Knock down(?) off Scilly - yacht under tow in RNLI video

[dankilb]

Anyone else see this?
Storm Aiden: 'Freak wave' near Isles of Scilly capsizes 34ft yacht

Video shows yacht in tow to St Marys surfing down breaking waves:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3788176724550320

Sounds like a knockdown of some sorts in the heavy weather...

 

[kof]

Headline is a bit off - didn't capsize or knock it down (much). Had too much speed when a wave got under it. Sometimes good to hang a warp behind even during a tow so that you control the speed a bit.

 

[dankilb]

(apologies - can’t get the FB link without the video changing the formatting)

It was the video that struck me, mind you... The yacht looks barely under control during the tow. At times it looks at risk of ‘surfing’ down onto the lifeboat. And in turn the (understandably long) tow can’t keep it from turning abeam the breakers.

As for the news report, however, I wonder if the rig looks too intact to indicate what I’d define as a ‘capsize’?

 

[dankilb]

Headline is a bit off - didn't capsize of knock it down (much). Had too much speed when a wave got under it. Sometimes good to hang a warp behind even during a tow so that you control the speed a bit.

Agreed! Was just penning the above at the same time!

 

[grandpaboat]

Looking at the conditions they did well to get the skipper off and take her in tow. Never mind streaming warps.

 

[bdh198]

Looking at the conditions they did well to get the skipper off and take her in tow. Never mind streaming warps.

Looking at the conditions and knowing what was forecast it makes you wonder how the skipper came to be out there, and on his own.

 

[chriss999]

I suspect that the knockdown was before the RNLI arrived, so not filmed.

 

[[178529]]

Looking at the conditions and knowing what was forecast it makes you wonder how the skipper came to be out there, and on his own.

That's what I was thinking. These storms have been long and well forecasted as have big wave conditions due to the succession of lows. What the hell was someone doing out there. Delivering a yacht for a friend from Milford haven to Kent?

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Looking at the conditions and knowing what was forecast it makes you wonder how the skipper came to be out there, and on his own.

+1

 

[NotBirdseye]

It was suggested it was a freak wave likely caused from wind over current (not the place any sailor really wants to be... following tide near against the wind, seas very choppy at the very least). My guess is he got caught out. Doubt very much it was a full capsize rather the boat just heeled over a touch far. At least the skipper is safe and yes I know I bash 'em a lot, but good work right there.

 

[LittleSister]

Deleted

 

[Seven Spades]

Not exactly a surprise after yesterday

30 Mtr – 98.4 Ft Wave Recorded Off Ireland’s West Coast This Morning

 

[NotBirdseye]

Not exactly a surprise after yesterday

30 Mtr – 98.4 Ft Wave Recorded Off Ireland’s West Coast This Morning

Trumpeteer on October 29, 2020 at 20:28
My sister tells me it was the 5g effect and Bill Gates has a wave of vaccines coming that account for this.

Had to laugh at the association between Coronavirus and a freak wave! That was a pretty horrific wave, would've looked pretty much like a wall of water coming straight at you, see the preceding trench? Would have wiped a yacht out no problem.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Not exactly a surprise after yesterday

30 Mtr – 98.4 Ft Wave Recorded Off Ireland’s West Coast This Morning

That is big. I had experience of a huge wave once about 45 years ago when the boffins said they didnt exist. Some of us knew better.

 

[Juan Twothree]

I suspect that the knockdown was before the RNLI arrived, so not filmed.

Issued by St Mary's Lifeboat Station:

At 0510 the lifeboat was tasked to go to the assistance of a 34 foot yacht with one person onboard ,who had issued a Mayday 6nm SSW of the Islands.
Also tasked was R924 from Newquay who remained overhead during the tow into the lee of the islands.
The yacht had been knocked down and overcome with heavy breaking seas,and with the severe gale force winds had no control of the vessel to make headway.
Once on scene the lifeboat assessed the options and after discussions over the VHF with the sailor ,the best way to get him to safety was to tow the yacht into St Marys.
After several attempts to get close to the yacht as it was being blown sideways in force 9 winds ,coupled with waves flattening the yacht on her side , the tow was passed and successfully secured.

Once the lifeboat reached the shelter of the islands the tow was shortened to gain a little more control after which instructions were passed to release the tow line.
During this release the yacht managed to run over the tow and get a wrap in its stern gear , however some quick thinking and it was cut away and freed.
The yacht was then escorted into the safety of the harbour and with the help of the duchy staff secured alongside.

The yachtsman must be commended for remaining calm and capable during what must have been a frightening experience.

 

[NotBirdseye]

frightening... force 9 seas with the occasional rogue wave? Not sure 'frightening' covers quite how I'd be feeling at that precise moment. I'd be extremely thankful I was wearing dark colored trousers too.

 

[jordanbasset]

Issued by St Mary's Lifeboat Station:

At 0510 the lifeboat was tasked to go to the assistance of a 34 foot yacht with one person onboard ,who had issued a Mayday 6nm SSW of the Islands.
Also tasked was R924 from Newquay who remained overhead during the tow into the lee of the islands.
The yacht had been knocked down and overcome with heavy breaking seas,and with the severe gale force winds had no control of the vessel to make headway.
Once on scene the lifeboat assessed the options and after discussions over the VHF with the sailor ,the best way to get him to safety was to tow the yacht into St Marys.
After several attempts to get close to the yacht as it was being blown sideways in force 9 winds ,coupled with waves flattening the yacht on her side , the tow was passed and successfully secured.

Once the lifeboat reached the shelter of the islands the tow was shortened to gain a little more control after which instructions were passed to release the tow line.
During this release the yacht managed to run over the tow and get a wrap in its stern gear , however some quick thinking and it was cut away and freed.
The yacht was then escorted into the safety of the harbour and with the help of the duchy staff secured alongside.

The yachtsman must be commended for remaining calm and capable during what must have been a frightening experience.

Nicely put by the RNLI, especially the last sentence

 

[Wansworth]

Looking at the conditions they did well to get the skipper off and take her in tow. Never mind streaming warps.

The skipper stayed on board according to report

 

[dankilb]

The skipper stayed on board according to report

Blimey. I was just re-re-reading the above to confirm that was, indeed, what can be deduced the report. Doesn’t really bear thinking about.

I had originally assumed that, following the knockdown(s) (or in BBC terms, ‘capsize’), they had somehow got the skipper off before undertaking the tow. Indeed, my first impression was that it looked so hairy that perhaps the vessel should’ve just been scuppered?

To think of someone on board during that... wow! Hats off to the RNLI crew. And to the skipper for remaining ‘capable’. I doubt I would have!

 

[Mark-1]

Looking at the conditions and knowing what was forecast it makes you wonder how the skipper came to be out there, and on his own.

Maybe he likes sailing in strong winds and big waves?

The two best cruising sails of my life were in gales in decent surfing waves.