Saw this news report from Perth, Australia about a fully rigged beachcat washing up on the beach.
Hope it was a case of a boat washing off the shore and sailing away rather than the crew going missing. Anyone recognize the model? Looks familiar with the raised deck.
http://www.mandurahmail.com.au/story/2049287/boat-washes-up-in-secret-harbour/?cs=289
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Damon Linkous
The police report declared it was unmanned & had broken a mooring.... they were trying to contact the owner.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation
broken a mooring with the sail rigged ?
broken a mooring with the sail rigged ?
Sorry, I misquoted the police statement....It should have said, "It is believed the catamaran broke its mooring before floating away."
I've left my boat at the dock, sail up, & I know MN3 hangs on an anchor, rigged. The vernacular is a bit different Down Under, in this case mooring may not have the same meaning as we understand it.
Once loose they can sail pretty well, sans crew. One would think that if it came loose the owner would find a power boat & go after it.
Perhaps it headed offshore, then swapped directions later with a land/sea breeze/tide.
I have a cousin in Perth, it's midsummer there now, & that West Coast gets hotter than Hades. I can see sailing early, then going for a siesta, then evening sail. Maybe they got drunk, (I think Australia Day is right about now, & from the 2 summers I spent there, it's tailgating on steroids), maybe they stole it...
I know they have shark culls in that area, attempting to keep them off the beaches, maybe one bloke looked up from his horizontal perch on the sand.
"Sod all I say, the bleedin boats slipped 'er mooring, get yer swimmies & go after er."
"Nah, might loose my sunnies, best you go."
"I'm pretty busy with the barbie 'bout now, best you take er matey"
Edited by Edchris177 on Jan 28, 2014 - 06:44 AM.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation
Haha. Particularly if any the sheets got cleated in...
.....