Not for the Squeamish - yacht found

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The Moquini, which went missing in September last year, has been found drifting 500nm east of Port Elizabeth. She was positively identified at sunset this evening. Divers were not able to go for a look-see because of the pending darkness and rough weather.

Tomorrow morning, they will attempt to dive and assertain if there are any bodies inside; if the liferaft is missing etc.

A friend of mine was aboard and his wife is absolutely terrified that, if they find any bodies (5 months of decomposition in warm waters), she will have to try identify him.

The keel is missing, so we assume a fast capsize at 3:40 am (EPRIB had a splutter, then died) left them stunned/unconcious.... all assumption really.

Does anyone on here have any experience of similar circumstances and am I guessing correctly that, should bodies be found, it will probably only be skeletons?
 
Sorry to read about this Stingo - can't offer any comment about the state of the bodies I'm afraid.

I don't quite understand where the boat is now - you say she has been found drifting but then that she needs divers to explore further.

Is she on the surface or bottom?
 
>A friend of mine was aboard and his wife is absolutely terrified that, if they find >any bodies (5 months of decomposition in warm waters), she will have to try >identify him.

There are means of identification that don't involve seeing the body. e.g. DNA sampling, compared to a blood relatives dna, dental records, etc. Here in the UK, they wouldn't subject a relative to trying to identify a badly decomposed body.

Hope this helps.

dv.
 
Correct. They usually use a family acquaintance. Also DNA may not be available after such a long time in the water. Does funny things to DNA apparently

Donald
 
Yep, she has lost her keel and is floating/drifting upside-down.

She was spotted by a passing ship on sunday and the captain fixed the position and took a few photos. A salvage tub was dispatched from Port Elizabeth and found Moquini at sunset this evening.
 
Thanks for the info. South Africans have never been known for subtlety or handling delicate situations with compassion and I wouldn't put it past this lot in asking my mates wife to take a peak.
 
My partner has many years experience as forensic scientist / pathologist. She says that there will be nothing to see other than bone and muscle tissue which can be profiled via DNA for identification.

The sudden loss of a keel is the worst possible sailing scenario. Please convey condolences from all at this forum to your fiend.
 
Hopefully it will be treated as a forensic scene until investigations are complete, and any contents of the boat will be treated as evidence, including remains

It will be impossible to recognise or id them and this will be obvious, even to seth afrikaans

Sorry, awful news but at least they may have closure
 
The sorry sight
2-2-0-0_288630.jpg
 
Look at the light blue section just behind the keelbox, any ideas as to what may have caused the anti-foul to rub off there? The rig was found intact.

The rig has now been cut away so the divers can access the inside of the hull without the risk of getting tangled up. As I hear more, I'll post on findings/progress etc.

moqini_cap_big.JPG
 
There's another light blue patch towards the stern. If the patch behind the keel box were further forward, I'd say it's the result of a recent lift-out.

Tragic stuff, whatever happened...

My condolencies

Graham.
 
I was on the original SAR team and still am in touch with some of the other members of the team. I also speak to my mates father-in-law regularly.

Why do you ask?
 
yep, though the keel bulb might easily have axshully gone a long way to the stern. Hence main strop behind keelbox is actually in middle of bulb CG and not fwd which risks slip-off, and rear strop for engine weight, no?

Or perhaps the carpet is 5-grit.
 
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