www.facebook.com/share/p/yWyGd6nko6QXwKir/?mibextid=oFDknk

Shows you how things can go wrong. Supposedly the seas washed his outboard overboard and then when he tried to sail back the sails blew out.
Presumably no ePirb or radio.
Few things about the story are a bit weird including the photo which shows 33 nautical miles off Barrenjoey rather than 20 off Long reef or the harbour. The guy was pretty game getting in his kayak if the conditions were too much for his Hood 23

Looks like they recovered the yacht and that it has no pulpit or forestay so presumably just the lowers holding the deck stepped mast up.

Maybe I was that stupid once - mm but I don't think so. No Epirb, going out in big westerlies, dodgy outboard, dodgy boat, dodgy sails. What could go wrong?

As Jules pointed out, "Few things about the story are a bit weird "
1. the master using the whistle on his lifejacket was successfully able to attract the attention of a passing ship "Hyundi Privilege" a 255-metre container ship. That must be some whistle!!

2. WP34 with the assistance of POLAIR managed to locate the yacht and kayak 22nm east off the coast taking yacht and kayak under tow and returning them both to Pittwater.
I can see how they found (and recovered the boat, but the kayak too?
www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/organisational_structure/units/aviation_command

3, The vessel owner was very grateful for the assistance from the crew of "Hyundi Privilege" and assisting Water Police.
I think that should read very very very grateful.

gary

News reporting on maritime incidents is always dubious.
Where us salties know our world, most journos have probably never set foot aboard a boat, let alone sailed. They just have no context, 'facts' are misconstrued and incorrectly communicated so the reporting is always substandard.

On another note, though about the Hoods.
Our first family yacht when I was a kid was a Hood 20. She was such a tough little boat and so forgiving of what we threw at her.
One winter's day, we crossed Moreton Bay with dinghy in tow ( ) and, although very uncomfortable, reached Tangalooma safely.
We had no wind instruments but later found out the winds had been steady 30s gusting to 45.
I should be traumatised by my childhood sailing experiences, however, I've always just gone back for more...masochist maybe

Select to expand quote

Woohoo said..
News reporting on maritime incidents is always dubious.
Where us salties know our world, most journos have probably never set foot aboard a boat, let alone sailed. They just have no context, 'facts' are misconstrued and incorrectly communicated so the reporting is always substandard.

On another note, though about the Hoods.
Our first family yacht when I was a kid was a Hood 20. She was such a tough little boat and so forgiving of what we threw at her.
One winter's day, we crossed Moreton Bay with dinghy in tow ( ) and, although very uncomfortable, reached Tangalooma safely.
We had no wind instruments but later found out the winds had been steady 30s gusting to 45.
I should be traumatised by my childhood sailing experiences, however, I've always just gone back for more...masochist maybe

Hood 20s were great little boats. Very large cockpit and flat deck had plenty of room for family and later a few sunbathing girls ;). That was our first family yacht too. Had so much fun on it even during my early to mid teens. The 23 was a cut above. Think it cost 7000 when the 20 was 4500 and Holden's were 2500. Perfect view forward from the cockpit (esp with sunbaking girls) and I think to this day it affects what yacht I will buy as I can't stand a large coachhouse obstructing my view from the cockpit.

We stayed in the harbour. No radio or instruments of any kind. Can't remember if the life jackets even had a whistle ;).

I'm thinking the rescued guy was probably sailing outside but said he was accidentally blown out of the harbour to justify his lack of safety equipment.

Now I look at my Clubman 8 with full instrumentation as very small. How our expectations have changed.

Didn't a hood get to the Atlantic Ocean a few years ago but sunk mid Atlantic?
The solo sailor was rescued.

Select to expand quote

nswsailor said..
Didn't a hood get to the Atlantic Ocean a few years ago but sunk mid Atlantic?
The solo sailor was rescued.

I'd be interested in hearing about that. They had a massive cockpit with relatively small self-draining holes (like many boats). Wouldn't be surprised if it went down after being pooped.

On the plus side I think the keel was integral with the hull so the keel wouldnt be snapping off like modern production boats.

Select to expand quote

nswsailor said..
Didn't a hood get to the Atlantic Ocean a few years ago but sunk mid Atlantic?
The solo sailor was rescued.

Maybe this guy but it doesn't sound like he sank unless it was on the way back. It seems it wasn't even the proper keel version but rather a centreboard version.

riverearth.com/hood-23/

He was rescued he left way to late to cross the Atlantic and was caught in a huge storm, his fuel container leaked inside his boat causing what would have been diabolical uncomfortable to a nightmare and he set off the Epirb.
50% lead ballast no bolts, sails incrediblely well skeg hung rudder not a spade, if you ask nicely chances are some one will give you one for free.

Select to expand quote

MAGNESIUM said..
He was rescued he left way to late to cross the Atlantic and was caught in a huge storm, his fuel container leaked inside his boat causing what would have been diabolical uncomfortable to a nightmare and he set off the Epirb.
50% lead ballast no bolts, sails incrediblely well skeg hung rudder not a spade, if you ask nicely chances are some one will give you one for free.

Something amiss here. The article published by his mate says he beat his mate across the Atlantic from Cape horn after crossing the Indian Ocean. Other articles say he ended up in Canada.
Are we talking about the same guy or perhaps a different trip when he tried to go from Canada back East?

I guess it's all a moot point anyway as the seaworthiness of the Hood 23 was the issue and any boat can suffer rupture of a fuel container. Just an interesting bit of history.

There are six or seven good 23s moored just off Soldiers Point Marina Port Stephens over 1/2 of which looked to be in very nice condition so there is an active following up there. Used to watch them being built at Spit Bridge Marina in the early 70s every time (once a week) we went sailing on dad's Hood that was on the Marina. You had to walk right past the work area in full view 10 feet away to get onto the marina.

He set off again never made it.
if you think that was incredible how about Webb Chiles nearly 80 years old recently finished his 7th circumnavigation in a little Moore 24 quick clip here.

Not to knock the Hood, but one of them sank with loss of life in a JOG race.

Encapsulated lead keels are far from faultess. A Top Hat suffered major structural damage off Lord Howe and was lucky to make it in. Practical Sailor reckons many of them need more care than a bolt-on keel. Water ingress can cause major problems. And as some have pointed out, actually doing a proper job of laminating inside something as narrow as a 'glass keel is so hard that it can be problematic from the start.

These guys almost loat their whole boat due to an encapsulated keel failure - when they were moored!

www.latitude38.com/lectronic...gy-pizza-lunch

Other forums have details of encapsulated keels with big voids, sometimes waterlogged.

So if bolt-on keels were so bad there would be a long list of accidents where pre '87 ones have come off. So come on guys, show us the list of older lower-aspect bolt-on keels that have been lost. After vall, if they are a problem you must have lots of evidence on your side.