I would think it has more of a chance being pushed away from
the ship, or at least along the side. Joe probably knows,
I'm sure he's run over a sailboat or two.

Scotty


"Jeff" wrote in message
news
Yes, the boat had no problem, the sailors were put back
onboard and
they continued on.

Given my limited swimming ability, I would stay with the
boat simple
because I doubt if I could get far enough away to improve
my chances.
But I understand that many people have the fear that the
boat will
get sucked under, and they along with it. I wonder if
that really
happens?


Scotty wrote:
As I remember, the boat came through just fine.

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I'm wondering if it would have been better to stay with
the sailboat, rather
than abandon ship... comments?

--
"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.