The Scoop Deck

Answers, questions about the mystery sailboat

October 5th, 2009 | Coast Guard Life at Sea Maritime operations Ships | Posted by Phil Ewing

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The case of the abandoned sailboat discovered last week by the destroyer Cole is not completely solved // Naval History and Heritage Command

The abandoned sailboat discovered last week by the destroyer Cole wouldn't be the first sailing vessel to encounter problems on the open ocean // Naval History and Heritage Command

Last week the Deck brought you the case of the abandoned sailboat — a vessel discovered adrift by the destroyer Cole with a damaged mainsail and nobody aboard. At the time, there was nothing to go on but a pair of Navy photos, but now, we know what happened. Or do we?

According to a story on the Navy’s Web site, the master of the boat was rescued at sea July 14 by the Coast Guard, and his vessel has been at sea ever since. The Navy and the Coast Guard apparently contacted the guy to tell him the Cole had found his boat, so he asked the Cole’s crew to gather up some of the stuff he left aboard.

But there are still lots of holes in this story that nobody has been able to plug. A spokesman for 2nd Fleet in Norfolk said he had no information about the encounter beyond what was in the story online. And a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area said she could find no record of a rescue at sea July 14. And nobody knew the name of this man, his boat, or what calamity forced him to be rescued by the Coast Guard.

It’s not much, but at least it confirms the crew wasn’t swallowed up by mysterious sea gas.

Can you fill in the missing pieces?

Permalink | October 5th, 2009

Comments

  1. The Scoop Deck – Answers, questions about the mystery sailboat « Sail Boating Says:
    October 5th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    [...] See original here: The Scoop Deck – Answers, questions about the mystery sailboat [...]

  2. Sean Says:
    October 5th, 2009 at 10:33 am

    If the boat was still afloat, why did he need to abandon? Not to criticize the master, but rule #1 of survival, stay with the boat if it is still afloat. Was it a medical airlift? Why didn’t the USCG tow the boat if they rescued him via cutter? That way, the Navy wouldn’t have to waste resources rescuing a sailboat that was already rescued three months ago. This is all weird… glad the master is okay, though.

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