'Ghost yacht' found off Australia

[Buzz Mills]

Or it could be, knowing as to how forgetful some older folks are known to be, it could be something as simple as they went swimming, and forgot to put the swim ladder over the side, or they told one of the others to do it, but that thought slipped their mind, and they forgot to tell them. (Sorry for adding the humor in, but, at this juncture, what else is there??)

 

[AlwaysShocked]

"I got winched down on to the boat, but there were no signs of people coming up when the helicopter was overhead," the Emergency Management Queensland helicopter rescue crew officer told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

"The engine was still running at that stage and it had a real eerie feel. The door was wide open and I could see downstairs, so I cautiously walked down there not knowing what to expect - not knowing whether someone was injured and couldn't get help or whether something sinister had happened.

"I went down to the eating area and sitting on the table were two laptops that were both on, a Sunday paper, a video camera, cameras, mobile phones, wallets, watches, the beds had been slept in, there was medication and clothes -- nothing was out of place and everything was so neat.

"One thing that was especially odd was that everything was still on the table so they mustn't have gone through any rough weather."

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that Mr Benson checked the boat for safety equipment and found everything intact.

It said rescuers had been baffled as to why the yacht's fenders, which are generally used when another vessel pulls alongside, were down.

"There was a lot of safety gear still on board. There was no lifeboat, but there was a small boat that was suspended.

"Something else unusual was that the radio wasn't working."

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/04/22/3099_news.html

So somewhere along the way, the radio stopped working? Hard to believe this was "pirates" when a video cam and cameras, wallets and watches were left laying on the table. The watches laying there on the table leads me to believe the men were planning to go into the water? Otherwise, why take your watch off?

Clothes folded and watches laying on the table. Does this not sound like swimming? BUT it must have been the next morning because who would go swimming off a boat at night? (Non-swimmers can be talked into "going swimming" as long as they have on a life jacket. Were any missing?)

Poor dudes! They are most likely gone. Their last "big adventure"!

 

[Floh]

Or it could be, knowing as to how forgetful some older folks are known to be, it could be something as simple as they went swimming, and forgot to put the swim ladder over the side, or they told one of the others to do it, but that thought slipped their mind, and they forgot to tell them. (Sorry for adding the humor in, but, at this juncture, what else is there??)

One of them apparently can't swim. one is a poor swimmer. one is a fine swimmer.

i don't think they all went for a swim.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I think I have finally figured this out.........................

A canoe full of naked amazon-type women pulled up alongside, and told the men they could come with them to their legendary mythical island, and be treated like kings, but only if the men left all of their worldly possessions behind...........

Adios Luv.

 

[Buzz Mills]

One of them apparently can't swim. one is a poor swimmer. one is a fine swimmer.

i don't think they all went for a swim.

Floh, did my attempt at humor go over your head??

 

[Floh]

Floh, did my attempt at humor go over your head??

Clearly. maybe my mind has been clouded by baked beans?

i would like to know what food they had on board . . .

 

[IrishMist]

I think I have finally figured this out.........................

A canoe full of naked amazon-type women pulled up alongside, and told the men they could come with them to their legendary mythical island, and be treated like kings, but only if the men left all of their worldly possessions behind...........

Adios Luv.

By Jove, I think you've got it!

 

[Floh]

By Jove, I think you've got it!

I'm going with the annaconda attack, actually . . .

 

[IrishMist]

I'm going with the annaconda attack, actually . . .

THAT'S IT!!

The Amazon women brought the anaconda!! :woohoo:

 

[Floh]

THAT'S IT!!

The Amazon women brought the anaconda!! :woohoo:

Not quite. one of the amazon women was named 'Annaconda'. because everyone knows there are no anacondas in those waters.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Clearly. maybe my mind has been clouded by baked beans?

i would like to know what food they had on board . . .

Baked beans, hard boiled eggs, sardines in tins, lots of onions, and garlic,. and oh, some jerky too, and lots of beer. That kind of food, mixed together in one's stomach, and intestines, would shortly drive everyone off of the boat.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Not quite. one of the amazon women was named 'Annaconda'. because everyone knows there are no anacondas in those waters.

Ssssssssssssssssssssssssshe had sssssssssssssssssomething sssssssssssssssssssssspecial about her.

 

[Floh]

Baked beans, hard boiled eggs, sardines in tins, lots of onions, and garlic,. and oh, some jerky too, and lots of beer. That kind of food, mixed together in one's stomach, and intestines, could shortly drive everyone off of the boat.

Then it might be a case of spontaneous combustion? no identifiable external source of ignition? as befalls Krook in Charles Dickens' Bleak House? naah. if that were so i would expect lots of soot.

but it seems more likely than either the anaconda or Annaconda, doesn't it? :waitasec:

 

[Floh]

Ssssssssssssssssssssssssshe had sssssssssssssssssomething sssssssssssssssssssssspecial about her.

Yesssssssssssssssssssss!

 

[Buzz Mills]

Then it might be a case of spontaneous combustion?

SNIP

There was an ignition spark when they started the engine, blew out the sail, it did, and blew them off of the boat.

 

[IrishMist]

You guys are cracking me up!

And I think there is more to this case than meets the eye.

 

[Floh]

Mindful i have contributed enormousy to the frivolity in this thread, i do want to add i'm dismayed these blokes could just disappear without a trace and i do hope some trace turns up.

their families are in my thoughts.

there is nothing i can really see which contributed to their disappearance and the whole this is just baffling, for now.

 

[accordn2me]

Has anyone asked if anyone thinks it maybe an insurance scam? What did they say?

 

[IrishMist]

Has anyone asked if anyone thinks it maybe an insurance scam? What did they say?

Hmmm... maybe.

But then why would the families be pushing for more searching? Seems like they'd let it drop if they just wanted ca$h.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Has anyone asked if anyone thinks it maybe an insurance scam? What did they say?

They should be checking the backgrounds of the families, and the amounts of insurance; we don't know anything about them. It wouldn't be the first time someone pulled a scam of this magnitude.