Sad, bordering on tragic - Stranded sailors

[Corkbuoy]

An article in today’s Guardian which quickly takes the romance out of long distance sailing in a world with Covid-19.

Long journey home: the stranded sailboats in a race to beat the hurricanes

 

[JumbleDuck]

We could also spare a thought for the cruise ship workers - estimated at 100,000 in total of whom 70,000 in US waters - who are stuck aboard their ships and unable to get home. Most are from poor countries which cannot afford to repatriate them and many have been sacked from their jobs, even though they are stuck on board.

I remember reading that WW2 merchant seamen generally had their pay stopped at the instant their ship was torpedoed, and hoped that the shipping industry would be more humane now.

 

[[70521]]

An article in today’s Guardian which quickly takes the romance out of long distance sailing in a world with Covid-19.

Long journey home: the stranded sailboats in a race to beat the hurricanes

Why is this sad? It demonstrates man's humanity to man and the planet we all live on changing.

Friends arrived back from the Caribbean a few weeks back at the front of the fleet.

It is the sailors who are currently on the hard and waiting for the marinas/harbour masters to fully understand the recent announcements that I feel sad about, but not as sad for those who live in cities who cannot get away to appreciate this amazing plant we live on.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Why is this sad? It demonstrates man's humanity to man and the planet we all live on changing.

Friends arrived back from the Caribbean a few weeks back at the front of the fleet.

It is the sailors who are currently on the hard and waiting for the marinas/harbour masters to fully understand the recent announcements that I feel sad about, but not as sad for those who live in cities who cannot get away to appreciate this amazing plant we live on.

I wonder if in the context of sail cruising, on a forum focussed on sailing, it is sad for fellow sailors on a incredible, voluntary journey of adventure, that the virus is forcing many of them to make tough decisions. We can all find sadder events and compare, but I don't think that is the point. I think that the article also demonstrates as you say, the collaboration and support available in the cruising community.

 

[fisherman]

Wonder if the Navy could be persuaded to patrol the route, just to keep an ear for trouble. Not exactly onerous for them.

 

[penberth3]

We could also spare a thought for the cruise ship workers - estimated at 100,000 in total of whom 70,000 in US waters - who are stuck aboard their ships and unable to get home. Most are from poor countries which cannot afford to repatriate them and many have been sacked from their jobs, even though they are stuck on board.

I remember reading that WW2 merchant seamen generally had their pay stopped at the instant their ship was torpedoed, and hoped that the shipping industry would be more humane now.

That wasn't just WW2 - normal practice for a long time, it applied to the Titanic crew.

 

[FlyingGoose]

My poor Bro is still stuck on his ship anchored of Papua new guinea 5 weeks over due and cannot get back to the wife and his little daughter , wife is going nuts and thinks hes at it

 

[[70521]]

I wonder if in the context of sail cruising, on a forum focussed on sailing, it is sad for fellow sailors on a incredible, voluntary journey of adventure, that the virus is forcing many of them to make tough decisions. We can all find sadder events and compare, but I don't think that is the point. I think that the article also demonstrates as you say, the collaboration and support available in the cruising community.

Very true.

 

[Kukri]

My poor Bro is still stuck on his ship anchored of Papua new guinea 5 weeks over due and cannot get back to the wife and his little daughter , wife is going nuts and thinks hes at it

She hasn’t been to PNG.

 

[Kukri]

We could also spare a thought for the cruise ship workers - estimated at 100,000 in total of whom 70,000 in US waters - who are stuck aboard their ships and unable to get home. Most are from poor countries which cannot afford to repatriate them and many have been sacked from their jobs, even though they are stuck on board.

I remember reading that WW2 merchant seamen generally had their pay stopped at the instant their ship was torpedoed, and hoped that the shipping industry would be more humane now.

I make mine walk the plank as soon as we have no more use for them. It’s so much cheaper.

Seriously, there is a thing called the Maritime Labour Convention which requires the owners to carry compulsory insurance to cover crew wages for several months if the ship sinks or the owners go bankrupt.

The big cruise ship companies have used their own ships to take cruise ship hotel staff home. There were eleven big cruise ships including the Queen Elizabeth sitting in Manila Bay waiting for their « passengers » to complete their 14 days quarantine last week.

The deck and engine crew are retained as reactivating a big cruise ship after cold lay up does not bear thinking about.

 

[Scillypete]

Wonder if the Navy could be persuaded to patrol the route, just to keep an ear for trouble. Not exactly onerous for them.

The tiny fleet would be hard pressed to do fishery patrol let alone nurse maiding yachts across the Atlantic. . . . . . . . Too many commitments too few ships

 

[FlyingGoose]

She hasn’t been to PNG.

They live in Australia , shes a Neurological Nurse , and cannot get him home , Darwin and Singapore refusing entry

 

[laika]

I'm not saying that lockdown is getting to me but if anyone else wants to mail the Graun and suggest they update their style guide to reflect the British term for a watercraft propelled by sails...

 

[Kukri]

They live in Australia , shes a Neurological Nurse , and cannot get him home , Darwin and Singapore refusing entry

Actually I am expecting to do some crew changes in Singapore next week - it does appear to be possible.

My point about your S-I-L imagining that your brother might be tempted to stray in PNG is just a rude remark about the local « talent » - I didn’t feel tempted to stray when I was working there.

 

[Rappey]

I watched a youtube video of a crewman . He was saying there were 19 large cruise liners anchored in a Philippines bay. Each ship had around 1300 crew.
They were moving each nation to each ship then they would all go to different countries to repatriate, leaving the very minimum of 120 crew on board.

 

[agurney]

I'm not saying that lockdown is getting to me but if anyone else wants to mail the Graun and suggest they update their style guide to reflect the British term for a watercraft propelled by sails...

Are you suggesting the Grauniad should use a thesaurus and spellchecker?
Come on, three consecutive consonants is pushing it a bit for the average reader.

 

[Bajansailor]

Ever since countries started closing their borders to cruise ships and yachts, Barbados has done the opposite - we have welcomed them.
At one stage we had 14 cruise ships 'parked' here - they were taking turns to come into the main harbour (which can only accommodate about 4 or 5 at the most, depending on size) to take on supplies, send garbage ashore, etc.

There are currently 8 cruise ships here showing up on Marinetraffic -
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic

Here is a nice tribute by the Master of the Aida Perla re how they love Barbados -

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=654079395414428

We have had various yachts visiting - some have arrived recently - I think they have to do 2 weeks quarantine (same as anybody who arrives by air), but I am not too sure if they can stay on board or if they have to go ashore to an 'approved' centre (hotel).
But at least they have not been turned away.

And Barbados has a pretty good track record re hurricanes - not as good as Trinidad, but better than Grenada (which happens to be further south than us).

 

[sailaboutvic]

I wonder if in the context of sail cruising, on a forum focussed on sailing, it is sad for fellow sailors on a incredible, voluntary journey of adventure, that the virus is forcing many of them to make tough decisions. We can all find sadder events and compare, but I don't think that is the point. I think that the article also demonstrates as you say, the collaboration and support available in the cruising community.

In all the years we been cruising there no doubt that when the chips are down there a cruising sailor ready to step in and help .
Many here may not understand the problem some of there guys have now , if they stay where they aren't they won't be insured,
The once that need to sail back are unable to get their boats fully ready for the trip back which mean some maybe sailing with low supplies or even with boats that need more maintenance before such a long trip .
Many of us cruisers are moaning that we stuck in marinas having to pay extra marina fees when we could be cruising and living on our hooks , but we the lucky once , I rather be where I am now in a marina then have to made some of the choices some of tho guys are going to have to make.

 

[Frogmogman]

And Barbados has a pretty good track record re hurricanes - not as good as Trinidad, but better than Grenada (which happens to be further south than us).

Now that does surprise me, but a quick look at the figures shows that you're correct. Although Grenada suffers a direct hit less frequently, yet when it comes to major hits the opposite is true, and it seems that more of the tropical storms that hit Grenada have been of hurricane strength.

I know that there are lies, damned lies and statistics, but a quick shift at the breakdowns on Hurricane City.com (interesting site) shows the following.......

(Tobago rather than Trinidad as they didn't have the stats for Trinidad).

_________________________________________________________Barbados______________Grenada__________________Tobago__________

Tropical storm/hurricane ratio ....................................75.56%/24.44%..............70.73%/29.63%.................56.25%/43.75%

Longest gap......................................................................24 years (1919-42)..........14 years (1963-68).........36 years (1897-1932)

Average years between direct hits.................................. 21.14 years........................29.6 years..........................49.3 years
(hurricane force wind for at least 5 hrs)

Average years between major hits.....................................74 years ............................49.3 years....................Not enough data (only 1)

Average MPH of hits..................................................................98 mph...............................108 mph..............................95 mph

Statistically next affected...............................................before end 2023..............before end 2025.................before end 2029

Maybe someone should tell the insurance companies......

 

[FlyingGoose]

Heard from my Bro today, at least hes got internet thinks he will dock in 2 weeks .. but then he has to fly to Australia and Quarantine for 14 days , then when he crosses the state line he needs to quarantine for another 14 days
What a shambles, another month even of the ship , bet he's not signing up for the next crew change