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—Continued from previous page<br />
Why did we not find the Arnolf?<br />
This is something that will probably haunt me for a long time. The drift angle of<br />
the vessel from the last known position to Anguilla was again exactly 102 degrees<br />
magnetic and the drift rate close to 19 miles a day. This is in exact correlation with<br />
Hugh Agnew’s original calculations. There was a short wind spike on the evening of<br />
the 22nd February, but not high enough to throw our calculations out far.<br />
Below are two diagrams from Jonathan’s ASBAR computer program predictions.<br />
The dots on the diagrams are (moving) predicted positions of where the yacht could<br />
be after the last known position. What I have subsequently realized is that, at exact-<br />
ly the same time and place we were searching, there was an unusually strong clockwise<br />
spiralling of the current (see Diagram 2). There is a possibility that this abnormal<br />
north-flowing current took the yacht in a circle well to the north of where we<br />
were first searching. Unfortunately this data was not properly available until just<br />
after we abandoned the search on 24th. The yacht was there — and probably very<br />
close — we simply missed it.<br />
After turning up off Anguilla, Arnolf was hauled out at Marigot, St. Martin,<br />
essentially sound but for the missing rudder<br />
Lessons Learnt<br />
• Yachts clearly do not sink easily. Here is certain proof that a yacht is still your<br />
best life-raft.<br />
• Anyone crossing the Atlantic should consider how they would sail their vessel<br />
if they lost the rudder. Few modern yachts can be sailed easily without a rudder,<br />
especially down wind.<br />
• It might be advisable to check the strength of your rudder post – is it steel or<br />
another material? The Arnolf had alloy.<br />
• A small yacht is very hard to spot at sea level even in the flattest of conditions.<br />
• A sat phone is a marvellous device for communication while offshore.<br />
• Failure is more depressing when you are tired. It took me days to get over the<br />
disappointment of not finding the vessel.<br />
John Burnie cruises the <strong>Caribbean</strong> aboard S/Y Indaba.<br />
marina internacional<br />
■ El Morro Tourist Complex ■ Puerto La Cruz ■ Venezuela<br />
Lat. 10° 12' 24"N Long. 64° 40' 5"W<br />
No hurricanes 270sq. miles of calm seas Full amenities<br />
Phone: (58-281) 267-7412 Fax: (58-281) 2677-810 VHF Channel 71 Web page:<br />
http://bahiaredonda.com.ve E-Mail: brmi@cantv.net<br />
JANUARY 2008 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 21
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