Sad situation - and petition

[Guard Dog]

Hi Everyone (Posting on behalf of Elliott, former FocalClick manager),

I’m not sure if you know anything about the sailing regatta which is held in Antigua every year? Anyway, a search for a sailing boat has been called off by the US Coast Guard after 2 days…… which by all accounts is rather soon considering the four people on the boat might be in their life raft. Here is a link to the full story on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27473507


According to many experts they will only have enough provisions for 10 days therefore the US must restart the search. If you could take 2 minutes to sign a petition for the powers that be to resume the search I’d be very grateful. Here is a link: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitio...aign=share_facebook_mobile&recruiter=65094847

Kind Regards,

Elliott.

 

[Erik]

consider it done

 

[bonustreak]

Done deed.. That is terrible!

 

[Online18Casino]

Signed!

 

[PaaskeUK]

Signed and also posted on facebook and Tweeted.

 

[KasinoKing]

Signed it already, before I saw this thread.
I can't believe they stopped the search after just 2 days.
They have not reported exactly WHY on the news I've seen. (Well, not a convincing argument anyway).
I am praying that these guys are still alive and that they will be found.

KK

 

[TheGooner]

Calling off the hunt on Sunday, Capt Anthony Popiel said: "Based on the extreme conditions at sea, but assuming best-case emergency equipment, the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours. Crews searched for 53 hours."

The article gives a good balanced summary of the search teams views at the bottom. It's a huge space to search and a dangerous place to survive for more than a few hours.

Searches come at a big cost - and tie-up specific coastguard resources (planes) and usually any ships in the area. The boats involved were merchant ships who diverted to help and will now be getting on with other business.

I'm sure that we all understand why the families want to hope for survivors - but 37,000 online posts or 37,000,000 is not going to change the basic procedural methods of an experienced coastguard operation who have many decades of experience of sea rescue.

 

[Elliott]

Just a quick update for those interested. The US Coast Guard is resuming the search for the four missing sailors. Information on this can be found here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27492026

 

[KasinoKing]

Just a quick update for those interested. The US Coast Guard is resuming the search for the four missing sailors. Information on this can be found here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27492026

Brilliant news!
Let's all pray they will be found.

KK

 

[CasinoKev]

Signed as well. Great to hear they've resumed the search.

 

[TheGamblingGuru]

I'm still curious why the US Coast Guard was even involved in the search in the first place? Antigua is a lot closer to South America than it is to any US Territory or the Continental US and the US has no claims on any of Antigua's territory.

I think it's great that the US is helping out, just don't quite understand why they were involved in the first place though.

____
____

 

[TheGooner]

I'm still curious why the US Coast Guard was even involved in the search in the first place? Antigua is a lot closer to South America than it is to any US Territory or the Continental US and the US has no claims on any of Antigua's territory.

I think it's great that the US is helping out, just don't quite understand why they were involved in the first place though.

Because the yacht LEFT Antigua but the beacon was activated mid-ocean - about 1,000 miles from anywhere - and Cape Cod is about the closest - albeit still a very a long way away.

If you look at the latest news item above ( http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27492026 ) it gives a good map towards the bottom of the article.

 

[AussieDave]

Because the yacht LEFT Antigua but the beacon was activated mid-ocean - about 1,000 miles from anywhere

A 1,000 miles from no-where, in the ocean, on a yatch, taking in water...
That would be a harrowing experience, even for seasoned crew.

It's akin to being stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert, with only a bicycle for transport.

 

[Jan]

http://www.yachtingworld.com/news/536614/cheeki-rafiki-liferaft-found-unused

 

[Guard Dog]

Still a sad situation. I'll close out this petition thread now