Another Sinking

[Cormorant]

I always assumed those Coast Guard search planes and helicopters have infrared imaging on board, which would help pick out a small boat at night. Maybe its only good enough to give you the equivalent of daytime vision at night . . . but you're still looking for a needle in a big haystack. (?)

[Zednotzee]

Originally Posted by Cormorant

I always assumed those Coast Guard search planes and helicopters have infrared imaging on board, which would help pick out a small boat at night. Maybe its only good enough to give you the equivalent of daytime vision at night . . . but you're still looking for a needle in a big haystack. (?)

Thermal imaging performance is superior to regular optics these days, except under certain conditions. Heavy rain & fog have a greater impact on thermal imagers than day optics- scatter & absorption are more intense in the wavelengths that thermal operates in.

[judson]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

3 days from EPIRB to hotel.
Thats a bit longer than expected.

Any thoughts on that?


"After receiving the EPIRB signal on Thursday afternoon, the Coast Guard coordinated with a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion to fly over the area, but by that time, night had fallen so the crew was unable to spot the dinghy. It took two more days of searching, but a USCG C-130 finally pinpointed the signal around 10:35 Saturday morning. "

like pete said we were just a dot in the water we were lucky they saw us

[Pete7]

Out of curiosity, what sort of kit did you manage to take with you in the dinghy and perhaps more of a "lessons learnt" exercise was there some things that you really wished you had with you?

Pete

[SaucySailoress]

Judson - it's great to hear from you. Sorry for the loss of your boat, but glad you pulled through OK, and are positive about it. You must feel quite blessed to be alive.

[judson]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Out of curiosity, what sort of kit did you manage to take with you in the dinghy and perhaps more of a "lessons learnt" exercise was there some things that you really wished you had with you?

Pete

no kit it was in the yama with the moter for the dingy (the yama that broke off) what i wish i had with me would have bin the motor and the kit hahaha.we had water,freeze dried food flare gun and a spare eberb in the kit

[zeehag]

i bet ye had a helluva ride until the sound of wood cracking???/ dang--- goood on ye for fortitude and survival... best of luck and smooth sailing for your life.....
i think i will rig my walker bay with a ditch bag attached to its lil mast step.....

[jms9]

37th or so post into this article and I am going to be the first to say it. Great job United States Coast Guard and United States Navy, thank you. Thanks also to the Captain, crew and owners of the Sunbelt Spirit. Two sailors would be dead and two families grieving if not for what you have done.

My navigational skills are certainly lacking but the Pacific side of Costa Rica appears to be a 1000 miles from the nearest US landfall. US military assets were diverted to search for a squawking EPIRB, the US Coast Guard flew into the area twice looking for that EPIRB. An EPIRB that was more than likely registered to a Canadian citizen. They were found by the USCG.

As a US taxpayer and USN vet, I could not be more proud of the service provided by both the USCG and USN. Kinda makes you proud to be an American.

[multihullsailor6]

This seems to me a very good example to state that we as offshore sailors and cruisers should only be having the GPS-enabled EPIRBs on board!

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by jms9

As a US taxpayer and USN vet, I could not be more proud of the service provided by both the USCG and USN. Kinda makes you proud to be an American.

Indeed. Credit where it's due. I would hope the CCG would do the same for Americans off, say, Vancouver Island or the Grand Banks.

[pullord]

be prepared allways,,german sailer sailing single just went missing off martinique and was previousvsailing instructor,,wear harness is the lesson but i suppose we all gotta dy someday,,took many chances mysef,,hope they find german cooling out on island alive later but doubt he was even wearing lifevest..bumper sticker is ,,no mercy 4 fools ocean has,,no comebacks 4 those guys,,call a spade a spade ..the truth is the truth,,