Artfully Ann's Adventures

Travel - May 6 – Monday and May 7 – Tuesday – At Sea 

The water was so calm yesterday I thought sure we were in the movie “Life of Pi”.  The air was breathless and if in a sail boat, we would have been adrift all day. I’ve taken a picture for those who do not believe that the Atlantic can be peaceful.  I will download tomorrow with other pictures and pass it along.

 Some people saw whales yesterday.  I didn’t happen to be one of them.  John is the one with the eagle eyes.  We did see dolphin and sea birds.  If you want a seat in the boat just call out whale.  Everyone runs to one side of the boat, then you take your choice of seats on the other side.  ;-)

   We are getting close to Horta.  Tomorrow is our first port-of-call.  We will take pictures and report back! John attended the briefing regarding the rescued ship we reported on earlier in the week.  I visited the Acupuncturist…it hurts but it feels so good.  John’s summary is below:

At 9 AM local time this morning, the Nieuw Amsterdam's Captain gave a presentation on the yacht crew rescue of two days ago.

"Rescue Operation"

Details of the rescue of the two-persons crew from the 43 feet yacht "Embla" were presented by the Captain, First Officer and Security Officer. The theater used for the presentation was standing room only, and holds over 700 people. 

The yacht departed St. Martin on April 23, bound for South Hampton via the Azores. The yacht's owner was not aboard and had hired the crew for this delivery voyage. Four days prior to rescue, the yacht had become disabled due to a broken rudder. Multiple steering strategies were tried unsuccessfully by the crew before they asked for help.

On the third day of their difficulties, the crew contacted the yacht owner via satellite phone; in turn, the owner contacted the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) in Norfolk VA. The RCC knew exactly where the Nieuw Amsterdam (NA) was and contacted this ship to ask for assistance. A freighter was also contacted in the vicinity, but the NA was closer and could go to the disabled yacht at a much higher speed.

The rescue occurred without mishap at 31-48N, 52-43W, using one NA tender in the water, with a second tender in standby. Swells that evening at about 9 PM local time were running about 8 to 9 feet, with calm winds. The swells did cause significant hazards for the yacht and rescue tender, and the NA adjusted its position to try to shield both. Yacht luggage was loaded first, and then the two crew members jumped aboard the tender. The RCC was updated on the abandoned yacht's last position, and it was designated a hazard to navigation at that time, with ship warnings broadcast via established RCC protocols. 

The NA Captain has been in his profession for over 30 years, and this is his first sea rescue experience. The First Officer had one previous sea rescue experience when a group of Tunisian refugees was picked up from a disabled fishing vessel in the Med about 3 years ago. 

The Captain indicates that the Holland America web site has an article plus pictures that address the rescue. 

That’s all for now.  The adventure is just about to get interesting!!!