I do not have all the real facts so what I have written here is what I have experienced, have been told and what I believe to be true.
Hubby and I knew that the Blessed B was on it's way from Noumea but had no radio contact where we were anchored off Fraser Is in the Great Sandy Straits. The first that we heard that something was wrong was on the 7th September 2008, via a local radio station report that the Blessed B was overdue by two week and a search had been organised.
Apparently the boat had been caught in a storm some hundred odd miles out and the skipper had managed to get a radio message out with sea, boat and crew conditions, but no may-day had be put out. This message had been picked up by a HF station in South Australia and logged. That's all.
The family reported the non arrival to authorities and radio contact was attempted before a search would be launched. Fare enough. There was another vessel in the area that had a name very simliar sounding to Blessed B and this vessel answered the authorities first call saying that all was okay. The radio frequency was very scratchy and taken to be Blessed B. A few more days went by and still no sign of Blessed B. Thats when a serious search got under-way, but too late is what I am thinking for the poor unfortunate crew of the Blessed B. The search stared in the wrong area and maybe not far enough out and maybe too late at all. There is no blame on anyone just mis information all round. The authorites did try, several planes, helicopter and sea craft were all looking, but nothing. Nothing after two weeks of searching and still nothing months later.
Very sad all round, another good captain and crew gone down!
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