Hurricane Sandy has claimed the tall ship HMS Bounty off the shore of North Carolina. The replica of the original Bounty was build for the 1962 Marlon Brando film, "Mutiny on the Bounty." 2 members of her crew are currently unaccounted for, the other fifteen are reported as in life boats and in the midst of being rescued amid 18-foot waves. There are conflicting reports as to the number of missing crew, however.
It is unclear why the ship put out to sea with Sandy bearing down. Perhaps it was feared she would be swamped or run aground if left in port. Either way, a maritime treasure has been lost.
BREAKING: HMS Bounty Sinks Off N.C. Coast, Some Crew Members Missing (http://www2.wsav.com/news/2012/oct/29/breaking-crews-abandon-hms-bounty-nc-coast-ar-4847422/)
HMS Bounty claimed St Petersburg, FL as her port for a long time. I've seen her when I drive by.
My friend Tony did alot of the rigging, being a master rigger.
RIP, Lady.
http://www.tallshipbounty.org/the-ship/index.php
Oh, how sad! I had heard they were planning to bring her to Galveston for the winter season, such a shame we won't get to see her now!
Very sad indeed. I never saw the Bounty in person but remember being fascinated by an article and photos of the ship being built. Was it in National Geographic, maybe? I was inspired to design and build a model of her based on those photos. I'm sorry she is gone.
It's such a sad story.
The crew tried to sail her out of harms way, but with no propulsion other than sails she met the fate of so many of her ancestors.
RIP Lady, you are in good company.
Agreed. The common practice is to get your ship out of the harbour and skirt the storm as best you can. Otherwise you can be assured of your vessel getting dashed to piece against the docks and shore.
Unfortunately, Sandy was too big a monster to skirt.
Reading Captain Walbridge's update to the ship's owner on Saturday night, that looks to be exactly what he was trying to do:
"Good evening Miss Tracie,
I think we are going to be into this for several days, the weather looks like even after the eye goes by it will linger for a couple of days.
We are just going to keep trying to go fast and squeeze by the storm and land as fast as we can. I am thinking that we will pass each other sometime Sunday night or Monday morning
All else is well
Robin"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gcaptain/2012/10/29/sandy-claims-tall-ship-hms-bounty-sinks-in-the-graveyard-of-the-atlantic/
Thanks for posting that, Rowen. It's a bit chilling to read, knowing the ship's fate.
Unfortunately, that's the sea. You can do everything right, everything spot on, and it will still kill you.
Such a sad sad day. I saw the ship in 2008 in St Petersburg. She was beautiful.
Sad to know. But I suppose there's no better grave for a ship than her sea. Hope the missing crew return safely.
Quote from: Welsh Wench on October 29, 2012, 08:47:00 AM
HMS Bounty claimed St Petersburg, FL as her port for a long time. I've seen her when I drive by.
My friend Tony did alot of the rigging, being a master rigger.
RIP, Lady.
http://www.tallshipbounty.org/the-ship/index.php
My friend Allison Weldon's ex husband worked on the Bounty. She lived in St. Pete's & I lived in Dunedin & both worked for a tour company on the beaches. I remember the Bounty. Sad for the loss of the ship, sadder still for the loss of lives.
Deckhand Claudene Christian has been recovered and taken to hospital. The Coast Guard stated her condition as "unresponsive."
UPDATE: Sadly, the official HMS Bounty page on Facebook reports that Claudene Christian has fallen asleep in death.
Captain Robin Walbridge is still missing.
Very nasty storm. One of my favourite films growing up, such a beautiful ship.
I hope the best for Captain Robin; but I fear the worst.
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/10/30/1351585811924/US-Coast-Guard-rescues-HM-008.jpg)
HMS Bounty crew member dies and captain missing in stormy seas (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/hms-bounty-crew-member-dies)
Sad indeed, I sincerely hope the captain is found safe!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/HMSBounty?fref=ts
We are mourn the loss of Bounty's crewmember Claudene Christian and Pray for the continued efforts to rescue our Beloved Captain, Robin Walbridge.
A RELIEF FUND has been established by past crew members for donations to the families of Claudene Christian and Captain Robin Walbridge, along with the 14 surviving members of the crew, who lost everything in the tragic loss of the HMS Bounty.
Much Appeciated Donations can be sent to via PayPal
HMSBounty2012@Yahoo.com
Please note that the receipt for your donation will be Mellissa Norris a Bounty crewmember who has donated her energies to this cause.
Coast Guard officials are still hopeful that Captain Walbridge will be found in his bright red survival suit. (http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121030/NEWS/121039979/-1/NEWSMAP)
Claudene Christian, 42, the crew member who died, was a rookie sailor, but she had a marketing background — and a name and a lineage familiar to anyone who knew the story of the original HMS Bounty, whose crew famously took over the ship from its commander, Lt. William Bligh, in April 1789. The uprising was led by Fletcher Christian.
Claudene Christian said in August she was Fletcher Christian's great-great-great-great-great granddaughter.
Reality is stranger than fiction sometimes.
http://news.yahoo.com/captain-doomed-tall-ship-experienced-sailor-195341672.html
You know this one will end up in Ripley's
Prayers to all involved.
Question how deep is the water there. Is it possible to get to her and re-float her
She sunk in 18' deep water.
(http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/International/gty_superstorm_sandy_hms_bounty_sinking_mi_121030_ss_ssh.jpg)
Something may have to be done if she is a navigational hazard.
The HMS Bounty Organisation announced yesterday they're already drawing up plans to salvage the ship. Seeing as Bounty had well over $1 million in renovations within the past couple of years, she should be in relatively good salvageable condition.
U.S. Coast Guard suspends search for captain of HMS Bounty (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/02/us-storm-sandy-bounty-idUSBRE8A105D20121102)
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas.
-Kipling