Sailor found alive off Hatteras

[dotnmarty]

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/04/sailor- ... e-hatteras :thup

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

That was a very luck man.

 

[hardee]

Yup, Lucky :!: No planned destination and no hard check in dates; no EPIRB or tracking device. Might be a good day to buy a lottery ticket.

Or, Somebody was looking out for him.

Let's see if this one turns into a movie for real.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[dotnmarty]

Here's some more info in case you can't open the initial article

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man ... st-n334966

 

[thataway]

ordan had never filed a "float plan" to indicate where he was going and when he would return, the Miami Coast Guard said.

"Without that it was hard to create a search pattern," Miami Coast Guard spokeswoman Marilyn Fajardo said.

An ERIB or PLB would have been a lot better than a float plan! There has been some rough weather, but leaving shore, and venturing that far offshore, without a EPRIB, borders on….

 

[hardee]

.....almost gone.

Bet a lesson was learned. Hope so.

Agree on the EPIRB/PLB.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[smckean (Tosca)]

I note that there is no information on when the boat capsized, and therefore how long since the capsize. It's hard to imagine living for weeks sitting on top of a standard keeled, rounded, sailboat hull. The account says he lived partially on food stored in the boat. I wonder how he got to that food? Perhaps the boat rolled or pitch-poled, lost it's mast, but ended up right-side up, or perhaps on its side. Hard to imagine a mono-hulled, keeled sailboat remaining keel up.

 

[Lost Petrel]

this one is all over the sailing forums, with a lot of suspicion about the veracity of both the reporting and the guy's story. The boat was an Alberg 35 which I know because I own two Alberg designs, is impossible to keep upside down, and even more impossible to survive in if in the position.

A link to Sailnet;
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/2685818-post23.html

 

[hardee]

One report I heard said he was clinging to the hull. Hard to imagine that if it was right side up.... and tough to do if it is upside down, although much more likely to stay afloat that way. Did see a picture of him with his boat, and it had a (looked) dark blue hull, mono, maybe a full keel. He missed a check in late January (29) and again in Feb (6) so may have been since before Jan 29. Hard to believe he could be exposed for that long, and not succumb to hypothermia. No mention of a Gumby suit. Hope he hit the Today show or something where we can get more info.

Ouch. Reading his posts on the sailing forum show some learning still to be had.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon