean somewhere.
Lets hope he 'turns up' soon.
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

I've just found an email David sent to a non-sailing friend of mine end-Oct 06. Most importantly, he told her his route was: "... out of the Channel, turn left, keep going until the butter melts, turn right ... I'll be off as soon as the weather allows..." [he was LATE, actually leaving on Dec 22 06] "I'll be in mobile phone contact for the first bit, and if my radio email system doesn't work, I can always pass close enough to Madeira or the Canaries to send a quick text, even if I don't need to stop. I'll have enough food/water till about end of Feb, so might well be able to keep going non-stop at least till Trinidad/Tobago, IF NOT PANAMA" [my caps]. Sorry - I should have gone back to this email weeks ago, but I've just looked at it now. I was fixed on the Madeira-plan, which is the last thing I heard from him. So, should we cast a wider net here to include the area between the Trinidad and Panama? My only reservation about the plausibility of his not reassuring us is that he'd know we'd all be worried sick, and I don't think he'd do that intentionally. However, maybe he's flipped out just a tad and gone into Moitessier-mode, as Margaret suggests.

I'm also now convinced that he didn't WANT to have a working radio, because he simply hated using it. He was ultimately very evasive about communications generally before departure. But, this was his lifelong dream and he planned the boat to the last rivet, so I cannot believe that he "forgot" to get his radio working. I simply don't think he wanted one. Moitessier, who WAS his hero, used a slingshot!

I've also always found this equation difficult to swallow: You have this lifelong dream, you spend 2 1/2 years preparing your boat, closing down your life with all the endless bureaucracy and tedium that that entails, reducing possessions to what you hold in your boat and the few things you stash in your sister's loft, you make your Will, you say your goodbyes -- and then you go out and get killed within the first week. It's just too bloody ironic. David's Biscay experience sounds rough but it wasn't The Perfect Storm, as far as I can tell. I think he wanted to stay alive and get through. Of course, he could have had a heart attack or something, but not clipping on would just be daft! and I don't think David's that daft. Way too much to lose to take stupid risks.

Be that as it may, I think it's very fitting - and comforting - that David's odyssey is now out there as a subject of discussion in the sailing community, which is where he undoubtedly belongs.

Thanks to everyone who keeps this thread going. I hope as this story unfolds it's of interest to many people and I pray we get a happy ending, which is what we humans crave, after all!

Barbara
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Maybe you are right about David not wanting his radio working. But I don't totally agree. Yes Maybe he wants to be alone on his little boat, but he wanted to listen to weather reports and send e-mail. He travelled from north Suffolk to Chelmsford every week throughout the winter, to get his maritime certificate.
More interesting to find out who went up his mast in Falmouth and what did they do?
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Re the radio on board, maybe it was a case of yes, it would be nice to have a functional radio, capable of sending and receiving emails and voice, but if it was (for any reason) not functioning properly prior to leaving, then that would not necessarily have deterred David - he probably still had a receiver on board, capable of obtaining weather forecasts, even if he could not transmit.

Whats the story about somebody going up the mast in Falmouth?
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Hello everyone

During the years I spent with David we talked a lot about his lone voyage. The time wasn't right then but we both knew he would do it one day. Yes Moitessier was his hero. David said that the voyage would either make or break him and he wouldn't know which until he did it. While I have absolutely no doubts at all that when he set off he had every intention of doing just what he said he would do, including making contact with us. He knew how we would all worry and he was very good about his responsibilities, despite finding them a bit difficult to deal with at times. However I can't rule out completely the possibility that once out at sea he may have a change of heart. His original plan was to sail off with no set plans. This all changed of course and he was more than happy for it to be that way. Possibly I saw more of the "other" side of David than most. Nothing like a failing marriage to bring out the worst in any of us. When I say worst I mean highly stressed. Being alone was Davids comfort zone. When I talked to him before he left he said "I'll be alright once I'm on the boat" I have no idea if this is what he's done and this is all just my angle on things but I think it bears equal weight with the other theories. David and I became the very best of friends after we separated and he was always a great dad to my kids. We hope and pray that wherever he is he is safe and living his dream, in one way or another.

Barbara will be able to tell you more about the mast episode. I only know that once on the south coast he had all number of communication problems and he had someone climb the mast for him to do some repairs but I have no more details.

As for clipping on, I know he promised Barbara that he would and I was there when he also promised my son who was worried for him.

Linda xx
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Someone worked on the mast - I think in Falmouth. I'll do some research to find out more, and while I'm at it I'll contact the marinas/harbour masters in Falmouth/Penzance/Newlyn/Fowey/Plymouth and asked them to put a notice on their boards, as "Snooks" above suggests. Also the newspapers in Cornwall while I'm at it.

Will post what I discover.

Thanks for all your suggestions, thoughts and theories,
Barbara
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Have you put an alert out in Trinidad? If he is just making his way (albeit slowly) directly to Tobago then he'll fetch up in Trini. There are a lot of cruisers there and an active daily net. If you contact YSATT (Yachting and Sailing Association of Trinidad) - www.ysatt.org -they will put a boatwatch out.

Best wishes
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

If it helps I had a problem with my rudder crossing the Atlantic last year. (jammed at 20 deg to port). We were unable to sail but our average rate of drift was 1.25 knots almost due east. We were only 74 nm off Antigua and drifted directly towards it.
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

I've now sent emails to YSATT, five Cornish harbours and the Cornish newspapers, and I've also asked Falmouth Coastguard and Boatwatch to extend their search to Panama. I've also asked the Newlyn Harbour Master if he can help us find David's Newlyn friends, Lin (Savage?) and husband Mike (they are connected somehow with the fishing industry) as David might have given them more information about his plans in conversation that none of us received. I've also send an additional email to the Falmouth Harbour Master asking who might have worked on Colros' mast.
Hopefully I'll get some postive response from putting out all these feelers.

Thanks again to everyone for your ongoing contributions and suggestions. The (marvellous) sailing community - David's community - keeps demonstrating that this ain't over till it's over and I have all of you to thank for keeping my hope alive and kicking!

Barbara x
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Like Dave, (T25), said, I've been ignoring this thread because it was a sticky, although I didnt realise it was sticky, just thought it was a long thread.

Anyway, I cant add anything to the search for Colros, but I cant help wondering why he was setting off on a trip like this at what seems to be completely the wrong time of year, and why he left only 3 days before Christmas Day. I appreciate that he may have been waiting a while for a weather window, but might he not have hung on to celebrate Christmas with friends/family?

I might be suggesting something that others might be thinking and dont want to say, but is it remotely possible that he hasnt been in contact because he doesnt want to be in contact?

Hope this isnt too insensitive

Richard
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Dear Richard: This is not an insensitive question - it's actually pretty insightful. David had originally intended to leave the UK in late October, but he was already a couple weeks behind schedule, and then my father (his uncle) died at the beginning of November and David decided to hang on for the funeral. That eventually delayed his leaving until late-November, by which time a series of gales prevented his departure. He slowly made his way westward down the coast to Cornwall, and was stuck at each harbour for 3-5 days at a time. Christmas wasn't a particularly meaningful time of year for him, and we'd already had an intense family reunion, so - delayed though he was - he took the opportunity when it arose on Dec 22nd. We've discussed on this Forum the possibility that he has chosen not to be in touch for one reason or another, and we don't discount that he's "doing a Moitessier"! -- far rather that than the worst-case scenario. However, there seem to be other more prosaic possibilities. Along those lines I've today received some interesting weather info which I'll post next.

Barbara
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Henry Bates has sent me this interpretation of the weather conditions David probably encountered:

I've studied the Grib weather records and tried to work out the most
likely conditions that David would have encountered. Obviously it all is
purely based on my own estimations of his speed and route. Each time I
change a factor the results are quite different for the passage to
Madeira but once past there the weather was much more settled over a
long period of time.

For what its worth, here are my ideas -

Starting from Newlyn, the wind was NE 4 to 5 with a gentle westerly
swell. Conditions were excellent and he would probably have been able to
maintain 4.5 knots on a course to Madeira.

By about 10:00 on the 23rd Dec, when about 80 miles west of Brest, the
wind veered SE 2 to 3, with swell from West, his speed would have
reduced to 2.5 knots, still easy sailing.

By about midday on the 25th, when about 180 miles north of Spain, the
wind increased to SE 4 to 5, eventually veering to South, swell from WNW
but increasing to 3.5 metres. He may have needed to tack a little but
would have been able to make good progress, say around 4.5 knots.

By about 12:00 on the 27th Dec, when he would have been close to the
traffic separation scheme about 35 miles off NW tip of Spain, the wind
increased to SSE 6 to 7, swell still WNW but superimposed with wind
driven waves from south. These conditions persisted until midday on the
30th Dec, maybe gusting to F8 and veering to SSW. The conditions would
have been uncomfortable and I would have expected him to have hove to or
headed for the shelter in the Spanish Rias.

If something happened at any point up to this time which incapacitated
COLROS then she would have drifted back to the UK or France.

From midday 1st Jan the wind became variable 2 to 4 and he could
probably make 2.5 knots or more towards Madeira, with the wind becoming
E 6 by the time that he reached Madeira around 12 Jan.

Once past this point the wind remained E and reduced to 4 to 5 which
would have allowed him to make an easy 4 knots towards the Canaries,
arriving there around 15 Jan.

Once past Madeira the wind has remained in a favourable direction (NE to
E) and usually F4 to 5 with just an occasional F6 throughout Jan and
Feb. Under normal circumstances I would have expected him to reach his
destination by the middle of February. The weather data doesn't show
squalls which do occur on the Atlantic run and these can give very
strong winds for an hour or so and regularly result in dismastings.

If his rig failed at anytime before passing the Cape Verdes then I would
guess that he would have made his way to land (Canaries or Cape Verdes)
using Jury rig and/or motor.

When I ran through the scenario of drifting across the Atlantic after
getting dismasted 500 miles past Cape Verdes, and drifting at 1.25 knots
which was the figure quoted by someone on the forum then I calculated
that he would arrive on 21 March.

I think I remember you saying that he set off with 90 days of food. If
the dismasting took place early on in the journey then I would suspect
that he could survive for perhaps twice that time, although water might
be very short.

Please contact me if you think that I might be able to help.

Best wishes,

Henry
--
Henry Bates <<<BallGate Systems>>>
<<<Programming,Shareware,Support,Web Design>>>
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Just found a "round robin" email received from David in December. Extract below.Don't know if this sheds any light on the radio/mast situation

While I'm in touch, here's an update - progress has been pitifully slow; after stopping in Brighton for a week, for a family funeral in London on the 15th, I've been stuck here ever since, with a series of gales preventing me from continuing Westwards. My journey here - one sail from Southwold to Ramsgate on Tuesday 7th, and another from Ramsgate to Brighton on the 9th - was uneventful if somewhat cold, with mainly fairly light winds, apart from a good blow off Dover. I'm very happy with how the boat is behaving after her two year refit; the only problems being with radios, both VHF and my 'ham' HF email systems failing to function properly - nothing that can't be fixed before I leave UK, though climbing the mast to replace the VHF aerial will have to wait for calm weather.
Hopefully I'll be able to leave here next week, with Poole, Weymouth, Salcombe (Colros' home port for 40 years), Falmouth and Newlyn as probable stops.

Linda x
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

That does seem to imply that 'communication failure' is a distinct possibility. That might be backed up by the fact that he intended to communicate by mobile phone from offshore Madiera - not the most robust communication medium. If his comms have let him down maybe he's just plugging on regardless.
 
Re: David and the S/Y \'Colros\'

Barbara has just sent me (and quite a few other folk) some nice photos of Colros taken by her former owner just after they left from Salcombe in December.

[image]
ColrosleavingSalcombe4.jpg
[/image]

[image]
Colrosmotoring.jpg
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