You just beat me to it bananabender. Was just about to post this story. Interesting to know what he was doing out there in this weather
I better not say much. That may be me in a couple months. "Man rescued from 25ft vessel deep in the southern ocean. Costing taxpayers millions. The man was attempting to sail solo and non stop around Australia. The man has been sailing for over two months now in his Foolhardy endevour. 21 Mick Waycott was inspired to attempt this voyage by other young sailors. He took to Seabreeze forums so that real sailors could educate him on if what he was doing was actually possible." Imagine that popping up on the news. If it does I would say in an interview " I would like to thank Sectorsteve, Blue Moon, NswSailor, Craig, Morning bird, Cisco, Ramona and others for giving me the information needed to attempt this voyage." All while watching a Top Hat sink to the bottom of the southern Ocean right behind me.
Regards,
Mick
He found himself in a situation that he didn't think he would get into and the situation got out of control.
A quote to sail (and live) by
Gary
My bet is seasickness. What size boat is it, maybe 21 ft. No sails up so a very untidy motion.
it didn't look to rough for the boat, but would have been for the crew.
Relatively short distance. Pretty easy to pick a decent weather window for that passage.
This was forecasted. A massive low covering the entire Tasman bringing big swells to the entire Australian East Coast. I just hope no ones caught out in the middle in worse conditions.
Weather reports are available. People should use them or be prepared for anything.
The headland at Mooloolaba means it is normally a pretty good spot to shelter in a South Easterly. Twice into Mooloolaba we've had 30-35 knots SE and uncomfortable seas, and once you sneak in behind the headland it's like a switch gets thrown, the water and wind abate really quickly, and you have a fair bit of water to stooge around in even if you don't want to head into harbour.
The fact they got picked up off Point Awkright means they were a good 10-20nm North of Moolooaba so they were well past their destination. You don't really need an engine to get around the headland into sheltered waters, so maybe tired souls , a manual windlass and trying to anchor on a surf beach?
Short tacking back to the South into a fresh SE would have been character building and a rude shock after a downwind run the whole way.
From what I hear this my guess of what happend. He's left Brisbane he seasick and is debilitated. His family is waiting for him in Mooloolaba so doesn't want to turn around. Also if he turned around he would be beating into it giving him more work and making him even more seasick. In his seasick-debilated mind, he doesn't realise he has gone past Point Cartwright (Mooloolaba) and keep going to Point Arkwright. He obviously then realises he has gone past Mooloolaba and has an "Oh Sh!t" Moment. He must not think he can tack back into the wind to Mooloolaba so sets off his EPIRB and sets the anchor. The anchor is then Brocken off. He then try's to make his way back to Mooloolaba by sail. I'm pretty sure he has his mainsail out when the footage is being shot, my theory is also supported by the fact that his doesn't have his Jib out. Probably because when he's sick he doesn't want to go up on the bow mucking around ( you can easily see he doesn't have a furler). The Coast Guard then tow the boat back to shore.
Just what I think.
Regards,
Mick
Looking at the boat and the sails, it's possible that the owner was one of the blokes who said "cruisers don't go to windward" and then found out too late that sometimes you have to.
Some older boats can go to windward OK, but a boat like that dragging a tender, the windage of a bimini and pushed by old and probably poorly-trimmed sails could have been going backwards trying to get upwind in those conditions.
I understand from a short cross to the yachtie the jib was jammed .
On listening to above I am a little intrigued by the comment that when the Epirb call was received they were a little unsure of its position and sent a boat out of Caloundra to search south . I thought epirb fixes were accurate to within ......
It apparently wasn't a GPS equipped EPIRB. If so, they would have had him pretty precisely - somewhere under 100m at least.
Yes make sure when you buy a EPIRB it is the GPS type. Again the majority of people don't understand their safety equipment and how to use it.
They can get a much more accurate fix off your telephone than an EPIRB. Words from a RORC safety officer. EPIRBs are for giving a rough idea of where you are in the middle of the ocean. Not great for coastal stuff unless it is the GPS type,GPIRB.
Is there a link to the video you guys are talking about.