H.M.S. Bounty Sinks

This is a really interesting story. Hate to see such a ship go down, not to mention the loss of life.


I am curious how the decision was made to make the run to St. Petersburg, FL in the face of that approaching storm.

There will be an investigation to be sure.

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. -- Coast Guard Vice Adm. Robert Parker, Operational Commander for the Atlantic Area, told "Good Morning America's" George Stephanopoulos Monday morning that a replica of the famous sailing ship the HMS Bounty had sunk and two crewmembers were unaccounted for.

The Coast Guard in Portsmouth initially received a call from the owner of the 180-foot, three- mast, tall ship late Sunday evening, saying she had lost communication with the vessel's 16-member crew. It was previously reported to be a 17-person crew.

An air crew from Elizabeth City, N.C., sent out an HC-130 Hercules aircraft to establish communications with the Bounty's crew. The vessel was taking on two feet of water an hour and had no propulsion before it sank approximately 90 miles southeast of Hatteras N.C., Monday.

Parker said the 16 crewmembers abandoned ship into canopied, rubber life rafts with about 10 feet of water on board.

Two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., rescued 14 people from life rafts in winds of 40 mph and 18-foot Atlantic Ocean seas.

FULL STORY


This is an interesting video of that ship during another storm.