I recently came across this blog from the folks on NYAPA, which is the Hans Christian 38 that was dismasted in the Gulf Stream, and eventually made their own way back into Norfolk under their own power...

It's a pretty compelling, honest account. Their handling of it all seems exemplary, I have no doubt it was a pretty tough ride back in...

What a shame, they had just replaced their standing rigging last summer... Obviously, one can only wonder that something wasn't done right. I appreciated their candor, in admitting their one mistake was not heaving-to immediately upon first noticing that it seemed one of the leeward shrouds had become a bit looser than normal... Ten minutes or so later, the rig was in the water...

Good blog, these folks are definitely the real deal... They've motored down the Ditch, hoping to get a new rig back in the boat somewhere in Florida...

I'm raising a glass to them, as we speak... (grin)

http://aboutavoyage.com/?p=298

best regards,

Jon