Mutiny!

Last week the crew of a New Zealand yacht mutinied whilst on a coastal delivery from Auckland to Nelson. The yacht had sailed north from Auckland and had rounded Cape Reinga on the northern tip of New Zealand before heading south along the west coast of the North Island.

It seems that the relatively inexperienced crew set off the EPIRB against the owner/skippers wishes because they feared for their safety.

Initially things had been going well but as they progressed down the west coast the weather deteriorated with reportedly rough seas and 25 knot winds. Over the next two days the crew became seasick and tired. They were unable to start the engine and the batteries went flat leaving them without navigation lights or radio communications. They decided to deploy the sea anchor to ride out the bad weather but couldn’t find a shackle or suitable rode.

At this point the crew decided they had had enough and against the skippers orders activated the EPIRB. The crew were airlifted off the yacht including the skipper, as it was deemed unsafe for him to remain onboard alone. The 7.9m yacht is now abandoned with the owner unlikely to be able to salvage her.

It does seem as if the yacht was inadequately prepared for the voyage although it does not seem to have been in any great danger. At worst the wind was blowing 25 knots. Hardly a storm as the crew have described it. The seas have been variously described as between 3 and 5 metres. Uncomfortable in a boat of that size but not dangerous.

Having been a sailing instructor I am very aware of sailing with an inexperienced crew and how important it is to hold them together especially when things are not going according to plan.

This can be challenging if they are all inexperienced and can’t fully appreciate the situation, your actions and instructions. It’s not hard to imagine that an inexperienced crew, tired and seasick on a boat with no engine, lights or communications, in rough weather with a skipper who got them there are going feel the situation is worse than it is.

If the skipper does not give at least the impression of being in control despite the problems, collectively the inexperienced crews fears will multiply and they could well feel the situation is dire.

It certainly seems that the crews fears were unjustified as the rescue crews have commented that the yacht seemed capable of riding out the prevailing conditions which although not pleasant were not extreme.

At the end of the day an unnecessary rescue was performed which involved some risk to the rescuers and the rescued as well as the $20,000 cost. The yachts insurance does not cover salvage so well may be lost.

The owner is reportedly going to try and recover the cost of the yacht from the crew as it was lost a result of their mutinous actions. My feeling is that at the end of the day the skipper lost control of the situation and the crew and as is a much responsible as anyone for his predicament.