Missing yachts in distress - WHAT IS GOING ON? SHIP OF FOOLS?

Atlantic: French Yacht in Distress 500 miles west of the Azores and 2 other yachts missing

By Grain de Soleil — last modified May 10, 2013 02:50 PM

Priority Message: crew of sailing yacht Grain de Soleil in a liferaft or under jury rig and two other yachts could be missing. If sailing in the search area, please get in touch.

Published: 2013-05-08 15:00:00
Topics: Safety and Medical , Messageboards
Countries: Azores , Bermuda , Canary Islands , Gibraltar , Madeira 

SOS SAILBOAT IN DISTRESS

CALLING ALL SAILOR'S ATTENTION

"Grain de Soleil", a French sailboat (33 feet sky blue hull) and its three sailors have gone missing 500 Miles South West of the Azores. They set of their distress beacon on April 24th. The search and rescue operation was initiated as soon as the beacon’s signal was received. Planes flew over the zone and ships in the area were notified.

(WHY DIDN'T THE AIRCRAFT LOCATE THE DISTRESS BEACON?)

The yacht was sailing from the Caribbean to Brittany, it seems the crew are either in a life-raft or under jury rig. On April 27th the beacon gave a last position signal.

The calculated drifting zone from May 6th is:

A: 35°52N 37°22'60W

B: 36°15N 35°45'60W

C: 33°45'60N 35°45'60W

D: 33°22N 37°33'60W

Today (May 7th) the French navy has sent the instrumentation vessel Monge. An Atlantic 2 navy plane also flies from the Azores.

(ALMOST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DISTRESS BEACON? WHY SO SLOW?)

We wish to alert all sailors in the search area and/or heading to the Azores, Gibraltar, Canaries, Madeira, Antilles and Bermuda. Any interested sailors wanting to help can send us their satphone numbers and predicted route, in order for us to send them the latest updates.

(DID THE GRAIN DE SOLEIL HAVE AN OCEAN LIFE RAFT? DID THEY HAVE A SATPHONE? DID THEY HAVE SURVIVAL SUITS?)

Any sightings or information please contact :

QG Martinique: 
+596 6 96 74 22 98
graindesoleil1@gmail.com

QG Lorient: 
+33 6 60 34 19 70
graindesoleilpc@gmail.com

Two Other Boats Overdue/Missing

Two other boats may also have gone missing in the same zone having been hit by the same storm (neither have distress beacons).

The 75’ motor-sailer Lady Domina, departed St.Martin the 31st March bound for the Azores on their way
to the final destination of Oslo, Norway. Since then she has not been seen or heard from and an APB has
been sent out to many search and rescue facilities. Radio Ham networks have also been alerted. Lady Domina is a self constructed motorsailer with one basic mast rig with only a working foresail. She is equipped with a single 220 HP diesel engine giving a max 5.5 - 6 kn speed under optimal conditions. She does not have SSB radio, just a standard VHF. The only safety equipment is an old rubber dinghy lashed to the foredeck. She does not have an EPIRB or sat. phone. She is crewed by 3 Norwegians, including the captain who has crossed the Atlantic previously, 1 Dane and a British female (5 persons on board in total). She has been cruising in the Caribbean for some years.

Parents and friends are now very worried about the crew. Lady Domina may have had engine failure and with only a foresail for propulsion she could have become seriously overdue. The whole month of April had no adverse strong wind or wave reports for this part of the North Atlantic. The distance between St. Martin and the Azores is around 2.223 nm.

Anyone with knowledge of Lady Domina at or around the departure date and onwards, please contact Tore Christiansen at tore.christiansen@gmail.com.

In addition the 30’ Arpège sailing yacht Team2choc sailed single-handedly by Vincent Capgra is currently missing. Vincent may still be in the Caribbean.

FOLKS YOU NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY - CROSSING AN OCEAN MEANS OCEAN EQUIPMENT, SATPHONES, LIFE RAFTS, EPIRB ALERT BEACONS, WEATHER FORECASTS ETC... IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE  PROPER EQUIPMENT - BEG, BORROW, OR RENT - BUT DON'T GO UNPREPARED - SHIP OF FOOLS?

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