A sleek re-built racing schooner that had not been out of the water for several years was delayed by five weeks due to a need for a new engine to be installed. As far as is known there was no shakedown voyage for the engine and its fittings but the owner was a noted marine contractor and no such shakedown voyage would normally be needed.
Sailed to "dance with atleast two of the three gales" that awaited them. It seems the second storm shredded their stormsails and left them with bare poles but making four knots to the northwest intending to update a position report at six pm.
We force the Amish to affix bright orange displays to their antiquated buggies, can't we force yachties to update their equipment to a certain required minimum. As sportsmen they may value the old ways of bare bones sailing. One hydrostaticaly activated EPIRB and at least we would know where and when it happened.
Its different for a 73 year old woman since she has already made her mark on the world but an 18 year old photography model and student just starting out in the world has the same fate imposed on her: no more dance clubs, no more boyfriends, no more photography. And this imposition is due to the Captain's decision to eschew modern electronic doodads costing but a few hundred dollars.
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