The story of Nirvana Now is a powerful testimonial for the use of SSB radios aboard ocean cruising vessels…
Randy and Dawn Ortiz in happier times, courtesy latitude38.com
As reported earlier, Pacific Puddle Jumpers Randy and Dawn Ortiz were forced by circumstance to abandon their Canadian-flagged S&S 42 Nirvana Now on April 8, after rescuers Bob and Mona Jankowski of the North Carolina-based Caliber 40 Continuum arrived on the scene, roughly 1,200 miles from the first possible landfall. Now safe in Papeete, Tahiti considering their options, Randy and Dawn emailed us a full report on the tragedy, which we have excerpted here:
“On the 8th of April Nirvana Now sank to the bottom of the South Pacific Ocean at latitude 07°54’ S, longitude 119°11’ W in a section of ocean farther from land than anywhere else on earth, due to damages from the heavy seas we had experienced for over a week.
“After contacting the Continuum through the Seafarer’s Ham radio network, Bob and Mona sailed hard to weather for almost two days to our rescue as we floated disabled. Due to their efforts and skill we were able to transfer safely to Continuum, and be carried to the French Marquesas, as the boat that had brought us so much joy for the 18 years we owned her settled beneath the waves.” Read More
