Saturday, October 26, 2013

"All Is Lost" Falls Short To "Hi Ya Mom" and "Bring Crew Home"

Famous actor, Robert Redford is said to have put in a monumental performance in his film, "All Is Lost".  Redford is the only actor who successfully carries the story line of a sailboat sinking, and crew (Redford) taking to a life raft.

As good a performance as Redford puts in, he pales to the performance put in by the real thing.  Several short films have been produced around the missing 1928 schooner, the Nina, and her crew.  Kyle Jackson, Danielle Wright, Matthew Wootton, Evi Nemeth, and the Dyche family, David, Rosemary and David Jr, are crew on an American treasure, the Nina.

The following are two films which most people find riveting.  There is no acting here, it is all very real.





One of the last messages sent by Kyle Jackson to his mother before leaving on the Nina.  Kyle makes a frank admission in the film.









This film is about Danielle Wright, the 19 year old daughter of Ricky and Robin Wright. A loving community came together to support the Wright family. The band Kingdom wrote a song for her.

Enjoy and please support the cause of the 7 sailors stranded on the yacht, the Nina!


On-Line petition: HERE

Search For the Nina Here

Donations can be given HERE


Search Updates: www.evxx.com



It is unfortunate the Redford team has not seen a way to support the real life adventure of seven sailors who may be living the Hollywood version of his film. Not to worry, the real life event is full of pure drama, intrigue, scandal and mostly, hope and inspiration!

After sending in an image that appears to be the Nina, the RCC-NZ refuses to search for the missing boat.  They say the image is not clear enough for them.

#S7S #Nina #ninarescue @immigrants2bfre






Friday, October 25, 2013

Banned For Life For Asking For Help




I was banned for LIFE by the Cruiser and Sailors Forum for posting a response to some negative information about the Nina search.  My post read:




"Actually, there are some exciting things going on in
the Nina search. The use of satellites to locate a boat
in the Immense Tasman Sea will eventually save other lives. The worst thing we can steal from others is hope.


Fortunately, not many people have long term survival at sea stories because most get rescued. Those who do have stories, like John Gelnnie, who spoke to us while the Nina families were in Texas, was an inspiration. John survived 119 days on the East side of NZ. He is happy he rescued himself.
Unfortunately, in the Tasman, rescue may be more critical, as boats can get caught in a never ending merry-go-round of the reverse circulating currents. 

The good news, the Nina had good store on her. She likely had engine failure due to fuel starvation.  The text message sent indicates her sails were blown out. It is spring time in the Tasman, lots of rain for water and fish to eat.  There is no evidence the yacht sank, no flotsam, nothing.  They did a thorough search of the shore line and found nothing.


Let's stay positive, the search continues, new technology is being applied, all of us may benefit from that. We hope to bring the sailors home. If anyone is interested in looking for the Nina on satellite images pm me and I will get you set up!"


After posting this, I emailed one of the administrators on the board who had given me two strikes on a three strikes and you are out policy for posting a copy of a press release about a meeting the rescue team was having in Houston, Texas.  Sailor, John Glennie, who survived 119 days in an over-turned catamaran was set to speak and I wanted to let Houston sailors know about it so they could attend.


Unfortunately, I neglected to spot the four words about the search willing to accept donations. Out of a 1000 word release, I should have noticed.   For that, they gave me the two strikes because they don't allow "solicitation for donations" on their site, a rule i respect.  Frankly, it was a release about the event, not a solicitation for donations.  

So here I am, offering to set people up to search for the Nina on satellite images. All you have to do is log into the website, Tomnod, and off you go. My email to the admin asked for that permission.

The next day when I got up, I found I had been banned for life by Angela from the Cruisers and Sailors Forum. Her message read:


" Hello Tim


We have been extremely tolerant of your repeated posts calling for donations to Texas Equusearch (both for the missing yacht Nina and for Lady Domina) and for members to support Tomnod, who appear closely linked with Texas Equusearch.


You have had repeat personal messages to quit soliciting members, including a strike for doing so. You requested posting another link to Tomnod. This was not granted, yet you went ahead and asked members to contact you via PM for details of how to look at satellite images for Tonmod.


With great reluctance you are being issued with a third strike and a permanent ban from Cruising Forum.


Yours sincerely



Angela"


As usual, Angela got it wrong, but you can't make sense with her.  I never received a response to my query about being able to post a link to the Tomnod site.   However, why anyone would oppose an appeal to search for the Nina on satellite maps is a question Angela is not willing to answer.  More, Tomnod is a private web site owned by the imaging specialist, Digital Globe.  They are the guys who provide a lot of the images for Google Earth.   


 Angela claims Tomnod is associated with Texas Equusearch, a clear mistatement.  There is no affiliation, though Texas Equusearch is advising the families in the Nina search.  The families have been able to obtain images by Digital Globe.  The images are hosted on the Tomnod site.  Further, Texas Equusearch had nothing to do with the Lady Domina search, either.  More, I am not an 'official' Texas Equusearch volunteer, though I support their great work.  Certainly, at least one sailor on the Cruiser's Forum will benefit one day from the work they are doing.


If we can't convince fellow sailors to stand by the effort to save the 7 sailors on the Nina, how can we convince the rest of the world to support this wonderful cause?  When administrators on the Cruisers Forum toss people off their board who are working to inform the community, and to help save 7 lives, one has to wonder about the value of the rest of the information on their site.


Of course, you can't make these basic arguments to Cruiser Forum admins.   First, they don't listen.  Second, there is no place to respond to since once booted off you can't write to them.  After getting socked two points for posting a mere press release, they refused to communicate with me except to say, 'why don't you go somewhere else'.


Why anyone would oppose the attempted rescue of the seven sailors on the Nina, I have no idea.  Why anyone would oppose Texas Equusearch and the research they are doing in the field of search and rescue at sea is beyond me.  


At the least, nearly everyone who hears about the plight of the seven sailors wants to help.  Over 13,000 people have signed up to search for the Nina on the Tomnod website, including sailors.  We expected a few people to oppose the efforts to save the Nina Seven out of ignorance.  We just didn't expect that ignorance to come from fellow sailors.


I don't suppose it will do any good to get these basic arguments to Angela through a third party.  This is a lesson for all of us in the importance of explaining the great work being done, and I guess, that includes explaining to people who should be in the know.


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Petition To Save 7 Sailors Hits 2K Mark

People All Over The World Sign To Save The Nina 7

A petition to save the 7 sailors aboard the 1928 schooner, Nina, hit 2000 signatures yesterday, October 17th, 2013.  Friends and family of the missing sailors are asking the US State Department to take a leadership role in the search for the missing schooner and crew.


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You can add your voice to the petition. 

People who don't believe the crew could survive this long in the hostile environment of the Tasman Sea are not informed of the facts.  Only 1 scenario out of 6 scenarios postulated by the Rescue Coordination Center, New Zealand, suggests the yacht sank.  Other scenarios suggest the Nina is disabled and floating in the famous reverse circular currents of the Tasman Sea.

Sailors are taught how to catch rain water to supplement limited provisions.  It is winter in the Tasman Sea so rain will be plentiful.  The Nina also has store aboard her, which will add to longevity.  But the best source for sustenance is the very ocean water upon which the yacht is lost.  The Tasman Sea is rich in marine life which will come in handy as the crew aboard the Nina battle for survival.

The Dyche family renovated the Nina over several years.  Captain David Dyche is a professional ships captain.  From the start of their ordeal, he knows survival is a matter of management of the scarce resources available to him.  It is logical and reasonable to assume Dyche began rationing food and stores as the crew began to set about the business of a possible long-term rescue.

Meanwhile, Texas Equusearch, an all volunteer organization, has been advising the families on effective search strategy.  The families want the United States to support them in various ways.   So far, their petition to the United States Department of State has fallen on deaf ears.  However, there is keen optimism a decision maker, rather than an administrator, will take an interest in the Nina rescue case and listen to what the families have to say.


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Ralph Baird Talks About Hopes For Nina on NZ National Radio


Families and TES Spot Boat On Satellite






Ralph Baird is interviewed on New Zealand National Radio about the image spotted on satellite images taken of the Tasman Sea.  The images were taken by Digital Globe.  They are hosted on a crowd sourcing site called Tomnod.Search Updates:  www.evxx.com

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Public Appeals To RCC-NZ To Resume Search For Lost Nina

The Nina Families Remain Hopeful



Texas Equusearch (TES) and the family members of the crew of the schooner, Nina, lost in the Tasman Sea, released photographs of an image they hope is the Nina.  The image was obtained after tasking satellites to take pictures of the Tasman Sea where the 1928 American treasure disappeared along with the 7 hands aboard. TES and the families want the Rescue Coordination Center, New Zealand (RCC-NZ) to open a new search for the sailors.

The search has been intensive and well coordinated.  The satellite images are hosted on a crowd sourcing site called Tomnod.  TES and the families worked with Fort Collins based Digital Globe to take the photographs.  Over 16,000 people signed up to help review images.  All the hard work may now be paying off.

Mystery Boat, Is This The Nina?


So far, the RCC-NZ refuses to bend on opening a new search for the boat.  Under one of their theories, they say the boat sank.  However, sinking is one of six scenarios the RCC-NZ postulated about the Nina. Other scenarios include the possibility the boat is disabled and drifting or the sailors took to a life raft. The fact is, no evidence has ever been produced to prove the Nina sank, despite the largest search ever launched by the RCC-NZ.

The families say the Nina is floating in reverse circular currents of the Tasman Sea.  As proof, they point to John Glennie, who survived 119 days after his yacht, the Rose Noelle, capsized off of the East coast of New Zealand.  Officials gave up the search for Glennie and the family held a eulogy.  Still, Glennie and his 3 crew mates survived the ordeal, fishing for food and catching rain water for hydration.  Though the Nina disappeared on the West side of New Zealand, both the Rose Noelle and the Nina had problems on the same day of the year, June 4th, significant because it is winter time.

Bob McDavitt
TES and the families base their assertions on the efforts by a high tech team including volunteer NASA scientists, fluid hydrologists and geophysicists who study what happens to liquid, in this case, ocean water, and things which are deposited in them.  Figuring out where the Nina could have drifted to has been a monumental task.  However, TES has employed new methods to use existing SAROPS drift analysis software along with the tasking, for the first time ever, of satellites over the Tasman Sea in the search of a private boat.

According to an article in the New Zealand Herald, meteorologist Bob McDavitt, the satellite images could not be ruled out as representing the Nina.  McDavitt was advising friend and Nina crew member Evi Nemeth, and had the last known conversation by text with the missing sailors.  People from all over the world support the reopening of the search for the missing sailors.

Texas Equusearch is a non-profit organization founded by Tim Miller to locate missing people.  TES uses high technique tactics plus volunteers to help the authorities locate and close old missing person's cases.  TES has been credited with locating over 300 people alive which law enforcement has been unable to find.  The Texas based organization has also been able to find over 100 people who were missing and deceased, including a Navy t-34 pilot.  None of the TES volunteers are paid, including the Nina search Executive Adviser, Ralph Baird.  However, the advances made by the families will help all sailors who become lost in the Tasman Sea.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Betty White Explains The Rules Kiwi Style

If you are thinking about a trip to New Zealand, be sure to study the rules for a safe flight.  Betty White explains them in her latest series, "Excuse me, but can you tell me where this aircraft is headed to?"









If you are crossing from New Zealand to Australia, be sure to keep an eye out for the missing schooner, the Nina!



Monday, October 7, 2013

Coast Guard Pacific Area

Serving the nautical community of the Pacific Region




The US Coast Guard is known as the finest force afloat in the search and rescue of mariners.  The Commander of the Pacific Region sends us this message.


Sunday, October 6, 2013

Coast Guard Asks Help After Refusing To Cooperate

Coast Guard looking for 2 fishermen reported missing near Bryan Beach






Bryan Beach


FREEPORT, Texas – Search and rescue crews are looking for two fishermen reported missing Saturday afternoon near Bryan Beach.
According to Texas Equusearch, who is helping the U.S. Coast Guard with the search, two Vietnamese men in their mid-30s were wade fishing at Bryan Beach just off Highway 1495 at 4:30 p.m. A woman in her mid-30s was also with them.
The trio got caught up in the rough surf and were swept away, witnesses said. Bystanders were able to rescue the woman, but could not reach the two men.
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the area with a boat and a helicopter, while Texas Equusearch is assisting with their sonar equipment and all-terrain vehicles.
The beach was temporarily closed on Saturday due the rough surf and high tides generated by Tropical Storm Karen.
It is hard to believe, this is the same U.S. Coast Guard who refused all help and continues to refuse all help in saving the 7 crew members missing on the schooner Nina.  The Nina disappeared in the Tasman Sea on June 4th, 2013.  Texas Equusearch approached the Coast Guard for help running drift modeling.  The Coast Guard said it could not run the drift modeling because the U.S. State Department would not let them.
The Rescue Coordination Center-New Zealand (RCC-NZ) suspended it's search for the 7 sailors missing on the Nina on July 5th, 2013.  Texas Equusearch was asked to advise Ricky Wright in his search for his daughter, Danielle Wright, age 19, who is a crew member aboard the Nina.  The family suspects the Nina is afloat but caught in reverse circulating currents which occur in the Tasman Sea. The Coast Guard was asked to run a computer program  at a nominal cost to the Coast Guard so the families could determine the most likely course the Nina may have taken.  The Coast Guard refusal cost the search significant sums and delayed the running of the programs pending location of a private contractor who agreed to run the programs for a price.  Despite drawbacks, Texas Equusearch found a better way to run the drift modeling adding to the accuracy of the program.
Many people speculate the Nina will eventually drift to an Australian beach like other boats lost in the region, hence presenting potential political problems for the US State Department which steadfastly has refused to devote resources to save the 7 sailors.  The boat will likely drift to land within 1 year, before Secretary of State John Kerry makes a bid for the White House.  While sailors can survive at sea for extended periods of time, it is unknown what that maximum period is.  Surviving a year at sea with no provisions, catching fish and depending upon rain for water, limits life expectancy.  At the least, survivors will testify to the hardships they faced because their country refused to lift a finger to save them.  Except for local coverage, a press blackout has existed around the missing sailors and the battle the families have endured to enlist the aid of the U.S. to help them.  Last year the yacht Scotch Bonnet was abandoned near the last known position of the Nina.  It took nearly 6 months to drift ashore and was spotted only one time during it's journey.
You can help save the 7 sailors by looking for the boat on satellite images taken by Digital Globe.
Texas Equusearch has proven a great friend of the U.S. Coast Guard and the US Navy, as well as law enforcement.  The non-profit organization has been able to locate missing people who the Coast Guard and law enforcement often are unable to locate.  The organization works under the direction of law enforcement and marshals volunteers to do searches.  They also deploy high technology equipment to solve missing persons cases.  To date, they have found over 300 people alive who disappeared, and over 100 persons who were deceased.