Forum Member Reported Missing

[Spammy]

I don't know if others here have picked up this news item, but this morning, it was reported that Cruisers Forum member Skip Gundlach on the Flying Pig was reported missing between Lake Worth, FL and the Bahamas. He is being searched for by Coast Guard aircraft. Apparently, a friend had been receiving satellite messages from the boat and they stopped, prompting a call to emergency officials. I'm hoping Skip and his crew merely experienced an equipment malfunction, and that they are safe. My thoughts are with them.

The Associated Press: Boaters traveling to the Bahamas reported missing

[ColdFusion]

Let's hope for a good outcome.

[Fishman_Tx]

Here's the last message posted on the Yahoo forum Sunday.

**Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:35 am
Just a quickie...

We're off to the Bahamas, heading to Memory Rock from Lake Worth (Palm
Beach), over the banks and down the inside to Spanish Cay, and may not have
internet for a while. I'll try to update my logs under way and send them to
TheFlyingPigLog@yahoogroups.com (see link below if you're not on the log
list and want to read...

Follow us on our tracking page, SPOT Shared Page

L8R

Skip and crew

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at Web-Folio -- Your Portfolio on the Web !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to
make it come true. You may have to work for it however."
(and)
"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in
its hand
(Richard Bach)

From the look of SPOT, they may have had a problem, but seem to be underway now. Hopefully, just a minor problem.
Last SPOT position:
Flying Pig
ESN :
0-7349850

Type :
Track Progress

Latitude :
27.01703

Longitude :
-77.98433

Time :
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8:20:18 AMFlying Pig
ESN :
0-7349850

Type :
Track Progress

Latitude :
27.01703

Longitude :
-77.98433

Time :
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8:20:18 AM

[Cormorant]

The thing is, it was called in missing after a friend of the sailors stopped receiving position info from the boat's SPOT beacon. I recall that those things stop sending tracking info after 24 hours if you don't hit the "OK" button each day. Is it possible that's all that happened?

-------------------------------------
The U.S. Coast Guard says crews are searching for the 46-foot sailing vessel, Flying Pig, and its three passengers near Grand Bahama Island. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

[GordMay]

Sorry for the repeat.

Skip’s SPOT satellite messenger last reported the Flying Pig's position about 20 miles north of Grand Bahama Island around 9:20 a.m. Monday*.

Anyone with information regarding Gundlach's whereabouts is requested to contact Coast Guard District Seven at 305-415-6800.

SPOT ➥ SPOT Shared Page

Flying Pig's last report (#50)
Latitude: 27.01703
Longitude: -77.98433
Time: September-29-09 9:20:18 AM

Skip & Lydia aboard Flying Pig

[Fishman_Tx]

It's transmitting and they seem to be moving since yesterday that is. Looks like they either slowed or stopped, for some reason didn't make much progress yesterday...

[Fishman_Tx]

Per USCG this morning, Flying Pig was located and all aboard are fine. They had "anchored due to weather" and are enroute to Abaco.

[speedoo]

Sounds like there will have to be some 'splainin to the USCG.

And I hope there is a full debrief as to what happened, and how the false alarm could have been prevented.

[imagine2frolic]

I would think the call was nothing but good intentions, but a wee bit early. I too would've been concerned if I was following my friend, and all of a sudden they stopped. It's great it turned out they are safe, and well......i2f

[GordMay]

Good news, and another one of Skip's (many) dramas afloat concluded.

[YOGAO]

Yep, the friend jumped the gun. I think this is going to require the friend to be colored "embarassed", and he and Skip are going to have to agree to laugh about this one over a beer.

Now comes the really big question, designed to create an on-line fight along with thread drift -

would this have happened on a cat?

OOOOPS! Sorry, I meant to ask:

Who should buy the beer? Skip, the friend or the folks from SPOT?

Fair Winds,
Mike

[Cormorant]

Just guessing, but it does seem the tracking info stopped broadcasting about 24 hours after their departure time from Lake Worth. This is probably a case of people being too busy to remember to hit the "OK" button.

It's a design flaw of the SPOT that they really need to fix. A user should be able to broadcast tracking info indefinitely without having to push a button every day.

[Canibul]

wouldn't that kill a lot of batteries needlessly, meaning you don't have them when you next really DO need to send your position? Seems like kind of a deadman switch to me.

[Cormorant]

Good point. But if I ran the zoo, here's what I'd change:
1) make the position reporting interval user-adjustable. Sailors don't need a 10-minute interval. Every hour or two would show a clear track. Those 10-minute tracks are so crowded as to be unreadable.
2) make the 24-hour positioning shutoff user-adjustable, with options for a 1-day or 3-day "on" period, each one reset each time you hit the OK button.
3) make sure there's a good low-battery alarm (not sure if Spot already has one). Recharging or changing the batteries can happen in good time, before any disaster strikes.

Spot, you'll receive my consulting bill in the mail.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by Cormorant

Good point. But if I ran the zoo, here's what I'd change:
1) make the position reporting interval user-adjustable. Sailors don't need a 10-minute interval. Every hour or two would show a clear track. Those 10-minute tracks are so crowded as to be unreadable.
2) make the 24-hour positioning shutoff user-adjustable, with options for a 1-day or 3-day "on" period, each one reset each time you hit the OK button.
3) make sure there's a good low-battery alarm (not sure if Spot already has one). Recharging or changing the batteries can happen in good time, before any disaster strikes..

I would add a standard shut off sequesnce that added a field to the last spot position, showing that the transmitter was deliberately switched off.