From all descriptions so far, it sounds as if they were underway. The
area where they collided would be a VERY odd place to anchor. It's way
out in the open and about 90 feet deep there. If they had wanted to
anchor, there were nearby options that would have made sense.

Interesting to note that all three crew on the sailboat were licensed
captains with a fair amount of experience. I wonder how many licensed
captains were on the coal transport.

One, 2 mate, 4 AB's, number of OS's I'd guess.

Not enough information to even guess what happened.


In the 2003 collision between the s/v Hilaria and the m/v Mariner III,
the sailboat captain was down below, sleeping. It was night and foggy.
The two crew on watch detected the approaching motor yacht, but did
not know how to disengage the auto-pilot! They woke the captain, but
it was too late. He had just made it to the cockpit when they hit, and
all were thrown overboard. I do not know why the Mariner III did not
take any evasive action. Obviously there were serious mistakes on both
side in that one.

Sounds like it, the captain who died has no one to blame but himself.
Leaving a couple of un-trained people at the wheel in fog so you can
sleep is suicide. IMO leaving anyone else at the wheel underway in the
fog is a poor decision of any captain.

Joe



CWM