It’s hard to tell, Dennis.
You’ve been off shore, so you know that strange and wondrous things can happen. And they seem to happen often to boaters who are basically clueless idiots. I take the fact that this doofus was out in the Atlantic at that time of year, in a boat in the reported condition this one was in, as prima fascia evidence that this guy was a clueless idiot. I’m surprised that, since he was going out for a day or two of fishing, he had enough provisions and water on his boat to survive for over two months. It seems a bit incongruous that someone so inexperienced that they don’t check a long range weather report would have the survival skills he reportedly exhibited during two months drifting on a boat. I even discount most of the stuff reported about the incident by the news and on social media – most of the sources probably have even less understanding and experience that the typical poster on Sailing Anarchy. But we know where and when the boat was found, and where and when he says he went offshore. Let’s be generous and suppose he drifted around in a circle or two in a 50 mile diameter eddy of the Gulf Stream at say 1/2 knot – that accounts for about 4 weeks. Given where he went out, and presuming he stayed inside the Gulf Stream, with prevailing wind and current he should have drifted to somewhere between Cape Fear and Cape Lookout in about a week or so more. Which puts rescue south of the Outer Banks in early March. Now if he got into the Gulf Stream, with 1 ½ to 3 ½ knots of current, he should have been 1500 miles northeast of where he was found, and the British version of the Coast Guard would have been flying him ashore. I wonder if we won’t hear about a forthcoming book about his experiences very soon. BTW, thinking of books and being adrift and the fact that you have time to read for a change, do you recall the amateur sailor who fell off the yacht in mid-Pacific during the Clipper Around the World race? I think it may have been just over a year ago. I recently heard that he has released a book, apparently sponsored in part by the company which made the PLB that allowed him to be rescued. I believe the title of the book is 179 West after the longitude where it happened. Sounds like a pretty interesting read. Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Dennis C. via CnC-List Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2015 3:19 PM To: CnClist Subject: Stus-List Sailor rescued of North Carolina What's the list's take on this guy? <http://news.yahoo.com/missing-sailor-survived-staying-inside-rationing-185316000.html> Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
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