Yacht Deja Vu

[redbopeep]

does anyone know more of the story on this one?

link

A BRITISH woman has been rescued from a yacht near Fraser Island after her husband was struck on the head and killed by a broken boom. The woman, 48, was airlifted to Hervey Bay this afternoon after a harrowing several hours at sea with the body of her husband, 63. The woman sent out a distress signal at 6.30am by rescuers did not reach the yacht until mid-afternoon.

The 15m sloop Deja Vu was being sailed back to the mainland by rescue personnel and was expected to arrive tomorrow evening. The accident happened about 150km east of Fraser Island today after the British couple got caught in rough conditions. A Rescue Co-ordination Centre (Australia) spokeswoman said the vessel was registered in South Africa.

The spokeswoman said another private vessel, The Deliverence, had managed to reach the yacht but poor weather conditions prevented them taking the woman on board. Three-metre seas and strong winds had made the rescue risky.

link

[MMNETSEA]

Brenda , thank you for posting this report of a tragedy - I have spoken many many times to a yacht called Deja Vu while they cruised Thailand and Malaysian waters. Without their names and call sign, I cannot confirm if this is the same Deja Vu . I have emailed a number of yachts who may be able to identify them. During the Great Tsunami a yacht by this name was safe in Sutera Harbour - Sabah Malaysia.

What a sad report.

Richard

[Lighthouse]

VERY sad news indeed. Our thoughts go out to their family and friends and he will be sorely missed by the Zululand Yacht Club, Richards Bay.

[JeanneP]

A lethal boom was my biggest concern/fear when we were making passages and crossings. It is so easy to be so focused on getting the problem solved that you lose sight of the sailing direction and wind direction until suddenly the boom comes roaring across the cockpit. It happens so often to even the most experienced skippers that I wish there were a "danger" sign that could be attached to the boom as a constant reminder of just how lethal an instrument it is.

I would frequently engage the autopilot when Peter had to go forward in order to insure that the boat's course was not accidentally changed because I was too focused on Peter rather than the compass. Even when Peter rigged the preventer I would change course to hard on the wind. I never wanted hindsight to tell me what the correct strategy should have been.

[MMNETSEA]

The news reports on the tragic death of Colin Craig on Yacht "Deja Vu" off the coast of Queensland Australia contained a few important inaccuracies ; To set the record straight :- Both Colin and his wife Glyn were both very experienced sailors. Colin was a former Commodore of the Zululand Yacht Club - one of the finest in Africa.



Colin and Glyn on Deja Vu won many international yacht races, including the Capetown to Rio, The Borneo cup, The Vasco de Gama down the South African Coast - just to name a few. Colin was a Radio Amateur - his call sign ZS5ABT - now silent.

I have had emails from Cruisers from all over the world asking for information and registering their sadness and empathy for Glyn. Among them Columbus, Cetacean II, Wanderlust, Katrine, Reflections IV, Senta, Elpedia,

Glyn is together with "Deja Vu" in Bundaberg - they had left the Solomon Islands a few days ago to visit Australia for the second time. I have asked former yachties in Bundaberg off the yacht "Ginseng" to make contact with her.

I shall miss Colin very much, a great sailor. Glyn I am thinking of you.

Richard

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

"Deja Vu" in Bundaberg

I have just been informed that Deja Vu will arrive at Gladstone Port 23º 51' South x 151º 15' East, early this morning Tuesday 20th May.

I understand that Glyn was initially taken to Hervey Bay Hospital , but I do not know where she is now.

Richard

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

I have just been informed that Deja Vu will arrive at Gladstone Port 23º 51' South x 151º 15' East, early this morning Tuesday 20th May.

Richard

Update, Glyn is now in Gladstone - I have a contact tel number of friends in Gladstone where they are happy to take calls and relay to Glyn. Her 2 sons are arriving today.

If friends want the number please send me a PM through this board (or an email)

Richard

[Lighthouse]

A correction by Glyn Craig to the original news article:

I am Glynn Craig, and Deja Vu is my and my husband's yacht. He was not hit on the head by a broken boom. We were preparing to gybe when the strop holding the mainsheet block at the end of the boom parted, resulting in the boom coming across further than expected - the mainsheet line hooked into and broke the sun awning. We presume that the stainless steel bars of the awning hit Colin in the mouth and then the boom must have caught him a glancing blow on the temple/head. He fell into the cockpit area and could not be revived.

This was just a freak accident - the strop parted allowing the boom to swing across the full width of the yacht. The mainsheet block, line, car and track were all undamaged and were re-attached directly to the boom using a shackle. There was no damage to the yacht or boom and the boat has returned to Gladstone.

Indeed, a terrible accident. All our condolences Glynn - Colin will be missed by many. Our thoughts are with you.

[Kay]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Update, Glyn is now in Gladstone - I have a contact tel number of friends in Gladstone where they are happy to take calls and relay to Glyn. Her 2 sons are arriving today.

If friends want the number please send me a PM through this board (or an email)

Richard

[MMNETSEA]

Hi Kay,

Personal Message sent via out PM system

Richard