Practical Sailor · video

What this video covers

Lewis Bennett, an experienced sailor with Royal Yachting Association coastal skipper certification, faced legal charges following the disappearance of his wife, Isabella Hellman, during a passage from Cuba to Florida.0:30 The couple sailed a 37-foot Louisiana 37 catamaran, *Surf into Summer*.2:19 Bennett reported that he awoke to a loud noise, found the helm unmanned, and discovered the vessel taking on water.5:50 He abandoned the boat via life raft and was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after activating an EPIRB and satellite phone.6:45 Rescuers recovered Bennett along with a heavy bag containing gold and silver coins, which were later linked to a prior theft from a vessel named *Kitty R*.8:37 A subsequent investigation by a naval architect suggested the catamaran’s hull damage originated from the inside, and the vessel’s escape hatches were open.9:57 Bennett received an eight-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter, with the court citing his failure to provide his inexperienced wife with safety gear or proper instruction.13:02

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