Father Missing Off Madagascar - Queequeg Ii Capsized!

[Lighthouse]

Nicole

We are heartbroken with you. We are all sailors here and we live for the sea - we're a brotherhood - it is in our blood.

We will still hold hope as the sea so often surprises us.

God Bless!

[zacyrus]

Not yet. they continue the research

They ended the reseach of the Banzai shipwreck.Not the queequeg II

Originally Posted by daughter

We learned that they have ended the seach. We are heartbroken.

[daughter]

Originally Posted by zacyrus

Not yet. they continue the research

They ended the reseach of the Banzai shipwreck.Not the queequeg II

I have spoken with the French Navy and the US Coast Guard and confirmed this with them. Your information is inaccurate, which has been the case with many of the reporters covering this. Please stop posting false information. It is painful enough for my family right now.

-Nicole

[Nausikaa]

In situations like this it never easy to know what to say and whatever is said will be inadequate.

In this community, we are sailors almost every one of us. We know and understand the risks we take when we leave port. We know that one day we may leave port and not return. We know this and we accept this. If the worst should happen we also know that we were doing what we wanted to.

Your father and his shipmate may still be alive and may be found but the chances are extremely slim at this stage. Do not give up hope completely but try to come to terms with the fact that he may have gone to that great harbour where all sailors eventually drop their anchor.

We, the moderating team here and I am sure all members too, wish to express our sincere hope that your father and his shipmate will still be found. If there is anything I or any of my moderator companions can do to help you through these difficult times then do not hesitate to get in touch.

Aye // Stephen

[MelissaSherman]

It's not over. Stay Strong.

I'd hug you if I could.

[daughter]

While our families are heartbroken that the search has ended, we still cannot completely give up hope that they may still be alive. My father used to tell stories of people who were stranded at sea and survived for days by treading water. Our hope is that maybe they will be found by a private boat(s).

Please keep praying. We do understand the chances are slim and we take comfort knowing that they were doing what they loved. That said, we cannot rest or grieve before we know that we have exhausted all our options.

Thank you all for your support.

-Nicole

[Nausikaa]

You are absolutely right not to give up hope Nicole.

The fact is that the more time passes the slimmer the chances but, and in this you are absolutely correct, there are many examples of people who have survived against all the odds.

There are some things in your favour:

* The position of the capsize is close to, if not in, the main shipping route from the Far East and India to South Africa. Since Suez reopened this is not the maritime highway it once was but there will still be vessels about.

* The water is warm so exposure is not a risk factor

* Your father is, from what I can gather, not a man who gives up easily. That is hugely important in a situation like this.

Hold out Nicole. You must be realistic but you must still have hope and faith - both of which could move mountains!

We all hope and pray that this event will end happily

Aye // Stephen

[MelissaSherman]

People keep calling. I just want you to know that people are still hopeful and they're praying for Quen and Joe.

The weather should be clearing up there.

[Lighthouse]

Nicole

I will post in the morning (Sat - about 9 hours from now) if there is ANY news from the SA Maritime Mobile Net's morning schedule.

Chin up!

[Nausikaa]

The weather is indeed clearing in the area. The maximum predicted wind force, for dawn in the area, goes up to 25 knots but that is not so high and it is very local. The wind force abate very swiftly, almost to zero, when one comes further from the depression . There is little precipitation in the area so visibility should be quite good.

Let us hope the coming day brings more clarity to the situation and , hopefully, a joyful outcome.

Aye // Stephen

[daughter]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01...called-off.html

[Lighthouse]

Sad to say that there is no further news from this end. I will keep looking out for any information.

[daughter]

I have heard this is the last day the airforce will look for them.

[Lighthouse]

Let's hope and pray.

Please keep us updated

[Trim50]

Has anyone reported "how" the boat capsized?

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Trim50

Has anyone reported "how" the boat capsized?

Nothing in the news yet. We can hope that the crew will be able to share this info as there is always much to be learned by other cruisers when a tragedy like this happens. I would think that Leo is worried about his still missing shipmates and the last thing from his mind is sharing what happened with the capsize.

[Nausikaa]

Originally Posted by daughter

I have heard this is the last day the airforce will look for them.

I don't want to give false hope but I spent a couple of years as an observer in surveillance aircraft (mainly CASA, Cessna Caravans and Britten-Norman Islanders) and one thing was very clear - a PIW (Person In the Water) was very difficult to spot from an aircraft unless (s)he had a flare or smoke generator of some sort. If the aircraft was fitted with a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) camera it also helped.

From a helicopter things were often a bit better as the lower sped helped the observer not to miss things.

I have no knowledge if the SA Air Force has FLIR equipped aircraft. I believe the plane used for oil pollution detection does have but that is tasked by Marine and Coastal Management and not the Air Force. At Thunder City (Cape Town) there were a couple of low airframe hour DAKS with new engines and props which had been converted for maritime surveillance work and were very competent machines but these, I believe, went back Stateside where they were owned due to lack of work for them in Africa.

All hope is not out yet. There is still a slim chance that the guys are alive and there are still ships in the area Don't be thrown by the lack of aerial surveillance. However, do not be blinded by hope. Keep hoping but accept that the survival chances diminish hour by hour. Prepare for the worst

and should fortune smile on you, you will get a wonderful surprise. If not, you will be better prepared to deal with the situation.

As before, if you need any support I can give, bearing in mind the distance between us, do not hesitate to ask. We sailors are a strange bunch, as I am sure you already know. We can be annoyingly independent but we always are willing to help fellow sailors and their families when the need arises.

Aye // Stephen

[Trim50]

If they are in a life raft, they could survive for quite a long while....they just need to be spotted.

[Lighthouse]

The Queequeg II capsized in pretty much the same area where the yacht Moquini tragically lost it's keel some 3 years ago. These were totally different circumstances (keel loss) but the thread in the link clearly gives an indication of the difficulties involved in the search and rescue efforts in that particular area. At the time, the S & R effort was enormous - even with private initiatives, and they could not find a large overturned hull - nevermind seeing a small survivor's head bobbing around in a life-jacket.

I mention this in an attempt to assure Nicole that the best efforts have been (and still are) made to find the survivors of the Queequeg II. It just illustrates the difficulties involved. The S & R personnel are highly trained and VERY committed.

Have strength Nicole (and all involved with the missing crewmembers) - we still all hope.

God Bless!

P.S.

The capsized "Moquini" was found much later, almost in the Southern Ocean. Drifts and currents in the area are very unpredictable.

.

[Lighthouse]

Nicole

There is no further news from here at all. I will see if there is anything from the SA Maritime Mobile Net in the morning - about 9 hours from now.

Please keep us updated with anything new from your end.