Catamaran Named 'Pineapple' Missing Near Guam

[beowulfborealis]

Five Americans on board. Let's hope they are just a little late.

Philippines, US search for boat with 5 Americans - Yahoo! News-

[GordMay]

The "Pineapple", a 38' Catamaran, left the Marianas on January 6 for the 1,400-mile journey to the Philippines, and was expected to arrive at Cebu January 16.
Let’s hope that they’re just making a “realistically” slower passage (90 mi/day) than expected (140 mi/day).

[Southern Star]

Indeed. Actually, I am a little surprised that this has already become an international news item, but time will tell.

Brad

[Pelagic]

Another report.

PHL Coast Guard help search for missing Guam sailboat | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

[Khagan1227]

Not good....

[DKadish]

I was at Marianas Yacht club day before they left talking to the skipper about repairing a sailboat. I hope they are alright. I do know they prepped the boat well and had plenty of food and fresh water. Also skipper had 20 plus years of sailing experience.

[atoll]

they probably have stopped at some of the remote anchorages on the way to cebu,though realistically could still be at sea if the winds were light

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by DKadish

I was at Marianas Yacht club day before they left talking to the skipper about repairing a sailboat. I hope they are alright. I do know they prepped the boat well and had plenty of food and fresh water. Also skipper had 20 plus years of sailing experience.

Did they mention which Channel they would enter the Philippines?

Strong NE monsoon winds as we have been having can make some of them treacherous

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Did they mention which Channel they would enter the Philippines?

Strong NE monsoon winds as we have been having can make some of them treacherous

I guess that they would have planned to have used the Surigao Strait on their route to Cebu - any other would be along way around.
Correct the Surigao needs to be tackled in daylight hours lots of reefs and other hazards to negotiate :-

[Pelagic]

Some I know have gone via San Bernardino Strait because it is a bigger main channel and you have a clean run down to Cebu, but get the currents wrong in a strong NE and the seas really set up.

We had gale force winds last week making both quite miserable.

Just wondering if they mentioned a route?

[catty]

I hope their ok.

Looks like a reasonably fast vessel.

[dennisjay]

They been found, and are reported OK.

Boat with 5 Americans found in Philippines - World news - Asia-Pacific - msnbc.com

[James S]

Excellent news..thanks!

[boatman61]

.......

[Therapy]

Whew!

The coast guard rescued 260 of 277 people aboard nearly a dozen boats that sank, overturned or ran into trouble last week due to the inclement weather. Fifteen remain missing while two drowned, the officials said.