I have zero experience with this, but I’m curious. If the boat can max 6 mph, into a 45kt wind and 18 ft seas, can you really control it? seems to me that at 6 mph it would be almost impossible to keep the bow into the waves.
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Originally posted by Cracker LarryWell, I’m going to risk going against the grain here, and I know this is a tough crowd
It’s really standard practice for small ships to do exactly what they did. Those ships cannot survive the storm inshore tied to a dock or anchored. It will get beat to death against the dock or wind up washed 6 blocks inland. or miles up in the marsh. If you were around Charleston during Hugo, you saw shrimp boats scattered all over downtown. The ones that survived rode it out at sea. Ships of this size typically put to sea and try to get as much sea room as possible. Most boats of this size can handle a 100 mph storm in open ocean, but won’t last the day tied to a dock with a 20’ storm surge.
I’m sure that was the reasoning, but sure hope it turns out well for everybody involved
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
When i was a deckhand we took the big boats (110’)up the river and into big creeks ran them into the lee sides of marsh islands, three anchors and let them ride.
“they” do say that it’s safer for a boat to be out of port during a storm, but I haven’t heard what “they” say about how much safer it is for the humans on board.
It sure seems ass-backward to risk lives to save a toy boat.
I’d say from the end results it is quite apparent that he made a bad decision in leaving port. I don’t think anyone, professional seaman or not can dispute that fact.
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
Seriously though, if i were hell bent on saving the ship, it seems to me the safest option would have been to head straight for europe instead of in the general direction of the storm. Am i wrong?
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
Apparently they were on a tight time schedule to get to St.Petersburg by Nov. 10th.
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
Skipper and a crew member missing.
Larger vessels that put out to sea to avoid a storm in port do so with the intention of avoiding the worst of it out there too.
She left out with all things considered no doubt.
Been on boats where the Company wanted it underway, period, there’s always a boat driver on the beach who’s willing to say “I can”.
A mechanical issue and maybe a storm tracking variance left them in the path. When water in > water out, it’s over. When that call is to be made, it rests on one man.
Not all abandon ship incidents in severe weather work out too well.
Good to hear the rescue unit got who they did.
There will be reports and lessons learned by folks behind keyboards.
Those that survived will remember the hours up to their rescue. Hopefully those lost will be remembered for doing all possible for the vessel and crew as a whole.
All too often it’s those who second guess a decision once things have gone bad, they would be the first to claim it was them who made it happen if all goes well.
Well said DG.
King Fish
31’ Fountain
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Seriously though, if i were hell bent on saving the ship, it seems to me the safest option would have been to head straight for europe instead of in the general direction of the storm. Am i wrong?
Yes. See below.
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Larry, that is true for a direct strike, but they knew this storm was going north of the Carolinas.
They were docked in Connecticut. In the direct path at the time. Not North Carolina. It’s not a fast ship, it has to plan ahead. He had to go.
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Or straight out to sea?
Because the Captain knew hurricanes. Straight out to sea would have put the ship in the deadly quadrant of the storm. The right side, in relation to the storms movement, is considered the dangerous semi-circle, and the forward right edge the deadly quadrant. His course took him into what is considered the safe semi-circle and the safest quadrant, which is the trailing edge of the left side of the storm. That is where he was, in 45 mph winds instead of 95 that he would have experienced if he had headed straight out.
Also consider that he has to answer to the vesse’ls owner, and was in constant communication with her, and the board of directors of the Bounty Foundation, as well as LLoyd’s of London who also have a big say. The insurance company may have required him to get the boat out of there.
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When i was a de
CL:
I agree with you.
A tragedy certainly, but “Monday morning” quarterbacking the disaster will do nothing unless we can learn all of the circumstances leading to the captain’s decision(s).
Years ago, I crewed on a 68’ staysail schooner from Long Beach, CA to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. We were anchored in Cabo San Lucas, BC and a strong chubasco (Mexican hurricane) blew in; caught us and about thirty other vessels at anchor.
Our skipper decided to “ride out” the storm in the anchorage. We put out three anchors: two 80# danforths and a 65# CQR. Each had over 100’ of BBB chain, 3/4" anchor line (800’/500’/500’). Had a seasoned crew of 8.
I learned the inertia a full keeled, (we drew 8’) wood-hulled vessel can place on three anchor lines in 90 knots of wind. At the early stages of the storm (around 9pm) and 50 knots of wind we watched as other (unmanned) boats (ranging from 38’ to 70’) started to drift by us dragging their anchors towards the beach.
Around midnight, wind had increased to about 70 - 80 knots, wind was screaming so loud we had to shout BELOW decks to be heard. We had just started our main engine to relieve the strain on the anchors; three of us were topside in safety harnesses attempting to steer the boat towards our anchors. The main anchor line parted (the CQR) when a 30’ swell broke on top of us.
Around 3am, our bilge started to fill with seawater when the combined effect of the swells, the anchors and everything else forced some of the caulking out of the hull seams near the bow. Despite this, somehow we made it though the night. In retrospect, all of us agreed that we should not have attempted to stay in the anchorage. Not only did the storm place an incredible strain on the crew and the boat, but while we were attempting to keep from straining the fittings on our boat, we had to literally “dodge” other boats which were dragging their anchors and drifting onto us . . . something we had overlooked in our pre-storm discussions. Twenty two boats were total l
Bottom Scratcher and DG, thanks for confirming my thoughts. I was starting to feel lonely out here 
There isn’t heavy enough ground tackle made to hold a ship the size of the Bounty in a 90 mph storm. And if it did, the stress would rip the ship apart. The only safe place for a ship is at sea.
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If the boat can max 6 mph, into a 45kt wind and 18 ft seas, can you really control it? seems to me that at 6 mph it would be almost impossible to keep the bow into the waves.
It would be impossible. He is not going to be trying to keep the bow into the waves. In bad weather you have to give the ship her head, she will tell you which way she can go and which way she can’t. True of small boats too. Typically they do best running downwind with the sea on a stern quarter, with a small steadying sail. This is why they need plenty of sea room, so the ship can run before the sea.
Second, she didn’t have a head sea, she was southbound, and the eye of the storm was 100 miles offshore of her. Wind blows counter clockwise around a low pressure area, which would have put the wind directly behind the ship or at a slight quartering angle. The best possible scenario, and why he headed to that side of the storm in the first place.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
Like I said on another thread-I learn something everytime I look here!