Frightening Account of the Fatalities of Two Experienced Cruisers

This is a very tough read. Karl and AnneMarie Frank, very experienced cruisers on an excellent boat sailed into a horrific situation in the Gulf Stream.

Conditions in the Gulf Stream became terrifying quite quickly, with 8-meter waves, 40kt winds, a confused sea, and an out-of-control yacht. The husband and wife owners were both badly injured by a swinging boom. Their experienced crew was able to get help and get the boat under control, but sadly, Kark and AnneMarie succumbed to their injuries after being rescued.

This excerpt will give you a flavor:

As Escape was pitching while pointed into the wind her boom swung from starboard all the way to port. The main sheet struck Annemarie across her back, knocking her to the cockpit sole on the outside edge of the cockpit seating. The 3^rd Mate crawled to help her. Karl, without hesitation, ran to Annemarie. The 2^nd Mate yelled to Karl that the boom was swinging back. Escape’s boom swung back, the main sheet catching and throwing Karl to the port side, shattering his left leg below the knee, with compound fractures. As it swung further, Escape’s mainsheet snapped, and her boom was completely free. At some point the preventer had snapped as well.

Crawling to stay low, the 3^rd Mate laid Annemarie flat, pulling her out of harm’s way into the cockpit seating area, trying to keep her still and flat for stability. Loose and tattered sheet lines were whipping all around. The 3^rd Mate then pulled Karl further from the danger area, and together they made more room to get Annemarie closer and more protected. The 3^rd Mate immediately started first aid for Karl grabbing a tether off a lifejacket using it to tie a tourniquet above his knee trying to staunch the bleeding. The 3^rd Mate hurried below for medical kits and the EPIRB.

Sheldon Stuchell c/o Blue Water Sailing

A good friend of mine, who has sailed the passage between Bermuda and the Northeast Coast many times, shared several hair-raising stories about the risks of crossing the Gulf Stream. The warm water in the Gulf Stream creates its own weather systems, and compounded with a low-pressure system, conditions can turn bad quickly.

My thoughts are with the families and friends of Karl and AnneMarie.