HMS Bounty replica ship lost in storm

Crews Abandon HMS Bounty Off N.C. Coast
Sad news. This is the replica of the HMS Bounty from the 1962 Marlon Brando film. In rough seas from Hurricane Sandy, the replica ship was taking on water and lost propulsion. The crew abandoned ship, into two lifeboats, and was later rescued by the Coast Guard. Reportedly, the ship has now sunk.

Sad. The Tiki connection is the Mai-Kai. Much of the nautical decor of the Molokai was done by the same peopel that recreated the rigging etc. for the Bounty. They sourced the same materials and experts.

A sad loss indeed.

Thoughts go out to the missing crew.

Definitely a tragedy. This storm is mean. STAY SAFE

That link will be gone someday, here's the text of the article

"The HMS Bounty, a 180-foot, three-mast tall ship, was last marked about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras.

The ship has sunk, according to the Coast Guard at 8:45 a.m. Monday.

Just before 8 a.m., the Facebook page for the HMS Bounty says 14 of the 16 people who had to abandon their ship have been hoisted to safety.

There have been conflicting reports on how many people were onboard. The manifest reportedly listed 16 people, and that's the number the Coast Guard has."

Seventeen people aboard a replica of the HMS Bounty abandoned ship early Monday while stranded at sea off the North Carolina coast, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release.

"The 17 person crew donned cold water survival suits and life jackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The ship issued a distress signal late Sunday after taking on water, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The owner of the 180-foot, three mast ship -- which was built for the 1962 Marlon Brando movie, "Mutiny on the Bounty" -- lost communication with the crew and alerted the Coast Guard to the situation.

The Coast Guard then received a distress signal from the ship showing its position. It sent out an aircraft to speak with the crew, which reported that the vessel was taking on water and had no propulsion. It's currently located about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C.

The ship, which is still floating upright and intact, is surrounded by 18-foot seas and 40 mph winds as Hurricane Sandy moves through the area.

The Bounty makes frequent trips around the country, offering a glimpse into maritime history, according to the ship's website. It was originally a British transport vessel, and the replica has appeared in several films, including the 2006 movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest," with Johnny Depp. Its last stop before its winter hiatus in Galveston, Texas, was to be in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Nov. 10.

It is unclear why the boat set out to sea with Sandy bearing down. Sandy could be the largest storm ever to hit the United States, according to NOAA's website.

They left CT Thursday & headed down the coast knowing the hurricane was coming up the coast. Seriously, what were they thinking? I know a ship is safer at sea than at port, in a storm, but they went the wrong way! Sad loss, regardless.

According to one article:

"A post Sunday to the ill-fated ship’s Facebook page said [Captain] Walbridge intended to avoid the storm by sailing to the east on the ship's voyage from Connecticut to Florida. “So far so good!” the post said. “Bounty has now positioned herself to pass on the west side of Hurricane Sandy.”

Apparently they didn't get far enough east.

What an irony of life that the other person that perished with the Bounty was a descendant of Fletcher Christian:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/10/30/hms-bounty-victim-claudene-christian-wrote-of-pride-on-facebook-page