Missing sailors

Turbot2 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007

copy from CBC news, Dec 18, 2007.

Anyone know about this couple missing since leaving Hawaii for Victoria, BC ?

A B.C. couple sailing from Hawaii to Victoria has vanished and Canadian and U.S. coast guards have suspended searches after finding no trace of the nine-metre sailboat the pair was travelling on.

Chris Malchow, 31, of Victoria, and Courtnay Steele, 27, of Saltspring Island, left Hawaii on Sept. 8 and were due to arrive in Victoria on Oct. 16, family spokeswoman Suzanne Steele told CBC News Monday.

Both quit their jobs for "an adventure of a lifetime," said Steele, who's been using the internet to track ships that might have encountered the couple's ketch.

Back in June, Malchow and Steele bought the sailboat, Takaroa 2, in New Zealand and set sail to Tahiti, then on to Hawaii.

But there were problems early on in their journey. In Steele's online blog entry dated Aug. 1, she wrote about encountering a gale.

"A particularly gigantic wave crashed over our stern … we broke our main boom. Chris sent for a swim, but luckily he was harnessed in. It could have been much worse, really," she wrote.

Suzanne Steele, aunt of Courtnay Steele, said her niece had little sailing experience but was learning from Chris Malchow.Suzanne Steele, aunt of Courtnay Steele, said her niece had little sailing experience but was learning from Chris Malchow.
(CBC)

Their radio receiver was soaked with salt water and wrecked. Hatches weren't closing properly and there was a problem with the bilge pump — but the pair made it to Tahiti, the blog said.

On the way to Hawaii on Sept. 5, Steele wrote: "Our VHF radio has quit working … a rather scary sight … the lights of a behemoth freighter constantly looming large behind us."
Pair not heard from since Sept. 8

Suzanne Steele said her niece had little sailing experience, but was learning from Malchow. "Her partner is a very able sailor and … an extremely competent person," she said.

Malchow and Steele have not been heard from since Sept. 8.

A major search was launched in October and vessels in the area were given the boat's description, but the Canadian and U.S. coast guards have now suspended their searches.

John Steele, Courtnay's father, told CBC News on Monday that he worries the pair may have been caught in a commercial shipping lane.

"They were crossing major sea lanes between North America and Asia, as I understand, just north of Hawaii. They are probably 200 miles wide and who knows how many freighters are going through there a day," he said from his Saltspring Island home.

Still, family members said they aren't giving up hope.

"There is a possibility that they are off course, that they've been de-masted or something like that, and that they will make their way home," Suzanne Steele said.

"I don't think that's an unrealistic view … I have great hope still."

Gryzio · #2 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007

I not remember things well, but, there was a couple back in the 70's I guess. Their boat was scuttled by a Whale (Angry Whale). I not remember the time they spent in a small inflatable, but, they did survive. It was an interesting story of how they began to think and how the Sea provided food to get them through this. They had lost a lot of weight. I think they had seen about 3-4 ships during this time until finally some guy on deck just happened to become curious of what he saw in the distance. So, I hope they are spotted soon. If, they still have their boat, that a great plus for them as they may have enough food and water for a long time. I hope Ships are aware and at least try to watch for them, even if they may be hard to spot. No one will see them if they not try to look.

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007

This boat's been mentioned as missing before... It isn't looking all that good, since the time period it has been missing for includes some really nasty weather that would very likely have been where the boat in question was supposed to be... The previous story about Takaroa II didn't mention that they were having problems getting the hatches to close properly, which makes it even less likely that the boat could survive the bad weather they likely encountered.

labatt · #4 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007

See http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/38817-so-tragic.html

Turbot2 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-23-2007

I am aware of the other thread.
What a wonderful experience this couple had up until departing Hilo.
I wonder if they had to leave Hawii earlier than planned as I read in other threads that finding an opening in a "live aboard" area around Hawaii is next to impossible, but perhaps easier in the out islands . Maybe a search of all of the "live aboard" areas beginning with the Hilo area, and the other islands may turn up some information on the Takaroa 2.
Anything is worth a try.