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Capt. JG Capt. JG is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,757
Default My seamanship question #2

I'm wondering if it would have been better to stay with the sailboat, rather
than abandon ship... comments?

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"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Baltimore Sun, 8/18/2001 - Sailing Trip Turns Treacherous.
Sailboat Meets 700-foot Tanker
One Mile North of the Bay Bridge in the Craighill Shipping Channel - A
couple tacking southbound at 3 a.m. in a 27-foot Catalina were unable to
get out of the way of a northbound 700-foot tanker loaded with 10 million
gallons of fuel. The wind had died & the sailboat's skipper broke the key
to the outboard motor and was unable to use the radio to effect. Before
the collision, the couple abandoned their boat, wearing life jackets &
carrying a whistle and rope (to avoid being separated.) The tanker brushed
past the sailboat. The couple were rescued after 2 hours and a search
effort by boats & helicopters from six federal, state and local rescue
teams. The tanker ran aground, briefly, but was refloated without damage
or loss of fuel. The sailboat remained operational and was returned to the
unhurt couple who sailed it to their destination.