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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| BREAKING: HMS Bounty Sinks Off N.C. Coast, 2 Crew Missing |
| 2012-10-29 |
| The HMS Bounty, a 180-foot, three-mast tall ship, was last marked about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras. The ship has sunk, according to the Coast Guard at 8:45 a.m. Monday. Just before 8 a.m., the Facebook page for the HMS Bounty says 14 of the 16 people who had to abandon their ship have been hoisted to safety. There have been conflicting reports on how many people were onboard. The manifest reportedly listed 16 people, and that's the number the Coast Guard has." Seventeen people aboard a replica of the HMS Bounty abandoned ship early Monday while stranded at sea off the North Carolina coast, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release. "The 17 person crew donned cold water survival suits and life jackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies," the Coast Guard said in a statement. The ship issued a distress signal late Sunday after taking on water, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The owner of the 180-foot, three mast ship -- which was built for the 1962 Marlon Brando movie, "Mutiny on the Bounty" -- lost communication with the crew and alerted the Coast Guard to the situation. The Coast Guard then received a distress signal from the ship showing its position. It sent out an aircraft to speak with the crew, which reported that the vessel was taking on water and had no propulsion. It's currently located about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C. The ship, which is still floating upright and intact, is surrounded by 18-foot seas and 40 mph winds as Hurricane Sandy moves through the area. The Bounty makes frequent trips around the country, offering a glimpse into maritime history, according to the ship's website. It was originally a British transport vessel, and the replica has appeared in several films, including the 2006 movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest," with Johnny Depp. Its last stop before its winter hiatus in Galveston, Texas, was to be in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Nov. 10. It is unclear why the boat set out to sea with Sandy bearing down. Sandy could be the largest storm ever to hit the United States, according to NOAA's website. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #14 Whoa, so it is Marlon's BOUNTY, not Clark Gable's. Were Bligh's tropical plant samples saved or do I have to send Paula Abdul down there??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-10-29 22:48 |
| #13 The ship left him, he didn't abandon ship. Kinda like me and the Democratic Party. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2012-10-29 21:41 |
| #12 I watched Master and Commander at least half a dozen times, that makes me a cinematic expert, I would..... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2012-10-29 21:22 |
| #11 I can't speak for severe storms, but for mid-range storms (Gale, etc.) and small boats (30' sloop) open water beat the heck out of anchor - where you drag anchor and run aground or into other boats; in a good marina and well-secured was better yet. At some point it becomes a toss-up for smaller craft, but at least in the marina I could tie it up, drive home, and call the insurance company later. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2012-10-29 21:02 |
| #10 It is true that usually modern ships do better at sea in a hurricane than in port. It isn't pleasant at sea, but at least you don't get smashed against the piers and other obstacles. I do know that the US Navy had all the ships in Norfolk head out. I don't know about sailing ships. A powered vessel can keep the bow pointed into the wind, so the waves generally wash over you. It would be harder on a sailing ship. The last thing you want to do is to take the wind on the beam - you can capsize very quickly. I don't think that was what happened to the Bounty, though. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2012-10-29 20:07 |
| #9 The ship left him, he didn't abandon ship. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2012-10-29 20:01 |
| #8 I don't think anything like this happened when Bligh was captain. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-10-29 18:58 |
| #7 50 years old? There's always the insurance angle. Call the man with the action packed expense account...Johnny Dollar. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2012-10-29 18:43 |
| #6 Normally it's better heading out to sea. The question is whether they took a course that allowed them to skirt the storm or put them into the worst of it (hurricanes in the northern hemisphere go CCW) |
| Posted by: Pappy 2012-10-29 18:36 |
| #5 They departed Cape Cod end of last week. While they may be safer at sea, why not loiter off to the east instead of heading for their Florida destination right through the biggest storm in a century. Hubris mixed with idiocy. |
| Posted by: KBK 2012-10-29 18:27 |
| #4 If it's not possible to pull a ship into drydock, my understanding is that chances are the ship is more likely to survive if it's off shore than close to land where it can be smashed ashore .... But perhaps Pappy or another of our Navy vets can correct me if I'm mistaken. |
| Posted by: lotp 2012-10-29 18:06 |
| #3 "It is unclear why the boat set out to sea with Sandy bearing down." They're idiots? Hope everyone survives OK, including the Coast Guard members who had to go get them. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2012-10-29 14:10 |
| #2 Little late in the season to be chasing down galleons, isn't it? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2012-10-29 13:43 |
| #1 14, 16, or 17? I'm confused. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2012-10-29 12:44 |