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This Line Killed 2 Sailors

Waterline Stories・17 minutes read

A couple leaves their corporate life to sail around the world on their luxury yacht, facing challenges like managing the sail during strong winds and injuries due to unexpected storms, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the yacht at sea after a dramatic rescue effort.

Insights

  • The design of the luxury yacht Escape, including the furling boom and divided cockpit, reflects a meticulous attention to detail in addressing challenges of sailing, emphasizing functionality and safety for the crew.
  • The harrowing experience faced by Carl and Anamarie aboard Escape during the storm highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of ocean sailing, underscoring the importance of preparedness, quick thinking, and coordinated rescue efforts in ensuring the safety of all involved.

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Recent questions

  • How did Carl and Anamarie's journey on Escape begin?

    They left their corporate life to sail around the world.

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Summary

00:00

Luxury yacht crew faces perilous storm

  • KL and Anamarie Faler, married in 2016, decide to leave their corporate life in Germany to sail around the world on their luxury yacht, Escape, a CNB 66 model costing nearly $2 million.
  • Architect Philipe Brian Bonet designs Escape with a furling boom to handle the large and heavy sail, allowing for easier furling even when heading downwind, a challenge on a large yacht.
  • The cockpit of Escape is divided into two zones, one for relaxation and the other for operating the vessel, with Anamarie managing the main sail sheet and Carl handling more complex controls.
  • After launching Escape in March 2019, Carl and Anamarie sail to New York, Guadalupe, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, where they prepare to sail to Nova Scotia with two experienced sailors, John and Mike, for an ocean crossing.
  • During their journey, Carl points out unsafe areas on the boat, including concerns about the main sail sheet attachment near the dual helm stations, emphasizing the heavier boom due to the main sail filling into it.
  • While sailing downwind, the crew faces challenges with the main sheet rope fully extended, leading to the risk of an uncontrolled jibe, prompting the setup of a preventer to secure the boom's position.
  • As they encounter a storm south of Nova Scotia, Escape faces strong winds and high waves, leading to the crew reefing the sail to reduce its size, with Carl and Anamarie taking on critical roles in managing the sail.
  • An unexpected storm hits, causing chaos on deck as the boom swings out of control, injuring both Carl and Anamarie severely, with the preventer snapping and the main sheet whipping dangerously.
  • With Carl and Anamarie injured, the crew works to stabilize the boat, send out distress signals, and tend to the injured, while John and Mike steer the boat downwind to maintain control in the storm.
  • Rescue efforts are coordinated with the US Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard, with a plan devised to have a rescue helicopter refuel on a US Coast Guard Cutter ship before heading to rescue the injured crew members, providing hope for their eventual rescue.

15:44

Dramatic Rescue at Sea: John's Survival Story

  • John, on the yacht Escape, successfully secures the swinging boom by threading a heavy line around it and lashing it down at 0030, steering westward towards land for the first time in almost 24 hours, closing the gap to rescue.
  • After being rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter, John and Mike stay on Escape, set a course for a US Coast Guard Cutter, where they are checked by the ship's medic, unable to sail to port, leading to the abandonment of the yacht at sea and their eventual arrival at the US Coast Guard Boston facility for debriefing and interviews.
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