South Pacific Mayday

[CamoPirate]

As some may know I am aboard M/v Spirit of Ulysses, a Nordhavn 76 and we are taking her from Florida to Australia.

There has been a BOLO for a missing Row Boat that about 900 miles east of the Marquesses that departed from Panama. He set of his PLB device several days ago and many members of the Pacific Puddle Jumpers who are making the same run been working together to look for his.

Yesterday despite the fact our KVH satellite phone in the piliot house being turned off it rang ! It was Tahiti SAR or officially known as JRCC, JRCC Tahiti
Centre de coordination de sauvetage aéro-maritime en Polynésie française
Joint Rescue Coordination Center in French Polynesia

Here is the subsequent email exchange.





Subject: MAYDAY RELAY concerning Rowboat "SMILES"


Dear Sir
Radio-beacon PLB REPORTED IN POSITION S05°30.00 - W122°00.00 on the 31 of may from KAYAK "SMILES ROWBOAT" MMSI 338399051 - 1 personne on board
Our scenario (hypothese) is the kayak is on the way is around 1.5kts - proceeding to the west
We request you to join the position 06°20.00S -128°00.00W* and to have a sharp look out between longitude 122°00W and this position. You should pass* longitude 122°00W on the 09 jun 0600UTC and* reach position 06°20.00S -128°00.00W on the 11 jun 0100UTC
We would like to know how long can you be able to do a search after reaching this position ?
You will find a photo of the kayak
Best regards
JRCC Tahiti


M/V Spirit of Ulysses reply:

Hello, understood- will join at 5.30.00 S 122..00.000 W and proceed to position 6.20.000 S 128.00.000 W keeping sharp look out along the way.
We have 1000 gall extra fuel /that doesn’t include the fuel we need to reach Nuku Hiva and the reserve for that/. This 1000 gall extra fuel gives us a week /7 days with 7 to 7.5 kn boat speed. We can remain in the area for 7 days covering 1000 nautical miles.

[CamoPirate]

Pic of the missing mariner as well as a marine trafic screen shot of the vessel’s involved in the search

[mvweebles]

Well, here's a new post that doesn't pop-up every day...... Very sobering. AIS plot looks like a mid-ocean traffic jam, though I realize it's really a handful of needles in a field of many haystacks.

I know you are obligated to assist, but I found the details on fuel remaining and your search duration capabilities very interesting. Clearly, willing to do as much as you can, not as little as you have to. I'm sure the rower's family and friend's are deeply appreciative

Peter

[CamoPirate]

Mid ocean is an understatement !

2300nm from Ecuador and 1200nm from Nuka Hiva, the first land available.

As far as Obligated, there was never even a discussion about should we opt in.
For me personally it is one of the few things that make doing these long ocean passages mentally possible. Knowing you are out beyond air support your only hope is knowing that your fellow mariners will be there for you should it be your turn. It’s just an unwavering commitment I think most make well before they venture out into the vastness. I think it’s possible we do it for our own sanity as much as the missing soul. The odds are not great of finding him given his Signal has stopped transmitting.

There is a FB group that is following, check it out. Pic included, sorry don’t k oe how to link that.

[CamoPirate]

Facebook page dedicated to the search for Aaron aboard Smiles

[CaptTom]

Of course one does whatever one can to help in that situation. The law of the sea, good Karma and all that.

Maybe afterward we can have the discussion about people trying to set records considering the risk to themselves and anyone searching for them.

Seems every week I see a headline about someone setting out to be the oldest, youngest, smallest, fastest, farthest, whatever. It always gives me a little shudder. All I can think about is how likely it will become a situation like this.

The explorers of old took great personal risks to advance our knowledge of the world, and to seek fame and fortune. In today's click-bait culture, "likes" and "views" are the sought-after currency. Maybe it's the same thing.

The difference is, today they set off thinking they'll just mash the "SOS button if things go wrong, and someone else will risk their own life to come rescue the record-seeker.

[CamoPirate]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Of course one does whatever one can to help in that situation. The law of the sea, good Karma and all that.

Maybe afterward we can have the discussion about people trying to set records considering the risk to themselves and anyone searching for them.

Seems every week I see a headline about someone setting out to be the oldest, youngest, smallest, fastest, farthest, whatever. It always gives me a little shudder. All I can think about is how likely it will become a situation like this.

The explorers of old took great personal risks to advance our knowledge of the world, and to seek fame and fortune. In today's click-bait culture, "likes" and "views" are the sought-after currency. Maybe it's the same thing.

The difference is, today they set off thinking they'll just mash the "SOS button if things go wrong, and someone else will risk their own life to come rescue the record-seeker.

We can have that discussion now if you like.

Maybe you think some silly record is a stupid reason to cross an ocean, perhaps you believe that rowing is the dumbest thing you have ever heard, some will say doing it for likes on social media is the devil.

But I ask anyone who leaves the dock. Why is your reason for going to sea any more justified or worthy then his ? Is the pursuit of your sea adventure really more important to human civilization than his ? What scale are you using to weigh your reason for being at sea against his ?

I believe those that set out to sea all do it for same reason, regardless if you were a Spanish explorer, a ocean racer, vacationing family's on character or the weekend yachtsman, hell even seniors on a cruise ship ! The sea calls us to adventure and we answer in our own way.

Stare off into the horizon and search your soul, Is one mariner really more justified for being out here ? I don’t think so even if i think rowing across the pacific is insanity. Then again so is taking a trawler 1/2 way around the world.
I am not worthy to judge.

[psneeld]

As far as out of air support reach....

I remember a case where the USCG parachuted a team of SEALs to a sailboat where the skipper had blood poisoning from a fish hook. That was somewhere in mid pacific too.

They gave him IV antibiotics and sailed the boat to the nearest hospital/air support landfall.

Not that safety is guaranteed anywhere, anytime..... but never give up hope if you are out there.

No I am not condoning the foolhardy... but honest attempts at adventure recreation even if dangerous are hard to weigh in on. Boating seems to be one of the least regulated for safety though.

Although I remember when the USCG finally had to intervene on some good ones. One was the two legally blind guys racing each other across the Atlantic. It was OK till the second or third failed start and had to be rescued every start. Then there was the guy inside a giant clear bubbles that moved by walking. All OK till the sun made it over-temp inside and the guy had but a few plastic bottle of water. To dream is one thing....

[hollywood8118]

My first thought was.. row a boat across the biggest stretch of the pacific solo.. what could go wrong!


I have sailed across that stretch of water myself and it is a big and lonely place. I do agree with the statements above that mentioned is his trip any less justified than mine was. But, It seems that the chances of success of a trip like that is a very low percentage vs failure. Really a tough call if they are deemed a fools errand or an amazing feat, I guess it depends if one makes it or not.

I really hope he is found

Hollywood

[Fletcher500]

Camo, thanks for posting and I also admire you and your crews commitment to fellow mariners.

Two classmates I went to college with in the 80’s rowed across the Pacific about 7 years ago and I believe they were the oldest male tandem crew to do it. They both rowed crew in College and had the physical and mental capabilities to undertake the voyage. These long distance paddlers have my utmost respect.

[Choices]

You can't define lonely until your threading water at night in a shipping lane, watching the stern light disappear, and no one knows your there.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Choices

You can't define lonely until your threading water at night in a shipping lane, watching the stern light disappear, and no one knows your there.

I agree...I did it while the USCG was first testing IR detection devices and I was in Biscayne Bay south of Miami. Even though I knew people knew where I was and I trusted the pilot like no one else....when that helo was 1/2 hour late I felt pretty lonely. ....

I also got to do the after search action interview with a National Guard jet pilot who had to eject off Cape Hatteras...he was in a 1 man life raft for 7 days till found. Survived by and said it was his favorite thing every day...licking the dew off the small raft canopy. He also said he was pretty lonely buy like all survivors...never gave up hope.

Didn't Tom Hanks in Cast Away befriend a volleyball (Wilson) to have someone to talk to?

[darkside]

Well done for getting involved in the search.
Hopefully the fishing fleet is also looking as they have more resources. Friends of ours were buzzed by a helicopter off I assume a tuna boat thereabouts around a month ago. The helicopter came right down to near sea level to wave to them.
Same thing happened to another friend when we did that crossing in 2004, just bizarre that far from land.

[CamoPirate]

Unfortunately the fishing fleet is 1000+ nm east of our location

[Hippocampus]

Mid ocean is an understatement !

2300nm from Ecuador and 1200nm from Nuka Hiva, the first land available.

As far as Obligated, there was never even a discussion about should we opt in.
For me personally it is one of the few things that make doing these long ocean passages mentally possible. Knowing you are out beyond air support your only hope is knowing that your fellow mariners will be there for you should it be your turn. It’s just an unwavering commitment I think most make well before they venture out into the vastness. I think it’s possible we do it for our own sanity as much as the missing soul. The odds are not great of finding him given his Signal has stopped transmitting.

This is the ONLY attitude to have. Have yet to run into a blue water sailor or commercial seaman who hasn’t held to this attitude except on extremely rare occasion. However have experienced occasions where this basic brotherhood of the sea wasn’t shared in coastal settings. Was on an acquaintance’s boat where he turned down the VHF during a CG BOLO appeal. Gave him an earful and wasn’t invited back.

There’s a saying among blue water sailors. “If you haven’t brought it with you you don’t have it”. From the little posted he set off a pld not an epirb. Don’t know if he was in the water and th epirb on the boat or what but it’s of concern there’s only 24h of signal with a plb. Unless you’re in a rally or race AIS is of limited benefit if any if solo.

Ocean rowing has been commonly and safely done for some decades. Several times have been in English Harbor to greet the crews who have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. Those vessels are similar in gross aspect to the vessel pictured but have mechanisms is protect from boarding seas, are capable and safe in the snot, sleeping accommodations, extensive dry storage and redundant safety equipment. That looks like an open boat except for storage at the ends. Had occasion to become a friend of Webb Chiles while we shared the same marina in Hilton Head. He took a Drascomb 19’ open yawl across the pacific. Read his book about it or chat him up. With sail and not being obligated to row it’s brutal. A open rowboat takes it to a whole other level. Webb is an amazing man but even he now agrees with his wife at that time. He didn’t realize the enormity of the task.

Having had the opportunity to examine the boats coming into English Harbor there’s an amazing amount of thought and tech that goes into them. Doing that activity isn’t foolhardy when properly prepared. Would like to know more about this gentleman’s boat and his prep. Unlike what one individual posted here at present you just don’t know. Maybe he was well prepped and had bad luck. Maybe not.

Like some here feel it’s unfortunate some place SAR personnel at risk with foolhardy behavior. Know of a case where a father and son needed repetitively rescue. Finally the authorities keep an eye on them and performed interdiction any time they left the harbor rather than having to execute another rescue. Think in circumstances of repetitive foolhardy behavior a fine or demand for payment for the rescue would not be inappropriate. However in this case there’s nothing to suggest this was foolhardy from available information.

Of interest many sailors use 200nm from nearest land as the working definition of blue water. No science nor logic to it I can think of beyond it being a likely distance a helicopter can fly out, briefly SAR and fly back. Don’t know if in the last 2-3years endurance has improved to the point the distance should be increased or the working definition dropped. Know emotionally if feels different when I know you are on your own. Prep, equipment selection, planning, crew and boat selection is different on multiple levels.

[trihartsfield]

Originally Posted by CamoPirate

Pic of the missing mariner as well as a marine trafic screen shot of the vessel’s involved in the search

2300nm from Ecuador and 1200nm from Nuka Hiva, the first land available.


Ok what am I missing? The picture shows him close to shore yet he was a ways away from land. Did he need rescuing and that picture was taken when he was safe? It appears as though he is ok. Did he require being towed in?

Was he ever in any danger?

Chris

[twistedtree]

Anyone know more about the circumstances? Weather conditions at the time? Was the dory equipped with a life raft? Obviously he had a PLB. EPIRB too? And does it matter in this situation whether it's an EPIRB or PLB?

[O C Diver]

While I'm glad he had an EPIRB (I would have several), it seems to me a satellite tracker (such as an Inreach) would have been maybe more useful. A very small solar panel and battery to continuously provide power, could provide 10 minute updates to location, not to mention the ability to provide satellite text messaging. Wouldn't go solo without mine.

Ted

[CamoPirate]

Originally Posted by trihartsfield

2300nm from Ecuador and 1200nm from Nuka Hiva, the first land available.


Ok what am I missing? The picture shows him close to shore yet he was a ways away from land.
Chris

Those distances are our current location.

You are missing the fact we do not have a current picture of him as he is lost at sea. I have no clue the origins of the picture as it is just the photo JRCC sent us. Perhaps it was provided to them from friends or family, i have no way to know. The point of the picture was to identify the boat not indicate his location.

[CamoPirate]

Originally Posted by O C Diver

While I'm glad he had an EPIRB (I would have several), it seems to me a satellite tracker (such as an Inreach) would have been maybe more useful. A very small solar panel and battery to continuously provide power, could provide 10 minute updates to location, not to mention the ability to provide satellite text messaging. Wouldn't go solo without mine.

Ted

He has plenty of electric gizmos including star link and solar but suffered a catastrophic failure of some type rendering the equipment non operational.
I am not privy to any communications he may have had prior that give me any ideas as to the nature of the failure. I just know a mayday was issued and we responded. Hopefully he is found and we can hear the story.