Hi All,

Kate and I were asked by Steve Black, Founder of the Carribbean 1500 to lead this year's Bahama Class, which started in Norfolk, two weeks ago, November 1. Ten boats signed up for the run to Marsh Harbor. Me being fleet captain, called on leaving Norfolk Monday morning at 9 AM, heading out around Cape Haterras, around Cape Lookout, Cape Fear to Charleston; where we'll wait out Tomas. Mahalo was the frist to finish, having 40 plus knots dead down wind for the entire 400 mile run. Under deep reefed main against the spreaders, we averaged 7.3kts for the run.

Leg two, after the major front blow through, was from Charleston to Marsh Harbor, me taking them all through Loggerhead Channel, just north of Great Guana. We had eight boats on this leg. The entire leg, I pushed the fleet, to get in on Thursday, because a MAJOR storm swelll was coming in on Friday late. We all made it, safe and sound, all within two hours of each other. I kept stressing on "get in there becaue the ocean passages will be rage condition.
The Abacos saw, as promised by all Weather services, the largest ocean swell to hit the Abacos, since the perfect Halloween Storm of 1992. The place, looking out sitting at Nippers, looked liked Hawaii's North Shore.

Two days later, we hear this very sad news down below, from a Ralleyer in the Carribbean 1500 Tortolla leg that diverted somehow to the Bahamas and "tried to get in".

Why? It was impossible.

Staying offshore was the only answer, and then sailing down to NW Providence Channel, and working your way around to Royal Island wa the only answer.

Incredible lack of seamanship.

Monday, November 15
Update: 4:22pm: The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) continues the search for Laura.

Cruising Rally Association announces crew member search and rescue mission is continuing for sailing vessel Rule 62, crew member, Laura Zekoll.

Updated by Richard Ross at 3:30pm EST

For additional information please contact: Rick Palm….207.354.0628

November 15, 2010…Cruising Rally Association (CRA), Hampton, VA…Steve Black, owner of Cruising Rally Association, announced today that crew member, Laura Zekoll from Atlanta, GA is the subject of a search and rescue mission by the US Coast Guard and the Bahamian Defense Force.

The news of the search was received by CRA mid-day on Sunday, November 14, 2010 from boat owner, Richard Ross. The emergency contact information for Laura Zekoll, was communicated to the Coast Guard who notified her contact that a search was in process. The notice of the search was shared with the fleet on Monday morning, during the radio check-in at 07:00 hours AST (Atlantic Standard Time).

The owners of sailing vessel Rule 62, Richard and Debra Ross, also from Atlanta, GA, communicated earlier that they had made a decision to leave the fleet and divert to the Bahamas. During the radio check-in on Saturday at 19:00 hours AST, Richard reported a position near the Bahamas. According to the satellite transponder provided by the CRA to each vessel in the fleet, Rule 62 had stopped moving when the transponder reported at 20:56 hours AST Saturday, November 13.

Black said, “with great sadness, we report that Rule 62, a Jeanneau 46DS, was swamped while attempting entry into the Bahamas. Richard and crew Laura Zekoll were washed overboard and recovered. The life raft was launched. Richard, Debra, Laura, and a fourth crew member, David Sheppard from Ellsworth, Maine entered the life raft with life jackets on and attempted to row it to safety. The life raft subsequently overturned in swells. Richard, Debra, and David were separated from Laura and washed up on the beach. The search for Laura Zekoll is still continuing.”

The boat is currently on a reef in the Bahamas. Richard and Debra Ross and Sheppard were airlifted to safety after their emergency signal was received by the Coast Guard.

The sailing vessel Rule 62, is part of a fleet of 71 sailing vessels, the majority of the fleet is still at sea. The fleet departed Hampton, VA on November 8, 2010 in route to the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. This is the 21st year of the annual passage.