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The Loss of Sailing Vessel Solution in the North Atlantic
29 July 2024 · 16 min · 251K views · 200 miles south of Cape Cod
What this video covers
The 50-foot sloop Solution, a custom-built wooden vessel, foundered and was abandoned 200 miles south of Cape Cod on July 2, 2024, following a structural failure during a return delivery from the Newport Bermuda Race.1:17 While navigating the edge of the Gulf Stream in 26-knot winds and confused seas, the vessel sustained severe hull damage after two heavy, bone-jarring landings in steep waves.8:19 Despite the operation of two high-capacity bilge pumps, water ingress overwhelmed the vessel, rising above the floorboards within minutes.10:40 The captain utilized an Iridium satellite phone to coordinate rescue efforts with the U.S. Coast Guard and activated the vessel's EPIRB.11:24 When the boat became sluggish and unresponsive to steering due to the weight of the flooding, the crew abandoned ship and were hoisted to a rescue helicopter.12:34 The incident underscores the necessity of timely decision-making when a vessel’s structural integrity is compromised, even when safety equipment and communication protocols are fully operational.
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