Has the quality of those out sailing dropped to marine equivalent of camper van sailors

[geem]

Coast Guard cutter assists sailboat in waters south of Puerto Rico

This boat left Curacao to head to PR. About 450nm North. They encountered Northerly winds that were well forecast. They could have sailed on a port tack to end up in The Virgin Islands but instead called for assistance and got towed in. This is not how sailing should be IMO

 

[westhinder]

They ran out of fuel. Unless there was another problem that the report failed to mention, this is strange. Surely you wouldn’t try motoring or motorsailing against headwinds if you knew you didn’t have enough diesel?

 

[Concerto]

They are cruising and their itinery said they were going to Puerto Rico, and they could not alter their destination. Maybe they have not heard of tacking in to wind to make progress. But there again they were American and probably believe they have an unwritten right to ensure they arrive at their destination. Being a skipper means you should be flexible with your destination in adverse weather. In my opinion they should have been on a cruise ship, not a yacht!

 

[dunedin]

Perhaps the YouTube videos they watched didn't include tacking ?

 

[ylop]

There have always been incompetent people who went to sea.

 

[Stemar]

I was taught at the very beginning - Comp Crew - that, in a motorboat, you sail to a destination. In a sailing boat, you sail towards your destination. Also, if you've only got a plan B, you're already in trouble.

Unfortunately, as mentioned in the SUP thread, common sense is anything but common.

 

[Supertramp]

The short answer is "yes".

This sort of incident reminds me of Mt Everest tourists who don't really understand high altitude climbing and rely on experts risking their lives to get them out of trouble, and back to their jobs on time. Some people assume they have the right to do anything even without the knowledge and expertise needed to complement the technology and ambition. With cruising and yachts I see increasing dependence on technology rather than ingenuity and experience. Go back to the start of cruising and read Slocum, Smeetons, Tilman and others and they will take days to cover small distances, stand off the shore waiting for conditions to allow approach and be continually fixing, maintaining and improving bits of their boats. Now we need Internet access so we can order replacements (and check the weather). Self reliance replaced by technology.

But to finish with two points. Firstly I value that anyone can go sailing, competent or not, with a minimum of regulation. And secondly the commitment and impartiality displayed by rescue services and others when help is needed is a credit to seafarers.

 

[capnsensible]

Yet another thread for know alls to jump to conclusions.....

 

[Neeves]

Yet another thread for know alls to jump to conclusions.....

Its a forum not part of an academic paper. Relax - it will soon be Xmas.

If you have an alternative view to those expressed - share it. We will not be critical of you - unlike......

Jonathan

 

[geem]

Yet another thread for know alls to jump to conclusions.....

Unless you actually know a little more than you are letting on?

 

[capnsensible]

Its a forum not part of an academic paper. Relax - it will soon be Xmas.

If you have an alternative view to those expressed - share it. We will not be critical of you - unlike......

Jonathan

My alternative view is to not jump to conclusions. How radical.

 

[Neeves]

My alternative view is to not jump to conclusions. How radical.

How boring

You have all that knowledge, all that experience and are unable to share your expertise based on a sensible analysis because you might jump to the wrong conclusion and be known as a 'know all'

Frankly I'd rather you shared and were sometimes....incorrect. Knowledge is of no value, to us, unless you are willing to strike out and share it.

Takes all sorts

Jonathan

 

[capnsensible]

How boring

Unlike sailing in the Caribbean Sea. That's adventure.

 

[capnsensible]

How boring

You have all that knowledge, all that experience and are unable to share your expertise based on a sensible analysis because you might jump to the wrong conclusion and be known as a 'know all'

Frankly I'd rather you shared and were sometimes....incorrect. Knowledge is of no value, to us, unless you are willing to strike out and share it.

Takes all sorts

Jonathan

 

[Blueboatman]

My view is to first look at the coast guard write up and photo of the 40ft masthead sloop under tow.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

At least the gave it a go . They now know much more. Better than in amarina polishing all day.

 

[doug748]

I think it's always been a thing but blogging has probably made dreams more accessible and encouraged people to overreach themselves. With video you don't even have to be able to read and increasing wealth means folk can get out of their depth in short order without a long apprenticeship in dodgy plywood boats dating from 1955.

There was a recent thread here about YouTube trivialising the challenges of offshore sailing.
I recall two video diaries of this sort on YouTube where both parties had large well fitted sailing boats, one heading across Biscay the other towards the Azores. In both cases they only sailed if conditions were perfect; the sails even came down if the wind was strong on the beam or if the course was not arrow straight to the destination. I think motoring tactics are the last resort for most experienced sailors, not the first thing to try to abracadabra yourself out of a trouble.

 

[Stingo]

How boring

TL,DR

 

[Bobc]

Perhaps the YouTube videos they watched didn't include tacking ?

Maybe their skipper was Captain Ron

 

[Blueboatman]

Maybe their skipper was Captain Ron

??
If he had been they would have had a grand tale to tell -and adventures galore along the way
( I love that movie . Everything Caribbean sailing should be ?)