erice 732 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Emergency services were notified at about 11pm after the yacht struck rocks at Motukawiti Island, about 4 km offshore from Matauri Bay in Northland. Coastguard vessels and the Northland Rescue Helicopter responded to the incident and the yacht was located at about 1am 500 metres North of Motukawiti Island. When the rescue vessel arrived the yacht had sunk, with only mast and sails above the water. There was no sign of the skipper who was the sole occupant. The search continued for the skipper, and at about 1.30am he was found by the Manaia Rescue vessel swimming in the sea. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11391684 hopefully we'll find out; - how he got to hit the rocks - how the mayday call went out - why he wasn't in a tender of some sort - if he had a lifejacket, strobe etc - if they found him swimming towards the island or being carried off by the current... Link to post Share on other sites
MarkMT 68 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 hopefully we'll find out; - how he got to hit the rocks - how the mayday call went out - why he wasn't in a tender of some sort - if he had a lifejacket, strobe etc - if they found him swimming towards the island or being carried off by the current... I just read this too and a bunch of similar questions went through my mind. The article seemed to raise more questions than it answered. Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Did I hear correctly that this evening at about 1830 on #16 then #71, another 15 ft runabout in the area with 4POB and no form of communication couldn't get their motor started? Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 great follow up in today's herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11391768 apparently he thought he could take his classic, logan mullet,for the first time through the cavailli inner passage with no gps or sounder, at night with just the chart and lights on shore to guesstimate position didn't work and he ran up on rocks he put in the mayday, was able to stay with the boat, with life jacket on, shining a light on to the sails for the 2 hours it took coastguard to get a boat next to him then swam across to their boat the pickmere atlas shows the area better than the chart above Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla II 392 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Mr Stemson said that after the capsize, he clambered up the mast and perched on the spreader, shining his torch on the sail for his rescuers. He blamed the topographical map he had for showing a "totally insufficient outline of what was there". "In fact, I sailed into a minefield of small rocky islands, which just weren't clear on the map at all. "I think it's a significant short-sight of the hydrographic department. The minefield was indicated to be further north; it was actually further south." He also blamed a lack of lighting on the east coast of Northland for his misadventure, but conceded he did not have sonar or an electronic GPS system on his yacht. "I had charts and good experience, but I hadn't actually been through that channel before." I hope Celox is retrievable. Link to post Share on other sites
benny14 6 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Mr Stemson said that after the capsize, he clambered up the mast and perched on the spreader, shining his torch on the sail for his rescuers. He blamed the topographical map he had for showing a "totally insufficient outline of what was there". "In fact, I sailed into a minefield of small rocky islands, which just weren't clear on the map at all. "I think it's a significant short-sight of the hydrographic department. The minefield was indicated to be further north; it was actually further south." He also blamed a lack of lighting on the east coast of Northland for his misadventure, but conceded he did not have sonar or an electronic GPS system on his yacht. "I had charts and good experience, but I hadn't actually been through that channel before." Can't help but think this guy must be extremely arrogant making a comment like this... Having never sailed through this passage before, he tries to go through at night, with a Topographical Map and thinking he would be able to rely on lighting from the islands? I'm hoping he means marine chart rather than Topographical Map... Does anyone here try to sail through a narrow passage known to be full of rocky outcrops for the first time in the dark? Link to post Share on other sites
banaari 27 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'm leaning towards a charitable view: "Elderly" Hope he can salvage the boat. Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla II 392 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Not the first time Mr Stemson has made the news. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1843486 http://www.caseload.co.nz/afawcs0123879/CATID=1/SUBID=1/ID=6/SID=340442165/articledetails.html Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 512 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Link to post Share on other sites
banaari 27 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Not the first time Mr Stemson has made the news. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1843486 http://www.caseload.co.nz/afawcs0123879/CATID=1/SUBID=1/ID=6/SID=340442165/articledetails.html Make that a damn sight *LESS* charitable view... in fact a jaundiced and cynical eye might even think he was trying the same thing again... except without the possibility of burning someone to death... Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Wow. Bit of a chequered past there for sure. What an arse! Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ketchup Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 great that live coverage" Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Make that a damn sight *LESS* charitable view... in fact a jaundiced and cynical eye might even think he was trying the same thing again... except without the possibility of burning someone to death... He was uninsured. Seems like hes just a dick Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 seems his personal radar is bit skewiff leading him to a life of rocky shores eg blaming the charts when it seems more likely he simply wasn't where he thought he was Link to post Share on other sites
Pumbaa 9 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I met this guy last night in New World car park, he saw the sign writing on the side of my ute and started talking (non stop for 30 minutes). The long and short of it all, he used a cell phone to call 111 and was up to his chest when they got all his details. I asked him why he went through that gap (which I wouldn't do in day light) he said it was so that he could see the rocks in the moonlight. He seemed more interested in focusing his story on the lack of lights in the area and the issues he had as a result of his decisions rather than the decisions themselves. The boat, as a result of a poorly executed salvage, is now in 2 halves and it might be back in Opua. He had owned the boat for 3 years and apparently it is full of worm holes and rot. He is going to offer it to the Maritime museum in Auckland. Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 thanks for the extra details illuminating Link to post Share on other sites
Pumbaa 9 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I just read those 2 links above and yep they're consistent with the guy I met last night. Link to post Share on other sites
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