Severe weather

[brokesailor]

Bill: I sure wish I knew how to do that!
Hinckley position as of a few minutes ago:
Latitude:34.28395
Longitude:-72.70926
GPS location Date/Time:11/09/2011 06:11:50 EST
They will be crossing the stream today, looks like 20 Kts from the NE

Have not heard from Seaya since last night. They should have been crossing the stream last night in 30 Kts from the N-NNE. Fat part of the stream at that latitude. Hope they made it.

[btrayfors]

Sean has strengthened and begun to move north. He is forecast to reach hurricane strength by midday Thursday, with gusts to 80 knots (92mph).

The only good news is that he is forecast to turn NE and start moving rapidly, and to be absorbed into another system.

Bill

[billyruffn]

Crossing the Gulf Stream with 20+ knots from the NE is not a good idea. They should put the wind on the port quarter and sail away from the storm. Put the crew on 1 hr on 2 hrs off and keep on truckin’. In a few days, once past Abaco Is., they can enter the NE Providence Channel in the Bahamas, and find a place to rest up for the remainder of the trip south, or retire to Florida to refit the boat.

[RonRelyea]

Excellent Learning Thread .. any updates available??

[brokesailor]

Seaya pulled into Georgetown, SC on Weds. They experienced 50 kt winds, huge seas. Rode out part of the storm hove to. They blew out all their sails except their storm jib, no details. 2 out of the crew of 3 were sick as dogs. They turned around and crossed the gulf stream on storm jib alone doing 3 kts. I am amazed they didn't end up in Portugal. They claim the tartan handled very well in the huge seas.

The Hinckley arrived in Morehead City Thursday AM. They were knocked down 3 times, lost all electronics, blew out their main sail. No injuries.

Can't wait to hear the sea stories in person.

There is still one boat out there from the NARC, Tahawus. She does not seem to be moving. Don't know if shes hove to or has not updated the Spot for a while.

I did read an article that one boat on the NARC set abandoned ship, picked up by a freighter after rudder damage approaching Bermuda.

"“At approximately 3:30 pm [Sunday], the crew of M/V Oleander was involved in the successful recovery of four survivors from the 46 foot sailing vessel Elle a NARC rally participant, located approximately 200 miles northwest of Bermuda,” said a Maritime Operations spokesman.

The captain of Elle decided to abandon their vessel having encountered steering failure & subsequent injury to a crew member — bruised ribs — in 30 to 35 knot winds with seas ranging from 20 to 30 feet.

“The Oleander, en route, from New Jersey to Bermuda was diverted to the distress position and has since arrived in Hamilton Harbor this morning where the crew members were landed ashore. One of the survivors wished to express his gratitude for the professionalism shown by the captain and crew of the Oleander during the rescue operation.”

The Oleander is operated by Bermuda Container Lines.

Early Monday morning another NARC rally participant, the 49-foot Riot suffered steering failure on final approach to St. George’s Harbor and issued a distress call.

“Bermuda Maritime Operations Center tasked the Pilot boat St. George and tug Powerful to assist the vessel with winds averaging 30 to 35 knots during the rescue operation and attempts being made to keep the sailing vessel clear of the reef structure,” said the Marine Operations spokesman. “The yacht Riot, with six persons onboard, was safely guided into St. George’s Harbor a short while later.”

[BoldSailor]

"They should be able to adjust the mizzen and staysail in a manner to heave to."

As it turned out, as the Captain and crew were trying to adjust the sails, the helmsman reported that we were headed in a beautiful North direction. Away from the worst of it. Staysail was changed to leeward and we sailed off north, to await word of Sean's direction. He headed east, so we did sail to Beaufort. Arrived safely but a bit worse for wear.