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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

"Help me!..."

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5430 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/08/2015 : 16:36:32

Yesterday I was sailing around the Milford CT area and as I left the dock I flipped on the VHF. As I did so I asked myself "what sort of mayhem will I hear about today?" It was a warm and sunny Sunday and the boaters have finally begun to show up.

The breeze was nice and I could've sailed across the sound in a single tack, but when I was about 2.5nm from port I heard a crackling sound from the VHF with a middle-aged man's voice say with great reluctance and trepidation, "help me".
I did kind of a double take but awaited another utterance on the radio but nothing came - I kind of doubted myself that I had heard this distinctly.

So I squeezed the mike and asked "do you need help? What's the problem and where are you located?" Still quiet...
I asked again, and finally heard "engine's out and I'm off Stratford Light". This is relatively shallow area with rocks, but theres also a broad sandy beach nearby. I told him to put on lifejackets and drop anchor. I was about 25 minutes from his position.
Just then another boater who was much closer reported seeing him very close to the rocks. Next thing he said is "I'm taking on water and the pumps can't keep up."
The other boater then said looks like the stern is under.

After this - what seemed to me an eternity - the US Coast Guard Sector Long Island monitor comes on the radio and says, "disabled boater off Stratford Shoal this is USCG Sector Long Island!" And she expected a response ASAP. (Seemed she did not quite get his position - she put him dead center in LI Sound, not near shore).

The recalcitrant boater in distress didn't quite seem to know what to say, so said nothing. I assumed he was battling the elements at that point and since she did not ask a direct question, he must have thought it better to wait until she asked a question before he answered. A few moments went by and she repeated "disabled boater off Stratford Shoal this is USCG Sector Long Island!"

Nary a peep. The nearby boater said "he's off Stratford Light, not Stratford Shoal and he's sinking!"

Then a man's voice, much sterner, came over the radio: "this is US Coast Guard Sector Long Island, "what is the nature of your distress and your GPS position?" This guy's going down so he says, "I'm sinking off Stratford Light, HELP!" Then the other boaters says, "he's up on the rocks in a 19ft Robalo skiff and he's swamped. He and his companion are wearing lifejackets and they're walking up on the beach. They've secured the boat with an anchor line, so the boat is up on the beach and they are out of danger."
Soon the neighboring town's fire rescue boat was on scene. Got the boaters warm and dry and likely Tow Boat came by later to do a salvage.
The story ends there, but you could hear the entire episode in the guy's voice on the first call, "Help me". He knew that would be the day he lost his boat - probably just forgot to replace the drain plug...

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 03:27:38

You know, if I "just forgot the drain plug," I'd have crammed something in the hole quickly, and started to bail.

It'd be nice if some awareness of how to properly use the VHF were a bit more pervasive. My guess is the Coasties would have scrambled the fleet quickly if the initial broadcast were a bit more specific. Sounds like it wouldn't have mattered though.

C&C 32 Smith Mountain Lake Virginia

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4029 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 05:02:13

I wonder if the CG at first thought this was a prank call. Who would say just "Help Me" and nothing else. Then when he got an answer he kept quiet.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 05:44:32

scary stuff. Sort of on the same topic, but different, I was sailing on Lake Erie out of Sandusky Bay and I heard on Channel 16 what sounded like a little kid saying almost in a whisper "we're sinking, we're sinking," followed by a giggle. It made me wonder how often kids play with their parents' VHF while underway, and if it ever causes problems. My wife and I just laughed about kids being kids. The kid did this a few more times, then the Coasties came on the radio and said something, and that was the end of it.

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 07:26:24

Regarding the guy in Stratford, here's an example of why safety training should be mandatory for owning and operating a boat. But then again, it is in Connecticut (unless you're old enough to have been grandfathered out back in the '70s). Even if he took the course, he probably doesn't remember a thing about it from 30+ years ago...

Or maybe he handed the radio to the companion while he tried to find a way to plug the transom drain, which isn't that accessible from inside a boat like that.

Here's the example of why the USCG "requests" that we monitor Ch. 16 when we're under way. (Over 20m in length, it's required by law.)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now boatless for the first time since 1970 (on a Sunfish).

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5430 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 09:17:14

Don't get me started on the one-day 8 hour Boating Safety course. It is by far the most popular course while the two-day course (2-four hour sessions) gets fewer than 1/3 the number of attendees. For the one-day course, our Squadron will get 40-60 students and fewer than 20 in the two-day. One of our instructors teaches a 4-session course which provides the best learning results.
I make it a point to follow up with all attendees as time allows to ask them to become members and I find what you'd expect: those dedicating more time retain more and are more aware and knowledgeable about boating. The One-day Wonders strike me as (1) they got away easy and (2) don't really want to talk about safety and prefer to talk engines, HP, creature-comforts, food...
Given that info on the numbers, it's amazing that there aren't more unfortunate incidents out there...
How's the old saying go?: "The Sea is a cruel mistress"

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 06/09/2015 09:19:30

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4029 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 09:20:50

We are just assuming it was the drain plug, And as far as having a radio or knowing how to make a call, Well its not required on his little boat.

quote:
While not required, the following are also strongly recommended:
� VHF-FM Marine Radio with Digital Selective Calling System

But your probably right, In a panic situation stopping the 58deg water from coming in was probably his first priority and proper radio procedures when right out the window.

quote:
Regarding the guy in Stratford, here's an example of why safety training should be mandatory for owning and operating a boat

Honestly do you think that a one shot 8hr course would make a difference? People all have different personality's, Some care and some do it because they are forced to. An 8hr course didn't stop that guy in Oyster Bay from putting 27 people on his boat or the guy 3 weeks ago racing around in his go fast at 2am and threw himself out of the boat. You just can't force people to take a course then expect all the accidents to disappear. There's a certain percentage of accidents that even with all the education you will never eradicate. Face it, we are people and are very capable of doing stupid things.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Edited by - islander on 06/09/2015 09:57:59

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 16:19:02

quote:
Originally posted by shnool

You know, if I "just forgot the drain plug," I'd have crammed something in the hole quickly, and started to bail.

It'd be nice if some awareness of how to properly use the VHF were a bit more pervasive. My guess is the Coasties would have scrambled the fleet quickly if the initial broadcast were a bit more specific. Sounds like it wouldn't have mattered though.

If your in a powerboat the easiest thing to do is take off and "attempt" to get on plane. Once you are moving more than 6 or 7 knots the water directly behind the boat in the area around the drain plug moves away from the drain hole and the water will start draining out of the boat. As more water drains the faster the boat will go eventually being able to get up on plane.

Of course running the bilge pump(s) will help drain it quicker.

Once most or all of the water has drained out find a good place where it's shallow, stop the boat and immediately get out and put the drain plug in. The bilge pump will pump out the water that get's in when you stop.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 06/09/2015 16:20:05

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4029 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2015 : 16:34:20

quote:
"engine's out and I'm off Stratford Light".

. Good point but I don't think he had that option. It's possible he hit a submerged rock and put a hole in the boat and took out the lower end of the motor.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Edited by - islander on 06/09/2015 16:37:09

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