Please select your home edition
Edition
Windcraft 2022 July - Dehler 46SQ - LEADERBOARD

Rescue after rudder loss, yacht abandoned, but was it necessary?

by Des Ryan on 17 Jan 2014
Rescue of crew from Be Good Too, showing one of the rescued sailors and rescue swimmer being lifted into the helicopter from the abandoned catamaran SW
One critical question many long-range cruising sailors spend time thinking about is what to do in the case of a lost rudder. There are many jury rig suggestions, most of which don't work, but sailors have been known to sail thousands of miles steering with their sails(eg., see Sail-World story). This throws into contrast the following story, not to mention their abandonment, rather than scuttling, of their disabled yacht.

The story was retold by sailing journalist Charles Doane, the first to be lifted into the helicopter during the rescue.
The incident, widely reported in the mainstream news, occurred earlier this month about 300 miles east of Cape Henry, Va., USA.

Doane, who has told the media he is an experienced sailor, was apparently a guest aboard the 42ft sailing catamaran 'Be Good Too' on a voyage that was meant to be from New York to the US Virgin Islands.

The rest of the crew consisted of the owners, Gunther and Doris Rodatz, who obviously didn't consider themselves experiences, as they had hired the other crew member, Hank Schmidt, as skipper to take the boat to the Caribbean.

Several days into the voyage the catamaran was struck by two 'massive waves' in quick succession.

'It was one big hit right across the front of the boat,' Doane told the media later. 'It was a huge hit.'

Following this incident damage was discovered to the boat's steering capabilities as well as its propulsion system. The decision was made to lie ahull, while they attempted to repair some of the damage.

Several days were spent like this, during which they were pumping water from inside the boat as well as trying to fix the steering. However, there was no success, as they discovered that the rudder was bent and 'useless'.

'We opened a bottle of good wine and had a discussion on what we should do,' Doane described. The next day they reported in distress.

Responding, the Coast Guard began to devise a rescue plan for the crew.

Coast Guard officials were initially going to respond to the disabled boat with a Coast Guard cutter, however they determined that was not feasible due to the distance offshore.

Officials then contacted U.S. Fleet Forces personnel, requesting a Navy vessel to assist the Coast Guard in their response. The USS Ross, a 505-foot guided missile destroyer, diverted from its course to provide a refueling platform for a Coast Guard helicopter on its way to conduct the rescue mission.

Matthew Brooks, a Coast Guard fifth District Command Center command duty officer, said in a prepared statement that officials spoke with the crew aboard the boat Monday and agreed that they would depart the vessel Monday night. However, that proved challenging, according to Brooks.

'We did not want to conduct a transfer at night due to the risk of the mission and the fact that the crew was not in immediate distress,' he said.

On Tuesday, Coast Guard officials dispatched crews aboard a Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., at approximately 6:20 a.m. to assist.

The Jayhawk crew landed on the USS Ross to refuel at approximately 7:30 a.m. and then proceeded to the location of the 'Be Good Too.', rescuing the four crew in four separate rescues, using a rescue swimmer.

The abandoned boat was left to drift unmanned at sea.
Windcraft 2022 July - Dehler 46SQ - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd 2022 December - SW FOOTERPantaenius 2022 - SAIL & POWER 2 FOOTER AUS

Related Articles

Cup Spy Sept 29: Missed day for Swiss, USA
The breeze all but deserted Barcelona on Friday, disrupting a planned sailing day for the Swiss The breeze all but deserted Barcelona on Friday, disrupting a planned sailing day for the Swiss, and leaving the US team no option than to run with a plannned photo-shoot, usiung a towed up AC40.
Posted on 29 Sep
Pen Duick VI first across equator
In the McIntyre Ocean Globe Yacht Race Skipper Marie Tabarly and her determined Pen Duick VI crew were first to cross the doldrums, reach the South Easterly Trades and yesterday morning first to cross the equator. She is now 337 nm ahead of their closest rivals Spirit of Helsinki.
Posted on 29 Sep
The Village des Voiles relocates to the seawall
A big surprise awaits regular visitors to Les Voiles de Tropez A big surprise awaits regular visitors to Les Voiles de Tropez. Indeed, the beating heart and the nerve centre of this major yachting regatta in France's Var region is switching locations to the iconic Jean Réveille jetty.
Posted on 29 Sep
Cup Spy Sept 28: Two AC75s training off Barcelona
Three teams sailed on Thursday - Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Emirates Team NZ and American Magic Three teams sailed on Thursday - Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and American Magic from Barcelona
Posted on 28 Sep
World's Best Master Sailors set to compete
At 2023 International Masters Regatta in San Diego The 41st running of the International Masters Regatta returns to San Diego YC October 20-22, 2023. This year's slate of twelve competitors brings together a truly international cast of Master skippers from Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the United States.
Posted on 28 Sep
Wedgetail & Black Diamond grudge continues
Ahead of Bartercard Sail Paradise 2023 David Rose (Rosie), the skipper of 'Wedgetail, has a formidable vessel under his command. Launched in 2005, 'Wedgetail' is a Welbourn 42 with a distinctive white carbon hull, a sweeping shape, and an unmistakable eagle motif.
Posted on 28 Sep
5.5 Metre World Championship at Porto Cervo Day 4
Aspire and Artemis slug it out Aspire and Artemis extended on the fleet with a race win apiece on the penultimate day of the 2023 5.5 Metre World Championship at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo, Sardinia.
Posted on 28 Sep
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez begins tomorrow
Brimming with new features in celebration of the 25th edition Brimming with new features in celebration of the 25th edition of Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, festivities will kick off tomorrow, Friday 29 September, and draw to a close late afternoon on Sunday 8 October.
Posted on 28 Sep
GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Dakhla 2023 Grand Finale
Winners crowned in Dakhla to cap epic event Brazil's Pedro Matos landed his first event victory at the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Dakhla, Morocco, after a tense final that he won by the finest of margins at dusk.
Posted on 28 Sep
RS21 Worlds 2023 at Porto Rotondo, Sardinia Day 1
Record-breaking attendance at the event with 55 boats from 12 countries The biggest event of the RS21 Calendar has begun in the stunning surrounds of Porto Rotondo in Sardinia, Italy. The RS21 World Championship 2023 is the second edition of the International Class Association's Worlds.
Posted on 28 Sep