Lost at sea 5 months without comms

Started by vwflyer, October 28, 2017, 01:16:16 AM

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vwflyer

#15
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-5025995/The-Latest-Women-lost-sea-months-grateful-rescue.html

This article says they had "a new VHF radio, a ham radio, a weather satellite and a radio telephone. She says none worked, and they apparently had a communications failure with their new antenna.
They also carried a satellite phone that she said never seemed to connect.
She says they had six ways to communicate with multiple backups, and none functioned properly.
That, she said Friday in an interview from the ship, "exceeds Murphy's Law."

I agree with her. That does exceed Murphy's Law. Sounds more like operator issues. You don't lose six means of communication along with multiple backups by having a "communications failure with their new antenna".

Perhaps this story will prove to be an object lesson to preppers who think that they can buy some comms gear and never get a license to learn how to use it and then blame Murphy's law when nothing works for them after dooms day.

cockpitbob

Sounds like a short between the headphones

NCGunDude

Been following this story, somewhat, since it was first reported. There are many inconsistencies in their story, but there's no disputing the fact they were found drifting in the Pacific. The boat is still drifting.

I follow several boating forums as my retirement dream is to sail the ICW with the seasons in 10 years or so. They're lucky to be alive.


Quietguy

The plot thickens, as RadioRay would say.  At least I think RadioRay would say that.  Now they admit having an EPIRB, but never activated it:

QuoteDuring the post-incident debriefing by the Coast Guard, Jennifer Appel, who was on the sailboat with Tasha Fuiava, was asked if she had the emergency beacon on board. Appel replied she did, and that it was properly registered.

"We asked why during this course of time did they not activate the EPIRB. She had stated they never felt like they were truly in distress, like in a 24-hour period they were going to die," said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle, who was on the call to the AP with Carr.

[snip...]

Experts say some of the details of the women's story do not add up.


www.foxnews.com/world/2017/10/30/sailors-lost-at-sea-for-5-months-never-activated-emergency-beacon.html

I'm no sailor, but something smells fishy to me.
Wally

vwflyer

I wonder if any of the coast guard crew tried to start the engine. It might have turned right over.  ;D

Sparks

Many questions to ask about this story, and questions are also being asked in this group:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/radio-officers
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!aboutgroup/radio-officers

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/radio-officers/4nSrzwXe-LQ
(Radio Officers › 2 American women at sea adrift for over 5 months).