Comments on: Photos Show Sinking of ‘Bounty’ Tall Ship

By: Carl Ring

Carl Ring — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:49:41 +0000

Looking at the pictures, I saw the red figure and it appears on one photo to be on the lowest yard of the foremast. To me it looks like a person. You can even see a glimpse of yellow which is normally the canopy of a survival suit. I wonder if the USCG has analyzed the pictures which with them must have better resolution, Further, I see that all three middle mast are gone. That all remaining yards are in total disorder. The ship must have had a serious knock-down to have resulted like this. I hope to hear comments from the crew on this.
We should not make to many assumptions however, but try to catch up with fact reports. There will be sea trial and before that the preliminary hearings which must have been done.

Winds,
C.

By: Anna Hawthorne

Anna Hawthorne — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 22:11:17 +0000

To Carl Ring~ thank you kindly for your descriptive letter.. clarifying action, effect and outcomes for Bounty and crew. Would you comment on the red form which appears aft on a boom or spar as seen in above photo?

By: ex-crew

ex-crew — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:52:01 +0000

For those of you who question the decision to be in route during an approaching storm….here this !!!!!! they were in 40kt winds when they put in there call for assistance… 40kts is nothing for a ship like that!!!!!!!…. and also there is a navigable side to such counter-clock wise storms… and they were on the east side heading east …. which is the correct side and direction to be headed!!!!!! the storm was headed in shore away from them at the time !!!!!!and if they had not lost propulsion and generators to keep the pumps goings…. we wouldn’t even be talking about this!!!!! So before you criticize someone who is a first class professional skipper …. about something you obviously know little to nothing about…. think first … if you have that capibility?

By: Carl Ring

Carl Ring — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:31:54 +0000

Our comments should be respectful and find their substance in knowledge- not in speculations based in lack of specific knowledge. Please show dignity.

Carl Ring

By: Carl Ring

Carl Ring — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:21:29 +0000

Hello folks,
first- condoleances to the families of the lost sailors. The worry is always present, the worry calls in.
Sooner or later the sea takes all ships.
I have been a captain of sailing ships for over 42 years. As a captain- I believe that Bountys captain also was well experienced- I know what is best for my crew and my ship under given circumstances. I have no doubt he took the right decisions out of the conditions they were in. Bounty was 52 years old and had had many twisting waves banging into her hull. This weakens fastenings, makes boltholes bigger, makes caulking softer, the planks are not as elastic as they were before. You can survey and repair a ship for over 120 yars- but know that that ship will eventually in whole be softer and more vulnerable to natures powers, no matter how many new parts you fit in. This, I think crossed the captains mind as water started to come in to the ship. I would most likely try to go closer to the shore and be ready to sneak into more even water as the worst of the storm passes my head. Sitting in a steel ship with all modern amenities is different- then I just head out into THAT safety. Bounty was not in condition like new. She was put up for sale- I believe the costs for maintenance were crossing the x/y axis.
Looking at pictures from the USCG you see that she had lost all three topmasts and that a few sails had come loose. This makes me believe that she had encountered extreme brutality and that the crew was not able to handle the situation. Together with major leakage this must have put the ship out of control. The generators (I believe they were two plus those 12 or 24 volt generators on the main engine,-s would supply pumping power enough for holding off a substantial leak. But when it comes in more, it will be all black within the hour. So it is. You cannot hop in and stuff in some linen towels and stop the leak when the waves are higher that 4 ft. Trying to bang in these from the inside is in vain. Believe me- I have tried. Not in my ships which are from steel, but others from wood, just like Bounty. Myself I don’t have to reflect long time to visualize the difficulties. I know of 3 ships that encontered the same fate. The hull starts leaking and you decide you rather want to wash up somewhere. That’s it. Go for a Sandy beach.

Carl Ring, Sweden
tall ship captain, NA, surveyor

By: Captain Kate

Captain Kate — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:15:16 +0000

Thank you for that, Capt Kate

By: tim mcshane

tim mcshane — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:00:58 +0000

Interesting to note that all three mast heads seem to be missing?? perhaps too much sail up??

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:34:44 +0000

10knots is still slower than the storm was travelling. There’s not much that can be done in these situations.
Most ships leave port ahead of a storm rather than be smashed against concrete and rocks.

By: Charlie Ipcar

Charlie Ipcar — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:03:59 +0000

There is still a conflict in news reports with regard to which side of the hurricane the Bounty's captain was attempting to skirt, west versus east, but all agree she sank 90 miles east of Cape Hatteras, Monday. Anyone care to comment?

By: garrison

garrison — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:52:59 +0000

To rgratsea, thank you for your knowledgeable email. What a tragedy, and for the bravery of the USCG crews, so many were rescued.
So sorry that Claudene Christian died, and now I’m praying Capt. Walbridge will be found safe.