I do feel for this poor guy
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-07/shipwrecked-qld-yachtsman-calls-on-public-for-help/7823052
A very good argument to always be insured no matter what else you might have to skimp on. 
Poor old bloke.
Insurance is always a pain, I just got my renewal notice today, just over $5,000.00
No poor bloke he should have insured it is no different to peoples who houses burn down or flood with no insurance then expect hand outs.
Most of us pay out for insurance premiums incase not taking out a policy is gambling on nothing happening if it does don't complain.
Yes he should have been insured but no one knows his story. History.
theres so much wealth in the world and I've seen it first hand in the med working for billionaires. I've also seen poverty first hand and it's really no issue for anyone of us in a first world country to help out someone in need. In this case it's a 68 year old man who had no insurance. If he was 50 or younger, then , mate get some funds, work, whatever, but a fella his age can use a hand. No ones perfect. I reckon it'd be easy to forget the commercial world when you've been cruising for years away from it all. I hope he'll be ok!
He has my sympathies. The article said he had been sailing the world for some time. Given that he has decided to give it away now he may reasonable argue that he has come out ahead. Years of saved premiums (assuming he was uninsured the whole time). He just misses out on any value he could have realised by selling his yacht.
Still not a gamble I would take. I grumble each year when the renewal notice arrives but if I ever have cause to make a claim I will be grateful I have it.
Now on a technical point (I preface this by acknowledging that I am not familiar with the waters he was sailing in or the conditions at the time), if your headsail shredded and then you lost your motor would the next thing not be to throw the anchor over the side and see if that halted your progress onto the rocks?
Maybe he was close to the rocks and being blown in that direction when it all turned to custard and didn't have time for this option but am I being foolish in thinking that this would be the next option?
It always amazes me how close people sail to lee shores. They just don't believe that things can go wrong until it is too late. Anyone remember Anne Gash, who circumnavigated the world and then ran aground on Barrenjoey on her return.
There are for sure some questions about this but it might just come down to 2-3 things going wrong in a short space of time. The yacht went aground on Pine Islet which is only a mile or so from West Bay, Middle Percy Island. So it wasn't that he was sailing close to a lee shore, he was just coming between the two islands to anchor I'd think. It happened at about 1am, the headsail parted then went overboard and around his prop. He wouldn't have realised this until trying to start his engine, maybe then he could have hoisted his main to get out of trouble?? It was very rough and over 25kts and theres a good current running there. I'm guessing he was tired after a long passage and it all just happened too quick.
A real shame and I feel very sorry for the guy but at least he got off unharmed. The boats hull is no longer intact so salvaging is not going to be as easy as just towing her off the rocks. John from Mid Percy said the weather there today was still very rough and it would have to wait till its calmed a bit to see whats to be done.
Select to expand quoteYara said..
It always amazes me how close people sail to lee shores. They just don't believe that things can go wrong until it is too late. Anyone remember Anne Gash, who circumnavigated the world and then ran aground on Barrenjoey on her return.
Yep, and a mate of mine spoke to her some years later and she admitted that she knew about the rock!
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..Yara said..
It always amazes me how close people sail to lee shores. They just don't believe that things can go wrong until it is too late. Anyone remember Anne Gash, who circumnavigated the world and then ran aground on Barrenjoey on her return.
Yep, and a mate of mine spoke to her some years later and she admitted that she knew about the rock!
What rock .....
Select to expand quoteAshleyM said..
Any ideas as to what design yacht she is?
From the pics she looks like an IOR 2 tonner or similar.
The situation seems to be a symphony of errors.
I, particularly at my age, 66, do not believe single handing is a good practice unless the individual is very fit and very experienced.
My mate who is over 80 does it but he is fit and knows what he is doing. It is not his preference but he sometimes does it just to get away from everybody. That is fine because he has now limited himself to coastal cruising.
We all know this yacht grounded in the Percy Islands is not free don't we?? It comes with caveats such as salvage and EPA compliance.
If the guy has no money or assets it is a "blood out of stone" situation.
That does not bode well for the rest of the sailing community. I am sure law changes are on the way.
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..
Yes he should have been insured but no one knows his story. History.
theres so much wealth in the world and I've seen it first hand in the med working for billionaires. I've also seen poverty first hand and it's really no issue for anyone of us in a first world country to help out someone in need. In this case it's a 68 year old man who had no insurance. If he was 50 or younger, then , mate get some funds, work, whatever, but a fella his age can use a hand. No ones perfect. I reckon it'd be easy to forget the commercial world when you've been cruising for years away from it all. I hope he'll be ok!
I like your kindness Steve.
Select to expand quoteTrek said..nswsailor said..Yara said..
It always amazes me how close people sail to lee shores. They just don't believe that things can go wrong until it is too late. Anyone remember Anne Gash, who circumnavigated the world and then ran aground on Barrenjoey on her return.
Yep, and a mate of mine spoke to her some years later and she admitted that she knew about the rock!
What rock .....
Oh dear Trek,
There is an isolated rock just below the surface at low tide off Barrenjoey. It is marked on the charts thus + if I remember rightly. 
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..Trek said..nswsailor said..Yara said..
It always amazes me how close people sail to lee shores. They just don't believe that things can go wrong until it is too late. Anyone remember Anne Gash, who circumnavigated the world and then ran aground on Barrenjoey on her return.
Yep, and a mate of mine spoke to her some years later and she admitted that she knew about the rock!
What rock .....
Oh dear Trek,
There is an isolated rock just below the surface at low tide off Barrenjoey. It is marked on the charts thus + if I remember rightly.
Nothing on navionics charts off barrenjoey head unless your talking about the one you would only take a tinny close to catch a sweep?
Its almost impossible to get insurance to get blue water insurance to sail >200nm off shore, especially short or single handed. most bluewater long term cruisers don't carry insurance for that reason. most would rather invest in a good anchor, sails and engine...
I wish I was up there to give him a hand - I love a good salvage operation
Yes loosechange the same rock as I showed above on navicronics Above? God knows why you would take any keel boat that close. There you go half chart and half Google at least navicronics are good for something!
I suppose when you are in Folkboat you feel invincible, knowing you have beaten the worst the ocean can throw at you, what's a piddling little rock going to do to you.
Old fashion navigation plot on a chart ,passage plan, when you go yachting always work on the worse case scenario, there are so many cowboys out there when it goes wrong they are all of a sudden bleeding heart cases
If you cant afford insurance ,sail safely and navigate properly don't go to sea.
it happens all the time if you go cheap at sea or land you are asking for disaster then plead poor because you are a di**head.
I have my house ,rentals, 3 car's,caravan ,boat,and trailer insured i hate paying it each month but know i have too just incase the sh**t hits the fan.
Yachting isnt cheap
Select to expand quotesantanasaga said..
Its almost impossible to get insurance to get blue water insurance to sail >200nm off shore, especially short or single handed. most bluewater long term cruisers don't carry insurance for that reason. most would rather invest in a good anchor, sails and engine...
I wish I was up there to give him a hand - I love a good salvage operation
Well said santansaga. If I was in the area I would help him out.
I can't believe some of the self righteous comments on this thread.
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..
That's the one Southace & Loosechange.
Reckon she thought she knew where she was.
Yep paper charts, hand bearing compass & sextant. I wonder how many people on the water today would be as competent as her if all there wiz bang electrical aids were removed from their boats.
The sad reality of life is that your seem to be remembered by your last f$%kup. I would rather remember Ann as an accomplished sailor and extraordinary person. Why dig up this crap.
I'd rather read about your story, when you ran aground or some other mishap. I enjoyed it when Southace posted his grounding with pictures. We've all got these story's to tell, but some would rather mention other peoples mishaps rather than their own.
The Select to expand quoteCrusoe said..nswsailor said..
That's the one Southace & Loosechange.
Reckon she thought she knew where she was.
Yep paper charts, hand bearing compass & sextant. I wonder how many people on the water today would be as competent as her if all there wiz bang electrical aids were removed from their boats.
The sad reality of life is that your seem to be remembered by your last f$%kup. I would rather remember Ann as an accomplished sailor and extraordinary person. Why dig up this crap.
The point made was not to knock Ann Gash, but rather that sailing too close to a lee shore is not a good idea. Those of us that sail older boats or dont race, tend to have a healthy respect for lee shores. However, I occasionally crew for a chap who has a a new high tech yacht, and whilst I get anxious when he takes the boat close in, he has no sensitivity to the situation.
Select to expand quoteCrusoe said...santanasaga said..
Its almost impossible to get insurance to get blue water insurance to sail >200nm off shore, especially short or single handed. most bluewater long term cruisers don't carry insurance for that reason. most would rather invest in a good anchor, sails and engine...
I wish I was up there to give him a hand - I love a good salvage operation
Well said santansaga. If I was in the area I would help him out.
I can't believe some of the self righteous comments on this thread.
Nothing to do with righteous or weather you would help out ffs if you wouldn't help you should not even be in the water.
My point which was the original one about insurance is you take a gamble of not having insurance. If that gamble does not pay off don't winge about I've lost everything and I don't have insurance poor me. What about us poor mugs paying $1000 a year never claim I have wasted $20000 in 20 years do I say poor me everyone needs to feel sorry for me?
This is the same as with the people whose houses burn down. I pay insurance on my house it burns down I get the insurance where if I had no insurance it's poor person we need to get donations. if unfortunately it happens in a bushfire the government even gives extra donation.
I am not saying any of these are not a tragedy but none is any more tragic than the other you loose a house is a terrible thing for anyone. But just because you have taken the canculated rusk to not insure definitely dies not make you more worthy.
Select to expand quotetwodogs1969 said..Crusoe said...santanasaga said..
Its almost impossible to get insurance to get blue water insurance to sail >200nm off shore, especially short or single handed. most bluewater long term cruisers don't carry insurance for that reason. most would rather invest in a good anchor, sails and engine...
I wish I was up there to give him a hand - I love a good salvage operation
Well said santansaga. If I was in the area I would help him out.
I can't believe some of the self righteous comments on this thread.
Nothing to do with righteous or weather you would help out ffs if you wouldn't help you should not even be in the water.
My point which was the original one about insurance is you take a gamble of not having insurance. If that gamble does not pay off don't winge about I've lost everything and I don't have insurance poor me. What about us poor mugs paying $1000 a year never claim I have wasted $20000 in 20 years do I say poor me everyone needs to feel sorry for me?
This is the same as with the people whose houses burn down. I pay insurance on my house it burns down I get the insurance where if I had no insurance it's poor person we need to get donations. if unfortunately it happens in a bushfire the government even gives extra donation.
I am not saying any of these are not a tragedy but none is any more tragic than the other you loose a house is a terrible thing for anyone. But just because you have taken the canculated rusk to not insure definitely dies not make you more worthy.
The guy was only hoping to get his personal gear back, not the boat recovered and repaired at some at else's expense.
I think this thread drifted of track a bit regarding this rock and couple of previous navigational errors. My mimional track for this approach is showen below but in strong northerly,, night passage or some system failors it would be two fold that track northwards.
a problem that can occur when getting close to a anchorage after a long tireing passage is that the headsail won't furl up due to binding control line.This can be very worrying for a solo sailor esspecialy in over 20knot breaze and choppy conditions. It can contribute to further problems if on lee shore and engine no start / prop fouling occurs.
It seems by the brief description something like this failour occurred.
My lessons have been least and have No lines that can drape into the water and maintain a very well serviced main engine.
Yes yes insurance will cover this tragic event if insured.
lets hope some good people are there to help him out I know I would.
Your honour my grounding was deliberate due to the calibrating of my depth instruments on my new yacht and unfortantly I miss judged the weight , power and surroundings beyond my control!. Thanks for bringing that up again cruisoe! 
Select to expand quoteCrusoe said...twodogs1969 said..Crusoe said...santanasaga said..
Its almost impossible to get insurance to get blue water insurance to sail >200nm off shore, especially short or single handed. most bluewater long term cruisers don't carry insurance for that reason. most would rather invest in a good anchor, sails and engine...
I wish I was up there to give him a hand - I love a good salvage operation
Well said santansaga. If I was in the area I would help him out.
I can't believe some of the self righteous comments on this thread.
Nothing to do with righteous or weather you would help out ffs if you wouldn't help you should not even be in the water.
My point which was the original one about insurance is you take a gamble of not having insurance. If that gamble does not pay off don't winge about I've lost everything and I don't have insurance poor me. What about us poor mugs paying $1000 a year never claim I have wasted $20000 in 20 years do I say poor me everyone needs to feel sorry for me?
This is the same as with the people whose houses burn down. I pay insurance on my house it burns down I get the insurance where if I had no insurance it's poor person we need to get donations. if unfortunately it happens in a bushfire the government even gives extra donation.
I am not saying any of these are not a tragedy but none is any more tragic than the other you loose a house is a terrible thing for anyone. But just because you have taken the canculated rusk to not insure definitely dies not make you more worthy.
The guy was only hoping to get his personal gear back, not the boat recovered and repaired at some at else's expense.
Exactly "jump the gunners"
