Father Missing Off Madagascar - Queequeg Ii Capsized!

[daughter]

Father Missing Off Madagascar from the catamaran Queequeg II - This is all the information I have. I am posting this in hope that someone out there will find him...If you or someone you know is in the area, please help!

About 48 hours ago, someone on my father's boat (The Queequeg II) hit "the panic button" sending a distress call. The Embassy of Madagasdar sent a search party and 36 hours ago they found the Queegueg II capsized. No bodies were found. The Embassy is planning to send another search party but the cyclones are making it difficult. My sister and i are hoping and praying that he could still be out there. There were three men on the boat and all three are missing.

Here is a link to the website:

www.queequegtwo.com

Please, help. If you have any information or resources, please contact us here.

Thank you,

Nicole Strykowski

[Lighthouse]

Hi Nicole

Bad news indeed.

Please try to ascertain from the Madagascar authorities whether the life-raft was still with the vessel. Try also to find out the exact position of the wreck and report this all to the South African Search and Rescue as well as on this thread. If the crew is on the life-raft (or adrift) they can track the current drift but they need the time/date of the incident.

S Africa Search & Rescue

I have no doubt that the South African Authorities will know most details from the EPIRB notification but just confirm.

We all wish that all is OK and our thoughts are with you at this time. Let us have the details above to pass on what we can.

All the best!

[daughter]

Update:

The coordinates I was able to get:

24 Degrees 51.26 South

051 Degrees 30.86 East

They had a dingy and it hasn't been found yet. We are praying that they are still out there in the dingy.

[daughter]

BTW, the names of the men who were on the boat are Quen Cultra, Joe Strykowski (my father), and Leo Sherman.

[Lighthouse]

I will be able to make contact with the radio Net controller of the S African Maritime Mobile Net in about three hours from now. Perhaps he has some information.

[daughter]

Thank you all for your help, your kind words, and your prayers. We are staying hopeful.

[daughter]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

I will be able to make contact with the radio Net controller of the S African Maritime Mobile Net in about three hours from now. Perhaps he has some information.

Thank you so much Lighthouse! I appreciate your help!

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by daughter

Update:

The coordinates I was able to get:

24 Degrees 51.26 South

051 Degrees 30.86 East

They had a dingy and it hasn't been found yet. We are praying that they are still out there in the dingy.

That is a long way east of Madagascar. What was their last port of call and where were they headed?

Thanks

[daughter]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

That is a long way east of Madagascar. What was their last port of call and where were they headed?

Thanks

They were headed to Durban from Mauritius, I believe.

[Lighthouse]

Thanks. If you look at the chart of ocean currents in the reqion HERE you will see that it is important that you also contact the S African Searh & Rescue.

I am still awaiting contact from the S A Maritime Mobile net controller for any other possible news. This net will of course broadcast the details to any other yachts that MAY be in the area - there unfortunately won't be too many at this time of the year.

Keep your chin up!

[Lighthouse]

Hi Nicole

Unfortunately the Net controller, not having had comms with Queequeg at all, has no additional news but that he was notified of the EPIRB activation. What information he could supply however is that the SAR has been handed over to the French island of Reunion.

Contact the Reunion authorites for any possible news.

I will post any updated news here if and when available.

[Lighthouse]

Unfortunately the weather does not look good in the area. The EPIRB activation was located over 200 miles east of the southern end of madgascar.

SEE INDIAN OCEAN WEATHER (22/01/09)

Chart from 22/01/09

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

Contact the Reunion authorites for any possible news.

See the "Contact Info" HERE

[Lighthouse]

S Africa Search & Rescue has sent a Hercules that should be over the area by now. The S & R is however being co-ordinated by the authority in Reunion.

There are a number of ships in the area that have been notified to keep a look out.

I will post any news update here.

[daughter]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

Unfortunately the weather does not look good in the area. The EPIRB activation was located over 200 miles east of the southern end of madgascar.

SEE WEATHER (22/01/09)

Thank you so much for everything you are doing. It is so hard being so far away (Oregon) and feeling so helpless.

[Lighthouse]

Keep your chin up!

[Lighthouse]

Mixed news I'm afraid.

One man rescued by a merchant ship - name unknown at this stage. The rescued man has told the rescuers that the other two men went overboard without life-jackets. The search is continuing.

Reunion MRCC is co-ordinating the search - Phone: 262 262 434343.

I will update with any further news to hand.

[daughter]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

Mixed news I'm afraid.

One man rescued by a merchant ship - name unknown at this stage. The rescued man has told the rescuers that the other two men went overboard without life-jackets. The search is continuing.

Reunion MRCC is co-ordinating the search - Phone: 262 262 434343.

I will update with any further news to hand.

Well, that is positive in that one of them is alive. It doesn't sound very promising for the other two. Thank you for the update.

[daughter]

The man that was found is Leo Sherman. He was found clinging to the boat and is hopefully now receiving medical attention. Apparently, divers are going to search the boat more thoroughly.

We are still hoping that my dad (Joe Strykowski) and Quen Cultra could be out there on a raft or the dingy - or clinging to something. I feel caught between joy and despair. Having hope but wanting to brace myself against the awful blow that might be coming.

One hopeful thing...the rescuers apparently noticed that there were more civilian ships in the area than normal. It makes me feel that, if they are out there, they will be found.

Thank you all so much. Especially "Lighthouse."

[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