BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 01:02 PM

Very haunting!

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 08:22 AM

Here's a very well done instrumental homage to the Bounty and her crew done by James Spalink with some wonderful photos: Click for video!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Nov 12 - 07:42 PM

I like the song and the photos. Thank you for posting the link here, Lonesome EJ.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 12 - 10:07 AM

Lonesome EJ-

Excellent work on your tribute to the Bounty and her crew. I like your presentation of the songs, and the photos reinforce what you are singing.

You may want to post the song above as well as a Lyrics Add. Now that the story is off the front page, it's unlike that many people are following it down below in the BS depths.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 12 Nov 12 - 06:42 AM

Heard this interview yesterday with some of the Coast Guard folks who rescued crew members. I think of all those shipwrecks before there was any such thing, and before life-saving equipment and (gasp!) swimming lessons:

http://thestory.org/archive/20121109_The_Story__Assignment_Afghanistan.mp3/view

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 12 Nov 12 - 12:35 AM

Here's the final Youtube version with slide show

Bounty Sail Away

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 09:24 AM

Lonesome EJ-

You've been busy!

Good work! You've certainly got the tune and arrangement down. See my PM for technical suggestions.

I think this could be a very powerful song, and a comfort to those most directly involved.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 12:47 AM

Rough track available for listening.....
here

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 09:24 PM

Sandy-

That's a nice story from an old Bounty crew member. Thanks!

I think we add to the record that most, if not all, of the surviving crew members were tossed into the sea as the ship rolled over on its side and had to swim to get into the two life rafts. One surviving crew member didn't make it into a life raft and was recovered first by the Coast Guard, if I've got the story straight.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 07:31 PM

Some perspective here from an original crew member.
CBC News

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 03:59 PM

ABC News broadcast an interview with the 14 survivors of the Bounty sinking this morning: click here for video!

Not much new information but it was good to hear what they had to say in their own words:

For first mate John Svendsen the call to abandon ship was one of the toughest he'd ever made.

"We determined a safe time when we knew the ship would still be stable and we could get everyone on deck and change our focus from saving the ship to saving every life," said Svendsen, who credits Capt. Wallbridge's endless drills and preparation for the 14 lives that were saved.

But the ship's leadership lost all control once a giant wave broadsided the ship, knocking some of the crew -- already in their survival suits -- into the roiling sea.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 05:43 PM

Yes, I'm looking forward to it as well. I've sent some photos and notes to Lonesome EJ.

Here's another update:

November 2, LA Times:

Rex Halbeisen, a friend of (Claudene) Christian, said he received an email from her before she died at sea saying she was worried about the storm and the condition of the ship. "She was very concerned for their safety and was 'praying to God that going to sea was the right decision,' " Halbeisen told the Los Angeles Times. "You know me, I am not a mechanical person but the generators and engines on this ship are not the most reliable," Christian said, according to email text provided by Halbeisen.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 05:37 PM

That sounds like a slideshow I'll want to see and hear.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 08:13 PM

Lonesome EJ-

I really like what you've done. If you send me your e-mail address via PM, I'll send you some photos that I think might fit in well with your slide show.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 06:04 PM

Wrote a song today that became a tribute to this ship and her crew. I hope to get a version of this with slide show of the ship fairly soon. Thanks to Charley for starting this thread....

Bounty, Sail Away
Original song Copyright 2012 by Ernest Johnson

(Intro)

Bm    D    A                     Bm    D    A
(V 1)
Bm   D    A                      Bm   D   A
Endless rolling Blue       No tale told more True
Bm    D    A                Bm    D   A
Gray horizon haze    Limit of our Days
E                                 A   D
And the Wind is the Melody
E                                 A   D      E
In the Sails of our Destiny

(V2)
Bm      D       A                      Bm         D       A
Rush of Hull on Wave      The Gift the West Wind gave
Bm      D       A                         Bm       D       A
Wheel within the Hands    Spins a Tale of Distant Lands
E                                                 A      D
And the Force of her Plunging Bow
E                                                 A      D
Turns the Foam like an Ocean Plow
(CHO)
A       D       E
Bounty, Sail Away
A          D      E   
(For the) Stars are in Your Wake
D                   E               D             E
Through the Storm    Still safe from Harm
D            E         A
Bounty, Sail away
Instrumental verse
Bm    D    A          Bm    D    A
E            A D       E       AD       E
(V 3)
Bm          D    A                         Bm    D   A
Far from Port and Home       She must Forever Roam
E                                  A   D
Raise the Glass and you may Spy
E                               A    D          E
Her Sails against Horizon's Sky

(CHO)
A       D       E
Bounty, Sail Away
A          D      E   
(For the) Stars are in Your Wake
D                   E               D             E
Through the Storm    Still safe from Harm
D            E         A
Bounty, Sail away
(Repeat chorus and end)

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 10:54 PM

So far I've thought about composing a song in tribute to the Coast Guard. That's about the only creative option for now.

I'm not sure what to do with the rest of the story. Probably best to wait and see what comes out in the inquiry. It's difficult for me to not to place some major blame on the captain; he is the one who decides to place the Bounty in harm's way, resulting in a cascade of events which sank her and took the life of one of his crew members and ultimately his own.

I've been reviewing the various forum discussions from gCaptain, Woodenboat, and the Bounty Facebook page. Some very harsh things have been said on these forums, some from former Bounty crew members, some by experienced tall ship captains, and other deep sea mariners. Eventually we'll hear from the surviving crew members themselves.

Let us join in wishing the surviving 14 crew members and their families, and the families of the two who perished, our deepest sympathy, and make a contribution to any memorial project they suggest.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 08:59 PM

I had lunch today with a friend who lives in Newport, RI. She said that when the Bounty was docked in Newport as part of a Tall Ships events, she had worked as a volunteer and met the captain. Her job was to make sure that women did not wear high heels on the ship and to hand out cloth slippers for them. She said several women refused to wear them, saying they were ugly, and chose stay on the dock while friends and family members boarded the ship. She had been following the news reports closely and was quite distressed about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: GUEST,EBarnacle
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 01:11 PM

The coasties doing that rescue definitely lived up to their unofficial motto: The book says you gotta go out. It doesn't say anything about coming back.

This goes back to when the rescue service was a bunch of lifeboats launched off the beaches of our coasts. We are very fortunate that all of the rescuers came back alive this time.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 12:57 PM

Sandy-

Not to worry. I'm not very consistent myself!

I'd love to have a higher resolution image.

Charlie Ipcar, aka Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 10:39 AM

Sorry for the spelling Charley!

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 10:28 AM

Charlie,
Feel free to use the photo. I am currently away from home but when I return I will be able to give you a higher resolution if you wish.
                      Sandy

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 09:58 AM

Sandy-

If I pull together a Bounty Facebook album I'll be sure to include the photo of her sailing off into the sunset. Any clue what the credit for the photo should be?

This story is particularly sad for me because I've also visited aboard the Bounty several times in various ports, sang aboard her, and watched her major rebuilding in Boothbay Harbor back in 2006-2007. I only casually spoke to her crew members from time to time. I'm not sure what kind of song will come out of this experience but it's not one I'm in a hurry to begin.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 12:06 AM

This story continues to break my heart: the loss of a tall ship, even if it was a replica, and the sailing from New London, so close geographically and in spirit to my beloved Mystic, CT. Hindsight is always more accurate than foresight. And as much as I hate the loss of the ship, the loss of human lives is so much worse.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 10:55 PM

This is a photo that I mentioned earlier:
Bounty

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 05:44 PM

The Bounty left New London, CT, Thursday afternoon for her dash south. No substantial damage was done by the hurricane to ships that stayed moored in New London or neighboring Mystic.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Amos
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 03:19 PM

In general, ships are safer when they have sea-room, but in this case--where the sea itself becomes an overwhelming maelstrom--there are too many examples in history where this would not be the case. I don't know where she would have been berthed if he had decided the other way, but that is all idle speculation now.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: GUEST,Blowzabella sans cookie
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 02:59 PM

Here's some footage of Claudene Christian, singing and playing guitar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbOSUP76s8E>/a>

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 02:03 PM

It's all very sad.
=(:-( I)

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 11:59 AM

Henry-

"Maybe suicide? "

I really wouldn't be surprised. But then even a survival suit is little match for a full hurricane. We'll never know.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 09:30 AM

Maybe suicide?
=(:-( l)

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 09:21 AM

The Captain's original plan to skirt this hurricane along its east side may have been confounded by its immense size (announced well in advance). The Bounty left from New London, CT, on Friday, October27. In order to skirt around the storm, which rotated counterclockwise with hurricane winds extending out almost 200 miles from its center, it would have had to plow into the wind for hundreds of miles before turning south. At some point Saturday evening the Captain elected to try to reverse course and sail between the advancing hurricane and the Cape Hatteras Shore. And there the ship was pinned and sunk.

I am still dumbfounded that the Captain elected to risk his ship and crew in this (interject adjective of your choice) manner.

This statement posted last Saturday on the Bounty's Facebook page will continue to haunt the owner and his staff:

Riding the Storm Out...Day 2. ... Rest assured that the Bounty is safe and in very capable hands. Bounty's current voyage is a calculated decision ... NOT AT ALL ... irresponsible or with a lack of foresight as some have suggested. The fact of the matter is ... A SHIP IS SAFER AT SEA THAN IN PORT!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Stanron
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 10:56 PM

It's a long time since I read on this subject but in the past I have read both Captains Slocum and Voss. They both wrote about strategies for coping with bad weather. One of the first actions they both took was to determine how their vessels behaved in the bad stuff. One of them advocated all sails down and the use of a sea anchor, essentially a cone of heavy duty fabric at the end of a long line from the bow with the point cut off. This held the bow of the boat into the wind which was felt to be the safest position. The other preferred to remove all sails and let the vessel find it's own position. In both cases they got down below and wedged themselves into some sort of secure position until it was all over. And of course it was only possible as long as they were far enough off shore. The point is that neither of them thought there was much point in anyone being above deck once the weather was so bad that they couldn't carry sail. I would not want to second guess an experienced skipper on the basis of a video and in the absence of pertinent information. I know that these two ships were smaller and there was only one person aboard still...

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: GUEST,The Admiral
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 09:20 PM

The only people who've come out of this particular disaster (in more ways than one)with any credence are the US Coast Guard. Watching the video of the rescue from their point of view, my abiding memory will be hearing the voice (from the auto monitor of the altimeter, presumably) shouting (something like...) "Height, Height, Height"!. I'm guessing that this was because the aircraft was hovering at a steady height but the waves were reaching up to them.
I've been at sea in the tail end of hurricane and stupid enough to be exhilerated by it.
Whoever decided that ship should sail, they had enough warning, for goodness sake, is responsible for deaths and the loss of a remarkable ship.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Fossil
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 09:11 PM

Just random comments, really and you can't infer anything much from a video taken in other circumstances.

I have sailed on tall ships myself and am terribly saddened by the loss of another one. By all accounts the skipper of the Bounty was a highly experienced sailor and a remarkable man and I do agree we mustn't rush to judgment.

Doubtless an enquiry will be held in due course.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 09:01 PM

Fossil-

Even with the video it's difficult to access what is happening. I'm sure someone was assigned to man the helm and someone else as lookout at all times. No captain worth his salt would do less. But we'll see what the investigation documents.

The Coast Guard has announced that it has given up its search for Captain Walbridge. One wonders if he even wanted to be found.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Fossil
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 08:39 PM

I stand corrected - there are two other crewmen visible at about 2'30" - they are standing in the hatchway, wearing T-shirts and no safety gear at all, and are talking to each other, obviously not on watch nor keeping a lookout. They aren't visible in subsequent footage. But again, there are obvious breaks in the filming, so there is no real idea of how long a time period this video actually covers.

Most yachties who sail the sea routes are well aware that a big container ship doing 20 knots or so can come up over the horizon and run you down in about 10 minutes. Which is why you try to keep a continuous lookout.

A big sailing vessel like the Bounty would have radar reflectors, possibly its own radar set and will give a big signature on anyone else's radar, but you shouldn't be trusting the other fellow to be looking out for you... Yachts are regularly lost in the sea routes around Europe like this. Big ships are supposed to have watchkeepers on duty and mostly they do, but mistakes do get made every now and then.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Joe_F
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 08:36 PM

Judgment, misjudgment, he's dead. Rest in peace.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: maeve
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 08:18 PM

Fossil: "Another thing that worried me was that the video was taken by a crewman wearing a head camera who had obviously come up on deck to make the video - he did nothing else. And - this is the point - he was *entirely alone* on deck: there was no-one watching the helm or keeping a lookout, which to my mind there should have been."

Hmmm...Might want to take another look at the video Jack linked. At 2:08 I see two other crewmen on deck...near the foremast.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: gnu
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 08:05 PM

Interesting comments, Fossil.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Fossil
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 07:54 PM

Reviewing this thread last night, I took a look at the YouTube video posted by Jack (see above) of the Bounty in a biggish sea some while back. The ship looked so solid and reassuring you would never think it could get into trouble.

But... one or two things worried me a bit: in the video the ship was said to be "hove to" in the open Atlantic Ocean waiting for a wind-shift to continue its voyage. Heaving-to is a perfectly respectable thing to do in this situation: a small foresail is rigged so as to push the boat's head away downwind, while the rudder is lashed over so as to turn into the wind. The resulting balance keeps the ship lying quietly while making little headway without it requiring a lot of attention from the crew. This was being done and the Bounty was duly sitting at a slight angle to the wind and sea, rolling a bit - quite a lot at times, possibly more than I would have been comfortable with.

But heaving to in large, very steep seas has its downside, which is that an exceptionally large or steep wave could either roll the ship over, or break over the decks, swamping it. They may have tried this during Sandy and got caught out.

Another thing that worried me was that the video was taken by a crewman wearing a head camera who had obviously come up on deck to make the video - he did nothing else. And - this is the point - he was *entirely alone* on deck: there was no-one watching the helm or keeping a lookout, which to my mind there should have been.

Admittedly, keeping crew below in bad weather where they will be safer than on deck, can be a useful strategy. But most ships would have at least one designated watchperson on deck, to look out for exceptional waves or other ships in the vicinity. They would be suited and booted, wearing flotation gear and tied on with lifelines, but they would be there.

To my mind this video raises a few additional questions of seamanship standards on the Bounty. Take a look and see what you think.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 03:56 PM

The Coast Guard deserve our continued admiration.

One of the final messages from the Captain Robin Walbridge to those ashore with regard to his revised sailing plan as of Saturday night:

"I think we are going to be into this for several days, the weather looks like even after the eye (of the hurricane) goes by it (stormy weather) will linger for a couple of days. We are just going to keep trying to go fast and squeeze by the storm and land as fast as we can. I am thinking that we will pass each other sometime Sunday night or Monday morning."

Clearly the captain was then planning to cut across the front of the incoming hurricane, between it and the shore, west of the storm instead of east as previously planned. However, at that point the hurricane picked up speed and the Bounty's fate was sealed.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 01:43 PM

Little has been said regarding the courage and amazing skill of the Coast Guard crew who rescued these people. Imagine holding an aircraft steady in hurricane winds with seas rising up to your helicopter, then dropping away nearly forty feet in the next five seconds. All this while guiding and hauling exhausted sailors from rolling and tumbling rafts. It boggles the mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 12:37 PM

They shouldn't have any trouble salvaging her, because Bounty is the quicker picker-upper.....

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 11:19 AM

Here's a quote from the gCaptain Forum discussion to ponder:

"Sarah, when you take an old wooden boat to sea in a storm the size of Sandy the ship is beat up by the waves and the seams will be stressed and begin to leak. It's a disaster waiting to happen. When you couple that with mechanical failure there is no more waiting, the disaster happens. My heart aches for the harrowing experience the crew suffered and the death of of Claudene Christian. But I don't think that explains the decision to take Bounty to sea and sail her in the direction of a monster hurricane, nor does the crew's willingness to go excuse the death of one sailor and the other 14 having to be rescued in the midst of a perfect storm. For the record, I am a tall ship sailor and I am married to a captain with almost 30 years experience. I have loved Barkentine Gazela since the day I first laid eyes on her in 1985, but I would not give my life for her. My heart is broken over the loss of Bounty and her crew."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 07:26 AM

Sandy-

Yes, Ms. Christian played the guitar and sang sea songs, and she was a seasoned crew member. Her loss is a sad one.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 12:01 AM

This summer the Bounty returned home to Nova Scotia as part of the gathering of tall ships. For a few days she was tied to the wharf in Port Hawkesbury. I remember a lady playing a guitar on the dock and I believe that she was the deceased Ms. Christian, the lost crew-member who was a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, who led the mutiny on the original Bounty.
I was taking some photos and asked another crew-member when they would be leaving as I had hoped to get some pictures of her under sail. He introduced me to the captain and I spent a few minutes talking with him. After the ship left the dock it went through the Canso Canal and into the setting sun over St. George's Bay. Although it was not under sail I got some fantastic photos.
I am saddened that a storm that carried my name caused so much destruction to so many souls! I will always remember walking the deck of The Bounty, speaking to her captain, and the image of a beautiful lady playing a guitar on the dock!

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 10:59 PM

Sad indeed.

And I found myself getting choked up today when I was explaining to a neighbor what had happened with the Bounty and her crew. Caught me by surprise. I may go back to monitoring eagle cams or political debates.

It probably will take months for a formal decision to be made, and I'm not even sure what kind of board is convened to do that. The captain is all responsible but whether he were negligent in some way would be for the board to determine.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: gnu
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 06:13 PM

"At least this didn't happen with the Bounty and all the crew bar two were rescued, "

There is what we can take solace in. The rest is just misery. Truly sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Fossil
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 06:01 PM

One of the posters on the Wooden Boats forum referenced by Charlie made a telling point when he noted that where the ship foundered, they were in 40 to 50-knot northerly winds blowing directly against the Gulf Stream current. This situation can easily produce steep, breaking waves of up to 40 feet which would have caused the ship to work heavily.

All wooden ships leak to some extent and apparently the Bounty was a particularly wet ship. Other posters with experience in sailing aboard her say that they had to check the water level and run the pumps every quarter of an hour. In a heavy storm like Sandy, it would take one minor mishap, such as a generator shorting out, to inactivate the bilge pumps, after which it was only a matter of time.

But I do agree that criticism of the actions of the captain seems well founded. He took a 40-year old wooden vessel with lots of top-hamper out into a well-forecast hurricane with a small and somewhat inexperienced crew, surely a recipe for disaster.

Someone else on the forum pointed out that even if they were under time pressure to get to Florida, delaying the departure for two days would have allowed them to complete the voyage within their deadline and in comparative safety. A lot more to come on this, I expect!

Subject: RE: BS: Tall Ship Bounty Abandoned in Storm!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 04:35 PM

Here's a link to the Wooden Boat Forum where there are some more qualified sailing folks (more qualified than me!) discussing the sinking of the Bounty: click here for discussion!

The discussion supports my contention that the captain tried to cut across the track of Sandy, a gamble which turned out disastrous.

Charley Noble