Warriors Wish Lost Keel

[robtryon]

Hi all,

LaDonna here. Ronnie posted on his blog that WW has lost her entire keel. All's well aboard and they got a fuel drop from a passing ship. Here's a message Don Gray asked me to post:

"Warriors Wish lost her keel Wednesday evening the 11th. Her last position was 33.41N 135.32W. Ronnie and Ed are okay and motoring towards the mainland at 4 kts 055 true. They took on 50 gal of extra fuel from a commercial vessel. There is no damage to the hull and they are not taking on any water. I do not know any details but assume bolts broke at the hull keel joint. They are in Sat phone contact with SF Coast Guard."

Keep an eye on Ronnie's blog for updates (www.openbluehorizon.com).

[robtryon]

To be clear, Don sent this last night around 9 pm.

[seabird51]

If its too rough getting back to SF then Ronnie and WW might consider heading down to Pt Conception and Ventura with very good yards and VYC. Once under the point it would be a smooth motor trip in the lee of the coast on the north side of the Santa Barbara Channel. Could someone pass this suggestion out to him for consideration. It can be a much easier destination than the Bay Area from his location.
Lou
Seabird

[cafemontaigne]

Hats off to Ronnie and Ed for bringing Warrior's Wish safely home without her keel. That's one hell of a feat of seamanship.

Adrian
Idefix

[ronnie simpson]

from you Adrian, that means something....

when they told us at the skipper's that the SHTP would be the adventure of a lifetime, they weren't kidding!

[AlanH]

ANd now, for his next trick, Ronnie Simpson will sail around Cape Horn on a boat with no mast.

-----

Great job bringing her in, guys.

[Robert Stodieck]

Warriors keel appears to have been designed to break off this way without sinking the boat.
(The color balance of this photo is off in the pink.)

http://www.glassbot.net/images/ww%205.jpg

[ronnie simpson]

interesting, but i would have preferred a keel not designed to break off.....

[Robert Stodieck]

Then next time, you should pick a keel that doesn't look like a Sushi knife married to whale harpoon!