Check this Video...Shipwrecked Family

[camaraderie]

Here's the publishers blurb on the book:
In 2003, after two years at sea, the 55-foot catamaran sailed by the Silverwoods, a suburban California family that chucked it all to sail around the world, hit a reef off the South Pacific island of Scilly (now known as Manuae), putting the life of Jean and John and their four children (ages five to 16) in peril. The first part of the book is written from Jean's perspective as she opens with the wreck and then moves smoothly between the family's fight for survival and the story of their journey. By juxtaposing the two tales, Jean illustrates how the children's maturity and cohesiveness were not only a byproduct of the trip but also the keys to all the Silverwoods surviving their ordeal, especially John, who was critically injured by the falling mast. Jean wears her heart on her sleeve, and her writing about her marital problems or John's alcoholic relapses is honest. John's narrative is half as long as Jean's, underscoring his straight-to-the point personality and writing style. The saga from John's perspective lacks emotion, but his ability to interweave the story of the Julia Anne (a sailing ship that hit the same reef in 1855) gives an eye-opening account of how much and how little sea travel has changed in 150 years and accentuates the heroism of this family that overcame an extraordinary ordeal.
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I wonder if the alchoholism played a role?

Here's a link to info on the atoll they hit.
Manuae (Society Islands) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Cruisingdad]

I too am curious if this was an uncharted reef, or a mishap in navigation.

- CD

[sailingdog]

If it is that well known, I would hope it would be on the charts.... Sounds more and more like navigation error.

[sailortjk1]

They took a chance, they made a mistake, but most importantly, they fought to survive.

A great big huzzah for the captain and crew of the French boat that came to their rescue.

[arbarnhart]

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

I too am curious if this was an uncharted reef, or a mishap in navigation.

- CD

After a ship hit it in 1855? I would think it was charted since he knows it is the same reef.

[hellosailor]

I'd also be curious to know why it took the USCG "Several hours" to figure out where they were, after receiving the EPIRB transmission. I had thought the system resolved positions typically in less than one hour.

[sailingdog]

It might be because they were using a 121.5 MHz EPIRB, rather than a newer 406 MHz EPIRB. Of course, if they had had a 406 MHz GPIRB, it would have been much faster a response.

Originally Posted by hellosailor

I'd also be curious to know why it took the USCG "Several hours" to figure out where they were, after receiving the EPIRB transmission. I had thought the system resolved positions typically in less than one hour.

[hellosailor]

Dunno, as i understand it the 121.5 devices don't hit satellites at all, and in that case their rescue would have been co-ordinated locally (because the signal was locally received by aircraft or ship) and not relayed back the to USCG. The relay indicates it was a satellite reception--which won't ever happen with 121.5 alone.

Maybe a satellite was down and there was a coverage/df gap?

[CqCasting]

Originally Posted by CqCasting

I saw the News this morning. I felt cheated by the media as they cut it off short. I would like to know if they intend to continue with following their dream? I can only hope!

In addition: The news story mentioned that the skipper nearly lost his led when the mast came down. Plus they have a book published. So, how long ago did this occur and where did they receive medical treatment?

[tdw]

I can't quite figure out why anyone would buy the book. Maybe I'm a callous old bugger but other than the fact that they hit a reef I cannot see that there story is in any way interesting. Yeah OK so they lost the boat (sad) and the skipper nearly died and/or lost a leg (doubly sad) but I'm sorry, it all leaves me strangely unmoved and certainly not moved enough to blow $30.00 or so. Maybe, pick it up for $1.50 second hand some day.

OTOH, if they did only have a 121.05 Epirb, WTF ???? They have a 55' cat that allows then to watch dvds in the middle of the ocean but they don't spring for a 406 Epirb ???? Weird s__t.

Final point, if as appears probable, they did not have a lookout posted, why not ? For gods sake there were six people on board that thing. OK so the five year old was a bit young to stand watch but at least out of the three eldest surely.........