tophatyachts.com

Seems Windchaser is no longer with us.

RohanJ, a member of our forum let me know he had spotted her and asked me to ID her. Unfortunately, it was she. Very sad.

http://www.manheim.com.au/trucks-machin ... collection

The guy who bought Windchaser took her down the coast and had trouble going in Round Hill Creek at 1770. He told me about it but was going to fix her and keep going. Then he never contacted me again and I wondered . . . .

He was a really nice guy. Shocking thing to happen. When he was in Rockhampton loading up Windchaser to make his way south and home, I ended up giving him free my sit-on-top kayak. He had a cheap blow-up boat as a tender but it was basically a pool toy and I knew I would not sleep if I let him go with just that so gave him my kayak. He was planning on staying in marinas so he thought no great need for a dinghy. But my view is that it is a safety thing as well as getting to shore when anchored and enjoying the scenery. He told me later he was glad he had the kayak.

He said the wind was from the north, the tide was rising. When he hit a sandbank the flow of water into the shallows swept Windchaser along. He tried using the anchor but got into more troubles. Lots of trouble. I think he may have abandoned ship for a time.

The entrance is exposed to wind from the north. Means he would have been in very choppy conditions. Not good in that situation. Means when he went aground he immediately got pounding. Was not just a gentle getting stuck.

The 1770 entrance is tricky. I had given him a print out of it for some extra help. Years ago when I went in the creek, I got through the entrance okay but later got stuck on a sandbar. Recently, a mate of mine with a 1 metre draft monohull touched bottom in the entrance. He said he had never had that happen to him before. Tricky.

So, I am in shock. Could not believe my eyes when I first looked at the link Rohan sent me. Then when I could not deny it any longer, I just felt upset. But what I felt would have been nothing compared to the guy on the tiller seeing his new and precious love getting beat up and his dreams sinking.

A sad day.

I have emailed the company selling the remains of Windchaser for permission to use the photos. I am sure our historian, Phillip, will want details for his files.

troppo

Very sad to see Louis.

Looks like she had a pretty heavy time on the bar.

So much time and effort sitting there. Such as well documented and presented yacht she was.

Wonder if anything salvagable on her.

At least she didn't become a mooring minder, but was lost during an adventure, with all hands safe.

dism wrote:
At least she didn't become a mooring minder, but was lost during an adventure, with all hands safe.

That is true. I had not thought of that. Better to go down on an adventure than fade away forgotten on a mooring.

troppo

Thanks for the heads up Troppo.

That will be a bargain, I'm thinking. Are you going to buy her back Troppo?

You will only need a tray back truck with a hiab crane that can lift 3 tons plus to get her off the ground. Plus a few tyres and straps [not chains] to secure her.

Not good to have that adventure. Last time I went into 1770 I found it very shallow then I wore my Polaroids on the way out and got a real fright as then I could see that the channel was way to my north and nowhere near the channel markers!!!!

And yes any details, photos [1mb please] that we can get would be appreciated.

Will have to be watching at 10am on Wednesday.