UK - Four Cheeki Rafiki crew members, North Atlantic, 16 May 2014

[FigTree]

A comparison photo of the hull of the capsized vessel photographed from the M/V MAERSK KURE - and pictures of the Cheeki Rafiki underside hull colour.

I understand there is a sea wash over the hull capsized in the water- and its not the greatest picture - but it doesnt look as dark to me as the underside of the Cheeki Rafiki which is blue black, the colour line is a different shape? Opinions please...

I also wondered if they had matched the hull 100% as being the Cheeki Rafiki's - was it why the Ship didn't stay with the yacht and was called off the search?

.

 

[zwiebel]

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handed around the world, has spoken out.

He says people should have the greatest respect for US Coastguards, who know more about searches in the area than anybody else..........but isn't it worth one more try?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27473507

With a vessel sunk so far out, it probably requires a destroyer with a landing pad for search aircraft to return to and refuel, to actually reach that wreckage. Which will have moved now. Like the ones I think Prince William pilots? But if they are days or weeks away....

It seems to me the Maersk K wasn't equipped to check the hull for survivors, and possibly volunteered to stay and 'mark the spot' for search aircraft? But left because search aircraft didn't go to that area? There is also the possibility of costs.....container ships are on tight, tight schedules and even slight delays are very costly. There has been lots of controversy over this subject, though I am not saying it applies in this case.

I can't help feeling there was a sudden catastrophe and the crew may not have made it to the raft - or why no SOS as they abandoned?

 

[zwiebel]

There are 27,000 plus signatures now.

 

[zwiebel]

Families may be better off asking Russia for help. It's bound to have a sub or two in the area, though I don't think anyone's supposed to talk about that.....

 

[zwiebel]

Like the Sarov B-90? If it hasn't been superseded.

http://barentsobserver.com/en/node/18233

 

[zwiebel]

A comparison photo of the hull of the capsized vessel photographed from the M/V MAERSK KURE - and pictures of the Cheeki Rafiki underside hull colour.

I understand there is a sea wash over the hull capsized in the water- and its not the greatest picture - but it doesnt look as dark to me as the underside of the Cheeki Rafiki which is blue black, the colour line is a different shape? Opinions please...

I also wondered if they had matched the hull 100% as being the Cheeki Rafiki's - was it why the Ship didn't stay with the yacht and was called off the search?

.

I don't know that a hull would stay intact in those waters for long Figs, and as there are no other recent reports of sinkings there, and it looks very much like a hull....I think it is highly likely that's the Cheeki.

 

[zwiebel]

I just heard Sir Robin on the radio, sounding remarkably like Prince Charles.

He was very reasonable and I think it's fair to say he knows what he is talking about. Said as the crew knew they were in trouble, it should be presumed they did get into the life raft. And if they did, they could very well still be drifting about out there, and it must be worth one last try, just to be certain.

A family member also spoke - I think it may have been Paul Goslin's daughter. She said 'I KNOW they are alive.'

Just sometimes, I believe loved ones do somehow know about their missing family members, when others don't. I'm loathe to disregard her feelings.

 

[SeaEclipse]

I don't know that a hull would stay intact in those waters for long Figs, and as there are no other recent reports of sinkings there, and it looks very much like a hull....I think it is highly likely that's the Cheeki.

Agree. To me it actually looks nearly identical and the chances of there being another similarly sized, similarly colored, intact, still floating hull exactly in that correct area absent any other reports of overturned boats? Virtually nil.

 

[Wondergirl]

The container ship did actually get remarkably close.

While I do have faith in the coast guard, I absolutely believe there should still be further searching. I am beside myself about it.

Praying for a Miracle

http://m.bbc.com/news/uk-27473507

 

[Wondergirl]

Can we search satellite images the way they have done with the missing Mayalsian Plane? There is a very good site to do this on, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. That is something we could actually do to help

ETA: www.tomnod.com has digital images to search. I will be able to search some of these later tonight. If anyone has time, there should be real time images of the area, if gps coordinates are able to be determined.

About Tomnod:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...tellite-imagery-for-flight-mh370-9188947.html

 

[FigTree]

BBC News. Read More:

A typical 12-person life raft, similar to that believed to have been on board Cheeki Rafiki, would have been equipped to the international standard ISO 9650, says Alistair Hackett from suppliers Ocean Safety.

That standard specifies everything from the type of fabric and glue used to make the raft to the emergency contents it must have on board.

The raft and its emergency pack would have included one litre of water per person, Mr Hackett says, as well as flares, thermal protective aids, paddles, pumps and a 30m line to tow a drogue to steady the craft.

 

[Yoda]

The coordinates where the hull was spotted
38-15.7N 048-38W

 

[Yoda]

I just message tomnod to see if they could add Satellite images so the public can search for Cheeki Rafiki.

 

[Wondergirl]

I just message tomnod to see if they could add Satellite images so the public can search for Cheeki Rafiki.

You rock, Yoda, Thank-You!!!

 

[FigTree]

I just message tomnod to see if they could add Satellite images so the public can search for Cheeki Rafiki.

Thanks for that!!
I couldn't work out how to see any satellite imaging from there - went off to NOOA, NASA, Google...
I can spend some looking if they make the area available.

 

[belimom]

A comparison photo of the hull of the capsized vessel photographed from the M/V MAERSK KURE - and pictures of the Cheeki Rafiki underside hull colour.

I understand there is a sea wash over the hull capsized in the water- and its not the greatest picture - but it doesnt look as dark to me as the underside of the Cheeki Rafiki which is blue black, the colour line is a different shape? Opinions please...

I also wondered if they had matched the hull 100% as being the Cheeki Rafiki's - was it why the Ship didn't stay with the yacht and was called off the search?

.

If you looked at the photos of a Beneteau First 40.7, you'll see that the undersides are actually gray, not the dark color that it looks in the first photos. I think it looks like the photo.

Notice that the keel is missing - the rudder is what is sticking up. DH (a USCG licensed captain) said that with a bolt-on keel like the Beneteaus, the water ingress may have been through the keel bolts/attachment points. Then it came off and the boat flipped over.

On another note, I think those photos show the container ship being awfulllllyyyy close to that overturned boat. Just sayin'...

 

[zwiebel]

Very late here and I was on my way to bed - but I think I just heard on BBC Radio that authorities know a beacon or SOS was alerted after the vessel was abandoned, so it is certain the crew made it into the life raft??

 

[zwiebel]

Hey US Coastguard, even if you think all hope is lost...one more try, just for us Brits? Please? Please please? We have some history, you know......

 

[belimom]

Hey US Coastguard, even if you think all hope is lost...one more try, just for us Brits? Please? Please please? We have some history, you know......

I signed the petition when it was about 900 - but I just checked and it is now 110,000+. Not sure if it will change the mind of the USCG but hopefully it will.

We're sailors and have been 'out there'. I would hate for someone to stop searching for me after two days in such a large ocean.

 

[zwiebel]

And if seafaring heroes could find a little life raft like this in the 1940s, there has to be hope they can do the same today.

http://joanveronica.hubpages.com/hub/World-War-II-Convoys-in-the-Battle-of-the-Atlantic-1939-1945