OldSteveH wrote:
<snip> Good planning, risk analysis and contingency planning are essential to a successful long distance sailing trip. Yes unforeseen stuff can happen to the boat, but I'm still talking about those children. If these people had done proper trip planning they would have assessed the risks .... <snip>
I said something similar as Steve a few days ago, on the Southbound Cruisers email list, and was flamed pretty harshly. And as is the case with flaming emails, they usually take a phrase out of context or change what was actually said to support his or her angry words. So I'm quiet over there.
It's important to remember that Rebel Heart wasn't a 'kid boat' but a 'baby boat.' I think kid boats are great, and cannot imagine a better experience for a kid who can help sail and maintain the boat and gain rich memories that will last for the rest of his or her life. The baby was 13 months old, and had never been off shore other than crossing the Sea of Cortez. The boat was primarily in the marina or anchored close by most of this winter season.
Rebel Heart left from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, where I'm currently on the hook. This is a major launching port for folks heading across the Pacific. Probably 15 boats left last month, and it would have been very easy to 'buddy boat' with someone for mutual aid and support. A lot of experienced sailors do it. Rebel Heart had many friends down here (they were on the radio constantly) and I think they should have buddy boated.
Many facts are still unknown, of course, and may never be known because it would be risky to update the blog *<http://www.therebelheart.com/blog/>* with any fact that could cause legal or insurance problems.
I haven't heard anything about rough weather prior to the 'modernmom' blog. In fact, during this time of year Mike from PVsailing (the guy who broke his legs during the BB regatta) will provide tropical weather advice every day on the VHF cruiser's net, including recommendations for when to take off and when to wait, and conditions were rather soft. Consider that in 14 days they were only 900 miles off Cabo. There is a constant swell from the NW this time of year, and according to the course charts they would have been taking it on the beam, so it probably hadn't been very comfortable. I would have headed more southerly to catch the trades, but perhaps they had a weather router who told them otherwise. I note that Charlotte's blog
No one knows facts about losing steerage. However, I've been told they had a HydroVane self steering system, which is designed to be used as an emergency rudder.
No one knows facts about engine trouble, although I heard that they did get it working.
Frankly, no one really knows what was wrong with the baby. It broke out with a fever and a full body rash, but was better soon enough for the Coast Guard to cancel the helicopter rescue effort. A 13 month old can't tell you what hurts. Charlotte's own blog says the boat was rocking pretty badly and she was crying and bruised (probably from sailing with the swell on the beam) and for all we know the baby was just really stressed out and got a case of hives.
Anyway, I'm glad the family is okay and am sorry that a good boat was scuttled.
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