And I answer you that I have done extensive ocean cruising with my 22 foot
sailboat, including a winter passage through the Windward Passage from Jamaica
to
Florida. It was no picnic, so I know what rough weather sailing is. You can
add to
that sailing my boat from Greece to Israel and back fighting the strong Meltimi
winds. I think I have seen enough bad weather.

It does depend on your point of view. I like to work myself out of trouble, and
not
depend on some electronic signal to send the cavalry over the next hill to
rescue me.
I think with 35 years of cruising experience, I have seen quite a few bad
storms. I
never capsized, but I am not a racer who pushes their boat to the maximum. When

the weather gets bad, I shorten sail, sometimes heave-to, and/or put out a sea
anchor. Problem is that many sailors think their multihulls cannot flip over,
and that's
when they get into trouble.

Sherwin D.

"Capt. JG" wrote:

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
Gee, do I have to spell everything out! My comment was directed to the
concept
that boats are unsinkable, period. They said the Titanic could never
sink. Get
the
analogy? I guess not.

I personally would rather take my chances on a boat that most likely will
go
back
to an upright position where I have a chance of salvaging enough rigging
to
continue
sailing. We are slaves to our EPIRB's to get us out of trouble. Your
first
thought
when in trouble at sea is how can I recover a bad situation, not make a
grab for
the
EPIRB. Of course, in the case of an upsidedown multihull, they didn't
have much

of a choice.

Sherwin D.

The logical choice is to pick the most survivable situation and to recognize
when a situation is becoming untenable. I suggest that you've never been in
a washing machine-style situation, where everything (as a best case) is
going round and round and everything is flying. It's not a place you would
want to stay for very long. Need a dramatic account? Read Fastnet Force 10.
The mono will capsize, then right itself, perhaps a number of times, and if
you're very lucky, you won't be killed or injured by the flying debris. If
you're unlucky, water will enter and the boat will right itself on the
bottom.

On the other hand, if a multi capsizes, it will likely stay capsized
providing a stable and likely livable place to await rescue.

No where have I seen anyone suggest that triggering an EPIRB is a first
action or even third option, but neither is it necessary to wait until the
situation is unsalvagable to trigger it. When you say, "they didn't have
much choice," you imply that they had a choice at all. It's more likely
that they were swept overboard before being able to get to it or below.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com