Father Missing Off Madagascar - Queequeg Ii Capsized!

[daughter]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

We are all pleased that Leo has been found and is, hopefully, recovering from this ordeal. We will, of course, be far happier when we get the news that all three have been saved.

In a situation like this it is difficult to give hope whilst trying to be objective. As an ex-rescue leader myself I know well the circumstances. You do right to brace yourself but do not give up hope.

On behalf of all the moderators I can say that our thoughts and prayers are with you in these difficult times.

Aye // Stephen

Thank you, Stephen. We are so touched by the support that we have found from this community.This is the kind of thing you read about in stories and your faith in mankind is restored. We are so grateful.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by daughter

Thank you all so much. Especially "Lighthouse."

Hi Nicole

There is nothing to thank me for - I just tried to find some information for you - it was no trouble at all. We are all cruisers and we feel for you.

Thank you for posting the information that you managed to confirm.

I (and all of us in this cruising community) are holding thumbs for you that your dad is alive and well, possibly inside the overturned hull.

If I get any new information I will post it here and trust that you will do the same to keep us all up to date.

Chin up!

[NEWSREPORTER]

Nicole-

I am a news reporter in Champaign, Illinois. We heard about your father and his crews situation. I'd like to get more information out to more people as soon as possible to have people on the lookout.

Some of the families of the men live within our viewing area, if you could help me get in contact with someone I could do an interiew and then get this information on the news today, it then could go nationwide to get more people aware and looking.

I hope this helps, please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

Amanda Evans

217-369-3387

WCIA3 NEWS

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

[Nausikaa]

As moderator, I have refrained from deleting the above post as it may well already have been read by the person it is intended for as she is currently in the forum. However let me raise a word of warning. As I mentioned earlier, I do have a few years experience as rescue coordinator and the only thing that will help here is to have more eyes at sea or in the air in the search area.

There is no way that "getting this information on the news today" in Illinois will have any effect whatsoever on the search. The good reporter, unless she has some very influential people willing to help her, will not be able to put ships to sea or aircraft in the air in the Indian Ocean.

I make a plea to all, let the rescue services get on with their job and don't make false promises of putting people "on the lookout". We are all hoping and praying that the two remaining crew members will soon be found and the greatest chance of that happening is if MRCC and the vessels / aircraft in the area can do their jobs without being unnecessarily disturbed.

Aye // Stephen

[Lighthouse]

Nicole

The only possible further news I could get would be from the South African Maritime Mobile Net in about 8 hours from now - it is the middle of the night in the Indian Ocean now.

Chin up! We're all holding thumbs for you.

[MelissaSherman]

Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts, and help.

Nicole, if you and your sister want to talk- I'm here for you.

Email: melissa.sherman[AT]hotmail.com

Whats the latest you've heard?

We're very thankful and still very very hopeful.

[Nausikaa]

There is nothing to thank us for Melissa. We are all sailors here and the one rule of the sea which stands fast above all others is that we help each other in times of peril.

I understand that the gentleman who has been rescued is your relative. We all are very pleased for you.

It is the wee small hours of the night in the search area. This will make it almost impossible to find anyone in the water until daylight. We all hope and pray that tomorrow will bring good news for the families of the other two gentlemen.

To all of the families involved, be strong and don't give up hope.

Aye // Stephen

[daughter]

I just learned that Search & Rescue hasn't happened yet. According to the Coast Guard in Miami, no divers have been in the water yet. The Coast Guard did tell me that Leo said my father, Joe, may be still alive in the boat. He was with my father for a day and a half and then he swam out but my father did not.

With reports that he may be alive in the boat, why were no divers put in the water all day? Is the weather that bad?

[Lighthouse]

Melissa

Welcome aboard. We are very happy for you that Leo is OK. I cannot begin to understand what you went through.

Thank you for offering your assistance to the others' families - they need all the strength they can get now.

God Bless.

We remain positive.

[Lighthouse]

why were no divers put in the water all day? Is the weather that bad?

The weather in the area has been bad but settling - they were virtually in the middle of a tropical cyclone/storm.

Rest assured that S & R will be doing the best they can - they are very committed.

I will hopefully get news in about 7 hours or so.

[daughter]

http://www.lexpressmada.com/display.php?p=...ay&id=24025

I found this on the internet. It is very upsetting that this newspaper has printed that they are dead when that hasn't been confirmed and no one has even been in the water yet to search the boat.

[Nausikaa]

Nicole-

The Indian Ocean is not a small area and it is surrounded by countries most of which have very limited means. In the immediate area (and still a long way off) only South Africa, France (in respect of Isle de la Reunion and Isle Europe) and possibly Mauritius could mount a rescue operation so far off-shore. The greatest hope is that there should be a NATO warship in the area or one from South Africa with a diving team on board.

Divers need a support vessel. To deploy divers in the area they must first be mobilised and then transported to the search site. They need a support vessel as they cannot simply be dropped from an aircraft and left to fend for themselves.

As you pointed out, the weather is also a consideration but in my experience rescuers will push the envelope to get the job done.

As far as transport is concerned, helicopters do not have the range to reach the area either from South Africa or Reunion / Mauritius.

We have to pin our faith in surface vessels.

Do not give up hope. I, very many years ago, picked up two guys who had been in a capsized trimaran for 72 days. Although it was in the Pacific the circumstances were quite similar. They had capsized in hard weather but, as they were in a warm water area, they had not suffered from hypothermia which, generally, is the greatest threat to people in or near the water.

Be strong. Keep hoping and praying.

Aye // Stephen

[Nausikaa]

Regarding the news article -

It took me a while to translate as my French is not so good but I think I understood it well enough.

You are quite right. It is irresponsible of them to publish this article but, you must ask yourself, how often are does the media not do things like this? The purpose of the media is not to inform the public but to sell their product and if bending the truth will help then the truth will be bent.

Do not worry about this article. Worrying about it will help neither your father, yourself nor anyone else. You need your strength for yourself and family now.

// Stephen

[Lighthouse]

I'll be back in the morning, hopefully with some good news.

[NEWSREPORTER]

I apologize for offending anyone, our news station has been recieving several phone calls from our viewers worried about the situation.

We are trying to help in anyway we can and keep the community updated on their friends and loved ones.

You're in our thoughts,

Amanda Evans

WCIA 3 News

217-369-3387

[thewatcher]

this is a web only article from the local newspaper...

http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj....php?id=434296

[MelissaSherman]

The news was nicely done- Very heartfelt.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by MelissaSherman

The news was nicely done- Very heartfelt.

Good to hear that.

I will see what more I can find out from the South African Maritime Mobile Net in a couple of hours.

[daughter]

Originally Posted by MelissaSherman

The news was nicely done- Very heartfelt.

Melissa, where did this come from? What news station?

[MelissaSherman]

The Newscast was from WCIA channel 3. It was the first story.

They explained the situation, talked about how hopeful everyone is, and had good pictures.

Maybe you can find it online somewhere? I'll look.

The first picture is from the queequeg website and the 2nd is one he sent me.