S52YS





Logbuch der Yacht:   S52YS

Homepage der Yachthttp://www.qrz.com/callsign/S52YS




29.5.2005

Dear Mr. Rolf!
 
I am sending you the picture of Mr. Jure Sterk, S52YS/MM on his sailboat "Lunatic". As he told me you asked him for his picture. So I hope these would be OK.
Best regards,
Marsell, S52ID
Marsell Marinšek <Marsell...email.si>..@..









SY-LUNATIC   Op S52YS



Minimize
21/02/2008
   

S52YS/MM sailing the S/Y LUNATIC

Posted by Alberto Mattei IT9MRM @ Italian Navvy.

S52YS.jpgJure Sterk, S52YS is a Slovenian 72 yrs old sailor, that is boarded on its S/Y LUNATIC carrying out alone, a turn of the world sailing. Currently  he’s located  50°54' South, 86°49' West (Locator ED69OC) and going to double Cape Horn. Last November 2007 after having  left the port of Tauranga and carried out approximately 350 S-Y Lunatic_r.jpgmiles he had to return behind rescued from New Zealand Navy, which did find him right in the middle of an heavy storm, that also caused a damage of the radio set on board. Having lost his traces the Coast Guard of Tauranga did begin the actions of search, until finding him fortunately without tragic consequences. He has been towed in the New Zealand port to fix damages and after the restoration’s job and the improving of his radio equipment, Jure resumed its navigation in hermit. Who wants to check the interview carried out from one of the New Zeland TV,  this is the link :

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/NationalVideo/tabid/309/articleID/39378/cat/64/Default.aspx#video?articleID=39378

For those who wish to contact Jure S52YS/MM it is possible to listen for him all Fridays, Saturday and Sunday from 07:30 to 08:30Z on 14350 MHz SSB. QSL info is S52ID.

TNX  IT9MRM

 



23.3.2007

Hallo Netcontrols,
 
nachdem wir von Yure ein paar Tage nichts mehr hörten, rief ich einen bekannten OM, VK5HK, in Australien an und schilderte ihm die Situation. Er versprach daraufhin mich zu informieren, falls er neue Infos bekommen würde.
 
Heute morgen hatte ich ein langes QSO mit Harro und er erzählte mir, dass er von tasmanischen OMs folgende Story erfahren hätte:
 
Yure hatte sich im australischen Travellers-Net gemeldet, hatte irgendwie Probleme mit den Australiern bekommen und ist dann Richtung Tasmanien abgedreht. Ungefähr 400sm vor Tasmanien muss er in einen Sturm geraten sein und  den Mast verloren haben. Er wurde dann von offizellen Stellen zum Tasmanischen Yachtclub in eine Marina geschleppt und ist wohlauf.
 
Das muss vor ca. 3-4 Woche passiert sein.
 

17.11.2008

Danke,

hab ihn neu geplottet.

73 Rolf

Bernd Behrendsen schrieb:
Hab mich mit einigen Tricks in die Whitelist von Ted auf WINLINK reingemogelt. Er ist Betreuer von Jure S52YS. Mal sehen, ob er weitere Infos schickt.
73 Bernd
----- Original Message ----- From: VK2EZQ
To: <bernd.beh
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: Jure


Dear Bernd,

A few days ago we heard from Tonys net, New Zealand, 14315@2115UTC.

Jure was near Mauritius, still sailing at 4 knots, heading for New Zealand!

Will try to get more clear information Tuesday.

73 de Ted.



28.12.2008

Graham schrieb:
Dear Rolf,
I will pass your 73's to Jure today if conditions allow.
He has a broken fore stay and may have to abandon his non stop trip and go
in to Albany for repairs but he will make that decision when he gets closer
to Albany.
Very sad.
Best regards
Graham Griggs
ZS2ABK
For: - South African Maritime Mobile Net





Link>  http://srv1.intermar-ev.de/karte/yacht_info/getShipInfo.php?MyCallSign=S52YS

Track-Link> http://www.positionsreport.de/php/enterTrack.php?callSign=S52YS






Montag 20.10.2008
Betrieb: qrv waren DH5PP Rudi; DL6RDJ Herbert; S52YS Jure; OE1SJB Hannes; OE6HAF Hannes; DL1HXB Jutta; Gast DL9JM; DF3JQ Georg.
73 Rolf DL0IMA

Sonntag 19.10.2008
Gemeldet haben sich heute:
DL6RDJ Herbert mit schwachem Signal. DH3PP Rudi ist in Reunion gestartet und geht in die
Richards Bay,Süd Afrika.S52YS Jure meldet Pos.37°24S und 19°30E alles ok.
OE2FCO Christina Pos.37°24N und 03°47E Richtung Gibraltar. OE1SJB Hannes Kurs Kanaren. DL1HXB Jutta Algave.
vy 73 Klaus DJ3CD


Jure S52YS
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 8:48 PM
qsp von Bernd DJ7RE:
Dear Bernd,
 A few days ago we heard from Tonys net, New Zealand, 14315@2115UTC.
Jure was near Mauritius, still sailing at 4 knots, heading for New Zealand!
Will try to get more clear information Tuesday.
73 de Ted.

27.12.2008

YACHT LIVE-TICKER    S52YS   Jure


26.12.2008

12:30 BROKEN FORE STAY MAY HAVE TO GO TO ALBANY FOR REPAIRS SA.MM.NET ZS2ABK
38˚10'0“S 094˚12'0“E

http://srv1.intermar-ev.de/karte/yacht_info/getShipInfo.php?MyCallSign=S52YS

http://sarl.org.za/callresponse.asp?callsign=ZS2ABK

Info von DK4XI Rolf    siehe Yacht-PosKarte



28.12.2008
Dear Rolf,
I will pass your 73's to Jure S52YS today if conditions allow.He has a broken fore stay and may have to abandon his non stop trip and goin to Albany for repairs but he will make that decision when he gets closer to Albany. Very sad.
Best regards.
Graham Griggs
ZS2ABK
For: - South African Maritime Mobile Net

(Translation):
Lieber Rolf,
ich werde Deine 73's an Jure SY52SY heute übermitteln, wenn die Bedingungen es erlauben. Vorstag ist gebrochen und er wird wohl seine non-stop-Reise aufgeben müssen, um das in Albany reparieren zu lassen, aber er wird diese Entscheidung erst treffen, wenn er näher zu Albany kommt. Alles sehr traurig...
Mit besten Grüßen
Graham Griggs
ZS2ABK
Für: - South African Maritime Mobile Net


30.12.08 Neues von Jure (qsp von Bernd DJ7RE)
Lieber Bernd,
ich habe am 29.12. ein qso mit VK4FWH, Warren,
 gehabt. Er will versuchen, Jure zu erreichen. Dazu Nachrichten aus zweiter Hand:
Jure versucht, eine Strickleiter zu bauen mit der er in den Mast klettern kann, um mit einem Stück Draht mithilfe von Seilklemmen das Vorstag zu reparieren. Problem dabei sind unterschiedliche Durchmesser von 7 und 8mm. Außerdem sind seine Essensvorräte zum Teil vom Seewasser verdorben. Er hat nur noch ein Funkgerät betriebsbereit und die Stromversorgung wird eng. Seine Frau hat ihm sehr strenge Worte übermitteln lassen, er hat aber ebenso geantwortet, daß er weitermachen will um die letzten 5 000 Meilen zu schaffen, nachdem er bereits 24 000 Meilen hinter sich gebracht hat.
73 Ted VK2EZQ 

Jure S52ysmm      News 5.01.09
Ted VK2EZQ
schreibt mir auf meine Anfrage:
Lieber Bernd,
ich hörte heute 21:15Z auf 14 315khz, daß die Dir bekannte POS. 37°45`S und 99°45`E vom 1.01.09 bisher der letzte Kontakt ist. Jure wollte in sein Dinghy steigen, um das Unterwasserschiff seiner"Lunatik" zu reinigen. (Kommentar Ted: Looks bad.)
73 de Ted
qsp von Bernd DJ7RE


Jure SM2YSmm News 31.12.08 6:30 UTC
ZS2ABK,Graham, SA.MM.Net schreibt:
Pos. 37°50`S  98°31`E     "all well"
Bernd DJ7RE




 27.1.2009    S42YS  Jure im Indischen Ocean vermisst...


Maritime Safety Information current at 231700 UTC JAN 09   Link> Hier

Issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia)


SECURITE
FM RCC AUSTRALIA 202305Z JAN 2009 AUSSAR 2008/10406
INDIAN OCEAN SOUTHERN PART CHART AUS4070
10 METRE YACHT LUNATIC / S52YS WITH 1 PERSON ONBOARD LAST REPORTED IN POSITION 37 46S 099 36E AT 010625 UTC JAN 2009 UNDER JURY RIG MAKING FOR ALBANY (35 03S 117 53E) AT 2 KTS.
VESSELS TRANSITING THE AREA ARE REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT AND REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS OR CONTACT TO THIS STATION OR RCC AUSTRALIA VIA TELEPHONE +61262306811 INMARSAT THROUGH LES BURUM (POR 212,IOR 312), SPECIAL ACCESS CODE (SAC) 39, HF DSC 005030001, EMAIL: rccaus@amsa.gov.au OR BY FAX +61262306868.
NNNN

27.1.2009    Jure auf See vermisst......

Hi Graham,

oh dear, but that is bad ....

I'm very sorry to Jure. We know him for several years.

We lose him a love of amateur radio and very good sailor.

We will always remember him. + + +


73

Rolf DL0IMA DK4XI

INTERMAR e.V in DL


Graham schrieb:
Dear Rolf,
Sorry to have to inform you that it is presumed that Jure Sterk S52Ysmm is
lost at see.
I last had contact with him on the 1st January 2009.
This is the E-mail I received from The RCC AUST: -

Graham,
The yacht "LUNATIC" has been located today (27 Jan) approximately 650NM west
/ south west of Perth by a merchant vessel. All visual indications are that
the vessel is abandoned and has been for some time due marine growth and
status of sails / rigging (no boarding was possible due weather). Two
paynter lines were observed to be trailing astern - no dory was sighted. The
RCC has suspended all action pending any further information / intelligence
coming to light. Agencies involved have been notified.
Regards

Mark


From: Graham [mailto:zs2abk..intekom.co.za]..@..
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2009 10:20 PM
To: Sedsman, Mark
Subject: RE: Jure Sterk - S52YSmm
Importance: High
Dear Sir.
I have not heard form Jure S52Ysmm as yet.
I estimated that with his old track record and taking in to effect the fact
that he may not be able fly his fore sale that he should have been at Albany
by now.
I am now getting very worried about him!
I wonder if you have any news?
Graham
ZS2ABK
South African Maritime Mobil Net.


Just thought I must let you know
Graham Griggs.
ZS2ABK
South African Maritime Mobile Net.

Übersetzung:

Lieber Rolf,

tut mir leid, dass ich Dich informieren muss, dass Jure Sterk S52YS
wahrscheinlich auf See verschollen ist.

Ich hatte den letzten Kontakt mit ihm am 1.Januar 2009.

Hier die e-mail, die ich vom (Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC
Australia) erhalten habe:

Graham,

Die Yacht "LUNATIC" wurde heute (27.Januar)   ca. 650 sm West/Südwest
von Perth
von einem Frachter gesichtet. Alle
gesichteten Indikatoren weisen darauf hin, dass das Schiff verlassen
ist, und das seit einiger Zeit wegen maritimen Bewuchs, und den Zustand
der Segel und Riggs.

An Bord gehen war wegen des Wetters nicht möglich. Zwei Leinen wurden
beobachtet, die achtern nachgezogen wurden. Kein Beiboot wurde
gesichtet. Die RCC hat alle Aktionen eingestellt bis weitere
Informationen /Nachrichten verfügbar sind. Die betroffenen Agenturen
wurden benachrichtigt.

Grüße

Mark


Auszug von QRZ.com

Yuri sailed into New Zealand and left again early? 2008 for the horn. Will try and get an update from zl4hi. April2008

April23'2007@2130UTC - 36deg31S, 173deg37W, Steering 265@4knot, SE15-20 Good spirits. Looking forward to Tauronga and looking for a tow into harbour as no engine.

18April Aprox posn 40deg22S, 167deg40W steering 030@2kn with NW20. Heading for Tauronga NZ dueto rigging failure. Using 40m approx 7095lsb at about 2020 to 2030UTC.

Pictures 12th April. Updated 12April aprox posn 42deg22S, 175West. I talked to Jure 2130Z on Weds28March2007, his position 48.12S,157.12E Making 4knots on 110T with NW 15-20knots and fine wx. He asked for wx information off the internet because a low was comming up behind him. We noted information from USN fnmoc site and also NZmet site [not working properly]. Suggested wx was N gale in next 12hours with heavy rain in front. After moderating winds of SW to NW over next 4 days. Expect to talk to him on Tony net 14315 at 2130zulu.

If you look up s52YS on the internet you will find a lot of posts but not much information.

Yacht is a 30ft sloop, called Lunatic. Sloop is a Miura design from South Africa by a man called Berkemieir or Berkemayer. This information from Christian zl1diy who is now relaying wx to Jure on either 14315 or 10125 or 7092 at about 2120Zulu. 12April 2007.

If anyone has any further information please contact me and I will update this site. My email is on qrz.com.

73 de Ted, vk2ezq

To vk2ezq, 12 March 2007. HI TED Here are the photos you were after. If you don't know the story, Yuri want's to be the oldest person with the smallest boat to sail non-stop round the world . He departed S Africa, but had to call into Hobart as he lost his forestay, and had a few rudder problems. He has now replaced the lower rudder bearing and has a new forestay. Unfortunately the engine is no good, so he took the prop off. I got to meet him, when the net had trouble finding him off the Tassie W. Being retired, I was able to drive him around getting parts, and doing his big food shop, etc. Due to his calling in to Tassie for repairs, he now has to start his challenge from here, so I wish him lots of luck, and look forward to buying him a Rum n Coke (his favourite) on his return to Hobart. Cheers 73s John VK7ZZ.

Cannot clear up at this stage whether Jure wants to round the horn and then make north in the Atlantic to cross the equator before rounding the Cape of Good Hope to return to Hobart. (a la Bullimore?)

Last modified: Tue Dec 9 20:20:14 2008

30.1.2009

Dear friends!
 
Does any body have some new information about Lunatic? As I understood it is floating uncontrolled? Wasn't possible that a merchant ship towed it away? I spoke with Jure's sun Igor yesterday and he told me, Graham, that you have pictures from Lunatic taken recently from the air. Since hi is at his mum's appartement he doesn't have an internet connection to send me those pictures. I would like to have them, so I am asking you Graham or any other HAM being involved to send me those photo and info's. Besides Igor would like to find out more facts of Jure before publishing. I respected his willl but the journalist didn't. They published a lot of wrong information. So it was written in news that they found Lunatic broken on the Eastern shore of Australia! It can't be true. As soon they smelled blood any body of them would like be the firs journalist. So as I was his only permanent radio coordinator and assistent for the last four years in Slovenia I would like to know every single fact that eventually shows up. After Igor will permit I would like to demand any journalist wrong information published. Sooner or later I will probably have to give them a statement. So I want to be shure I know all the last facts.
Igor asked me to spread a question: could anybody help to organize someone who might be able to approach to Lunatic?
So for now my best regards to all of you and I am very grateful for your help.
 
73's
Marsell, s52id

30.1.2009

Dear Bernd,

Marcel is asking for a search.

Lunatic will likely drift towards Tasmania but may go as far as New Zealand before hitting land.

There are 2 problems.
1. The longer the drift is the less precise the position.
2. Predicting the direction of drift of a log in the ocean is very imprecise.  This Lunatic is not a log as it has windage.
The windage is unknown.

Maybe contacting yacht clubs along the south coast of Australia and Tasmania may help.
Also fishing boat cooperatives.
The western Victoria state coast is called the "wreck coast".  This is a possible place where Lunatic will drift.

73 de Ted.
Please could you get Marcel direct email address please.




27.1.2009


Dear Bernd,  Have I got Marsell email correct?  Are these aerial photos of LUNATIC mentioned by Marsell on the internet?

Marsell is asking for a search.
"Maritime Safety Information current at 281430 UTC JAN 09
> Issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
> Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia)
> Part 2. NAVAREA X warnings:
> SECURITE
> FM RCC AUSTRALIA 270311Z JAN 2009
> NAVAREA X 004/09
> ABANDONED SLOOP "LUNATIC" IN VICINITY OF POSITION 32 00S 103 03E AT
> 270220UTC JAN 2009.
> NNNN"

The RCC position is due West of Perth, Perth is 32d02S, 115d44.64E.
Lunatic will now likely drift to the West Australian Coast somewhere N or S of Perth.
I do not have precise information on currents and winds. The wind is the most likely driver.
John Anderson may be able to help with a prediction.
LUNATIC could be sailing at an average speed of 1knot?

There are 2 problems.
1. The longer the drift is the less precise the position.
2. Predicting the direction of drift of a log in the ocean is very imprecise. This Lunatic is not a log as it has windage and a keel and it will sail around.
The windage is unknown. Currents in the ocean around Australia are erratic.

Maybe contacting yacht clubs along the WEst and south coast of Australia and Tasmania may help.
Also fishing boat cooperatives. And Amateur Radio Clubs, Fishing Clubs, CB radio operators, Coast Guard etc.

The other possibility is an Australian yacht following Jure. But he was heading for Adelaide with 2 onboard. He has callsign vk?f??? Warren vk4fwh was talking to him on 1Jan but we cannot get Warren on email and he is not on tonys net at the moment.
Probably the Australian yacht is south of Australia and therefore not near LUNATIC.

73 de Ted.

Information For Dave: zl3dm. This looks like the latest that we have.

Datum: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:33:19 +0200
Von: Graham
An: Rolf DL0IMA

Dear Rolf,
Sorry to have to inform you that it is presumed that Jure Sterk S52Ysmm is
lost at see.
I last had contact with him on the 1st January 2009.
This is the E-mail I received from The RCC AUST: -

Graham,
The yacht "LUNATIC" has been located today (27 Jan) approximately 650NM west
/ south west of Perth by a merchant vessel. All visual indications are that
the vessel is abandoned and has been for some time due marine growth and
status of sails / rigging (no boarding was possible due weather). Two
paynter lines were observed to be trailing astern - no dory was sighted. The
RCC has suspended all action pending any further information / intelligence
coming to light. Agencies involved have been notified.
Regards

Mark

31.1.2009

Dear Bernd, Ideas to help Igor and Marsell.

Just a thought could Marsell get in direct touch with RCC Australia on
behalf of Yures Son-Regards John Vk9JA




30.1.2009

Hello Marsell,
i forwarded your mail to Ted VK2EZQ. Here is his answer. I gave him also your emailadress.I think he will contact you directly. Ted coaches the qrz.com-side of  Jure. If you will mail him, put a // in subjekt at first because winlink forwards only then. The hope is dieing at last.
73 de Bernd


30.1.2009

Hallo Rolf,
 
das slowenische Fernsehen hat in den Abendnachrichten einen Bericht über den Tod von Jure gebracht.
 
vy 73 Ernst S54FAA


30.1.2009

Hallo Rolf,
heute abend wurde in den Abendnachrichten nochmal über Jure berichtet. Das Schiff das gemeldet hat, daß es eine anscheinend verlassene Yacht gesichtet hat, konnte auf grund des im dortigen Seegebiet herschenden schlechten Wetters nicht an Bord gehen.Es wurde auch darüber berichtet wieviel mal JURE die Welt umsegelt hat und daß er schon mehrere Unfälle gehabt hat, aber immer wieder aufgetaucht ist. Da kein Beiboot gesichtet werden konnte gehen Spekulationen dahin, daß Jure vieleicht abgetrieben und abseitz jeder Schiffahrtslinie noch irgendwo herumtreiben könnte.Ist aber reine Spekulation.
Vy 73 Ernst

4.2.2009

Hallo Rolf,
gestern abend 03.02.09 wurde in den Abendnachrichten wieder über Jure berichtet.
Jure gilt amtlich noch nicht als vermisst, da die Familie noch keinen Antrag gestellt hat.
Die Suche wurde eingestellt. Es fühlt sich niemand verpflichtet ihn zu suchen, da er mehr als 1100 Km vor der Australischen Küste auf offener See gesichtet wurde.Jeder der Jure oder seine Yacht sieht sei allerdings zur Hilfe verpflichtet.
Soweit der Komentar des slowenischen Fersehens.
vy73 Ernst
S54FAA

5.2.2009

Hallo Rolf,
gestern abend 03.02.09 wurde in den Abendnachrichten wieder über Jure berichtet.
Jure gilt amtlich noch nicht als vermisst, da die Familie noch keinen Antrag gestellt hat.
Die Suche wurde eingestellt. Es fühlt sich niemand verpflichtet ihn zu suchen, da er mehr als 1100 Km vor der Australischen Küste auf offener See gesichtet wurde.Jeder der Jure oder seine Yacht sieht sei allerdings zur Hilfe verpflichtet.
Soweit der Komentar des slowenischen Fersehens.
vy73 Ernst
S54FAA

9.2.2009

Hallo Rolf,
heute 09.02.09 um 19.20 Uhr wurde im Slowenischen Fernsehen folgendes Statement abgegeben:
Die Yacht von Jure wurde am 26.01.09 das letzte Mal beschädigt ohne Anzeichen von sich an Bord  befindlichen Menschen gesichtet.
Seit dieser Zeit wurde JURE gesucht.. Wahrscheinlich ist er auf See verschollen.
Die Suche nach JURE wurde eingestellt, jedoch wurden alle Schiffe aufgefordert weiterhin nach JURE Ausschau zu halten.
Soweit das Slowenische Fernsehen.
 
Vy 73 Ernst
S54FAA
 

06.05.2009
Segelyacht Lunatic unbemannt gesichtet.

Tragedy at Sea

My brother Peter is an oceanographer - based out of NOA here in Seattle. On Tuesday he sent this email which I thought was worth passing on.

[Added Update: We discovered today that the actual name of the boat was Lunatic Piran - which could not be made out when the boat was discovered.] April 30, 2009 9:00 pm



Lunatic Piran 1 - April 28, 2009
.......
A TRAGEDY AT SEA

Onboard the RV Roger Revelle out of San Diego, CA, USA. Enroute from Durban, South Africa to Freemantle/Perth, Australia on an oceanographic research cruise I5, somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

--------------

Date: 28-April-2009
GPS time: 06:30 GMT/12:30 local
Lat: 32 18.009S
Long: 091 07.543E

While steaming at 12 knots toward our next station, the ship unexpectedly stopped several miles before the station. We were wondering what the occasion was, did someone hook a tuna finally? I was in the lab running nutrient samples when my lab partner from the other watch came in and said that we had found a sailboat with no one on board.
...... see links below..

http://blog.seattlepi.com/monasticmoments/archives/167676.asp?source=m
http://24ur.com/ekskluziv/zanimivosti/sterk-vse-blize-guinessovemu-rekordu.html
http://hookahjoe.livejournal.com/234148.html



5.5.2009


Position for Lunatic was Latitude 32-18.0S, Longitude 091-07.0E.

siehe:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/monasticmoments/archives/167676.asp?source=mypi

Tragedy at Sea

My brother Peter is an oceanographer - based out of NOA here in Seattle. On Tuesday he sent this email which I thought was worth passing on.

[Added Update: We discovered today that the actual name of the boat was Lunatic Piran - which could not be made out when the boat was discovered.] April 30, 2009 9:00 pm

Picture
Lunatic Pirate 1 - April 28, 2009

A TRAGEDY AT SEA

Onboard the RV Roger Revelle out of San Diego, CA, USA. Enroute from Durban, South Africa to Freemantle/Perth, Australia on an oceanographic research cruise I5, somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

--------------

Date: 28-April-2009
GPS time: 06:30 GMT/12:30 local
Lat: 32 18.009S
Long: 091 07.543E

While steaming at 12 knots toward our next station, the ship unexpectedly stopped several miles before the station. We were wondering what the occasion was, did someone hook a tuna finally? I was in the lab running nutrient samples when my lab partner from the other watch came in and said that we had found a sailboat with no one on board.

I went out on deck and there she was, just drifting along. Her mainsail was set but it was in tatters. She had a white hull with white sails. To my mind she was quite small, maybe 30 feet? She was floating high in the water, certainly she was watertight and not sinking. Her hull was very heavily fouled with marine growth; it was obvious she had been out here for a long time.

Picture
Lunatic Pirate 2 - April 28, 2009

There was a fishing pole rigged over the side although no line in the water. There was a line over the side trailing aft. Her hatch from the cockpit into the cabin was open but everything seemed in order, no water in the cockpit or obviously in the cabin. Her name was partially visible on her stern, "Lunatic Pirate", but no home port or nationality. She was a very sad, melancholy looking craft.

What happened to leave her drifting out here, alone. Where was her crew? Did they abandon her, thinking she was in trouble? Did they get knocked overboard by the boom? Slip and fall overboard and weren't able to swim fast enough to catch her again?

It made me very sad to see her like that. It was just so emotional to see her, to be faced with what must have been some sort of tragedy at sea. I felt, and still feel, like I did when I saw a man get hit by a car while crossing the street. Sort of overwhelmed by it all. Everyone I talked to seems to feel a lot the same, it hit us all.

The first mate said that he could see a log book in the cabin so a Jacob's ladder was put over the side and someone went onboard and retrieved the log book and several other items. I was running samples in the lab and had to leave but this was told to me later. According to what I have heard, the last entry in the log book was from January, 2009, she may have been drifting out here since then?

Interestingly, there were several large fish swimming about the boat, anything floating in the sea seems to attract them. I was told there were two mahi-mahi and one wahoo. I saw one fish, no idea what it was.

Yesterday we got the official word that a cruise on this ship subsequent to this one, I7, which was going to go from Oman to intersect the line we are on, and then back to South Africa has been canceled due to the fear of pirates around Somalia. These ships would be natural targets since we spend a lot of time dead in the water while sampling. And with all the people onboard, a kidnapper's dream. So when we saw the boat, I am sure the idea of pirates went through a lot of minds, certainly it occurred to me.

Picture
Lunatic Pirate 3 - April 28, 2009

I went on deck after we were underway again and I saw her off the stern, it was so sad, just watching her "sail" away, all alone again. Enough to make me cry. I didn't take a picture of that, I think I'm glad.

Later:

We have since found out some of what happened. Because we knew her name, "Lunatic Pirate" someone was able to Google it and find out that her owner was a 72 year old man who was attempting to circumnavigate the globe. He had left New Zealand and sailed east, rounding both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. He was on the last leg back to New Zealand when he was lost. A ham radio operator heard from him on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th), 2008, and he was in heavy weather but doing fine. No one has heard from him since January 2009. Supposedly another ship has sighted her before us but was too large to be able to board her. I don't quite understand that, but since the logs were still aboard, I guess it's right.

On a happier note, we just finished our last cast of my watch and when I went on deck for retrieval, I saw that there were several fish swimming about the cable we had over the side. They were mahi mahi again, beautiful fish. They glowed in the dark as if they were under a black light, a brilliant blue. It was nice just to watch them.

--------
When I asked Peter if it was okay to share his posting - he said it was.

Hi Pat,

Just got a minute, but go ahead and put it up if you want. It was an "interesting" event. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I think one of the saddest things is just feeling like we were abandoning the boat, it just looked so sad. As if it was alive and we were letting it go, like dropping off a puppy.

Peter



Posted by Sister Patricia at April 30, 2009 5:43 a.m.
Comments
#296904

Posted by unregistered user at 4/30/09 12:57 p.m.

The sailor was Jure ©terk from Slovenia, Europe.

Last report about his attempt to sail around the world alone:
24ur.com/ekskluziv/zanimivosti/sterk-vse
-blize-guinessovemu-rekordu.html

Web page that followed his sailing around the world:
www.fotobesenicar.com/?cat_id=12

May he rest in peace.


Posted by unregistered user at 4/30/09 1:27 p.m.

... he was my fellow countryman, a 72-years old lone wolf, always sailing alone... his name was Jure Sterk, right now I'm holding in my hand his first book, titled "Roulette on Atlantic", written in 1985, about his first solo attempt to cross the Atlantic ... circled the globe many times since then... I had an honour to shake his hand, almost twenty years ago, just after returning from his, as he said, the most important voyage, single-handed around the globe in a tiny, 6-meters long vessel called Slovenia, to celebrate the first anniversary of his country.

... Peter, Pat, you did the right thing to share this with us, thank you... brought tears in my eyes too, Peter... and for you Jure, fair winds and following seas, wherever you are now... as you told me once, you wouldn't want it any other way....

Matjaz
Ljubljana, Slovenia


Posted by unregistered user at 4/30/09 2:49 p.m.

Pat thank you for your post, and please thank your brother for those images and his thoughts.
May he rest in peace.
Jure pocivaj v modrini.


Posted by unregistered user at 4/30/09 3:05 p.m.

The name of the boat is "Lunatic Piran" and not Lunatic Pirate. Piran is an old city at the sea side in Slovenia.

This can be seen in an old video here:
http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/nasli-sterkovo-jadrnico.html

(see at the end of the video)


Posted by Sister Patricia at 4/30/09 8:51 p.m.

Thank you for your comments and updates about this story. I was hoping it would provide a little more background. So good to have a face and a name and a life to complete this story.

Thank you, Matjaz for your comment about sharing this story being the right thing to do... because we were a bit hesitant about it - but it seemed more good would be done by sharing than not.

I do appreciate the links - and I saw that the boat's name was actually the Lunatic Piran from the video.

I hope perhaps even more bits and pieces will come to this story. This morning we prayed for Jure Sterk at Mass. From the pictures in the video he looked like a very good and life loving person.


Posted by unregistered user at 4/30/09 10:32 p.m.

R.I.P. Jure
sLOVEnija will never forget you


Posted by unregistered user at 4/30/09 11:02 p.m.

Three times he attended Minitransat transatlantic race (Transat 6.50) after the boat with eight time Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean twice, once the Pacific, between the years 1991-1994 is around the world on the sailboat, only 6.5 meters long. Most boats were made by himself [1].

In their ventures, the five [2] fall into the sea, the four seriously injured or lost a rudder, is also five times harder stuck, a sailboat is always resolved without foreign assistance. In December 2007 it was abolished in sailing around the world to start and end in New Zealand. Via radio links, the last answer 1st January 2009, 27 January have seen his boat damaged and apparently abandoned in the Indian Ocean about 1,000 miles off the coast of Australia. [3] It is currently missing.

Šterk is an honorary member of the Club sailing Ljubljana, Portoroz, and a member of the British YC cruising Ocean Club, the largest sailing club in the world. He is also a master of Judah (1. day after the Kodokan) and radioamateur (with call sign S52YS).
R.I.P. Jure


Posted by unregistered user at 5/1/09 2:43 a.m.

A sad story....A very brave sailor.
Rest in Peace Jure.
Noel Phillips
Dorset - England


Posted by unregistered user at 5/1/09 5:17 a.m.

What a sad but nice story about this sailor. I am sure he will be remembered more since you posted all this.
Thanks Sr. Pat I love your stories.
May he rest in peace.
Florence


Posted by AnneMary at 5/1/09 5:38 a.m.

Thank you forposting this Sr.Pat. It brings to mind so many spiritual and personal thoughts. I am sure that as this this man sailed alone, he was called as the apostles to be one with Christ. May he now have seen the face of God.
Have a gentle and happy weekend!
Carol


Posted by unregistered user at 5/1/09 5:49 a.m.

Dear,dear Sister, PLEASE obey the 9 o clock bell .Let the work wait your rest will help you do it tomorrow rather than plodding on when you are tired. Think of it as God saying goodnight & turn off the computer. God Bless you Ann


Posted by Emmi Hyvarinen at 5/1/09 6:31 a.m.

IIRC, the Lunatic Piran was first found abandoned off the coast of Australia back in February.

Levätä rauhassa, Jure Sterk.


Posted by unregistered user at 5/1/09 6:34 a.m.

Sr. Pat,
That is a sad, but beautiful story. But what is more wonderful is to see the people who answered from Slovenia
A Sr. Pat Fan


Posted by unregistered user at 5/1/09 7:12 a.m.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
o hear us when we cry to Thee
for those in peril on the sea

(Navy Hymn)


Posted by unregistered user at 5/1/09 2:17 p.m.

Im the 2nd Mate of the Roger Revelle, we discovered her on my watch - I'm the one who "unexpectedly stopped" the ship. I didnt do such a long write up on it but my account is at the following link

http://hookahjoe.livejournal.com/234148.html


Posted by unregistered user at 5/2/09 2:33 a.m.

Hello, I am the Chief Mate aboard the Research Vessel Roger Revelle. Our 2nd Mate Joe Ferris sighted the sailing vessel Lunatic at approx 1200 noon on 28th April 2009. Position for Lunatic was Latitude 32-18.0S, Longitude 091-07.0E. I along with an A.B. boarded the Lunatic after our Captain brought our ship alongside the sailboat. The Lunatic had no one aboard but, I was able to recover some personal photos and what appear to be the 2007-2008 log and a new log book for 2009 that was located on the chart table. The last log entry we found was for January 2nd 2009. The position written down for that day placed the Lunatic approx 500nm South East of where we found her. We also recovered a small tape recorder that was being used to record Australian Marine Weather Forcasts-the last recording on the recorder was for January 1st and 2nd weather predictions. There was also spaces, grids made in the
January 2009 logbook for future weather entries-this shows me that Mr Sterk was lucid and planning ahead for days to come. I think he had an incident on the 2nd or 3rd of January 2009. We have notified the Australian Coast Guard and Slovenian embassy but have got no reply. I read that Mr Sterk has a child. If this is so, it would be nice if someone got the word out to them so we could return the photos and logbooks to them so they have some kind of closure. There was no liferaft canister found on the outside of the sailboat.
best regards,
Rob Widdrington


Posted by unregistered user at 5/2/09 6:59 a.m.

PLs consider to get the family alerted. It is the work of charity and the lord will reward.
Thanks


Posted by Irish Colleen at 5/2/09 10:11 a.m.

Thank you Sr. Pat and your brother too for sharing this sad but beautiful story of a man dedicated to what had to be a passionate love of the sea and sailing. I sincerely hope that someone can bring in the Lunatic Piran to a safe shore and repair any damage done by the elements to her. It would be a fine tribute to her Captain. I pray he is on the sunny shores of Heaven, a very safe harbor, and we can all meet in eternal time.


Posted by unregistered user at 5/2/09 10:17 p.m.

Dear Sr. Pat,

Just love the quote for May 1st, how true and I will try to remember it especially in tought times.

with love and prayers,

Smita, Abu Dhabi


Posted by unregistered user at 5/4/09 11:28 p.m.

this made sailinganarchys front page. mixed emotions, obviously an old sailor who loved the sea, and probably couldn't think of a better way to go.

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.



- John Masefield


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 12:40 a.m.

Sad story, but in some way happy. He certainly went to sleep to his most wanted bed.... sea

Mr. Widdrington, yes, Mr. Sterk has soon. He is very good film directors in Slovenia. His name is Igor Sterk. You can try to reach him on this email addres igor.sterk@guest.arnes.si
And some other data about him:
http://www.film-sklad.si/index.php?module=strani&stranid=98&op=oseba&osebaID=4918

Thank you for shareing this story
rok


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 1:13 a.m.

I had lunch with Jure in Vieste sept. 04, his last stop heading Gibraltar for another round the world cruise. He was incredible and I remember him telling about his ropes out of board and how many times he fell in water and returned on deck thanks to those ropes: I believe he perfectly knew that one day, these ropes, would not save him. He was the perfect optimist, taking a huge risk (that repeated becomes a certitude) but smiling at this fate, happy to have been able to sail all of his life.

I'd like to know what is of his boat: maybe some of us could put some money together to bring it back home in Piran and restore it in order to remember one of the greatest sailors of this past century.

Francesco Illy
born in Trieste


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 2:06 a.m.

Hi My name is Fred from Tauranga New Zealand.Jure and his yacht Lunatic was in the Bridge Marina preparing for the voyage,he left Tauranga in Dec 2007,his course was across to Cape Horn up around the Azores back around the bottom of Australia ,Tasmania, across the Southern Ocean around the bottom of New Zealand thence up to Tauranga to complete his voyage to become the oldest sailor in the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the world.
Jure had touched the lives of many Kiwis ,he was a well respected quiet unassumming sailor.Jure removed the heavy old motor from Lunatic allowing more room for essential food.'Won't be needing the motor,I'm sailing non-stop," he said with a grin.
It is not often you are able to get alongside an adventurer of the calibre of Jure.His wise counsel,his thought provoking philosphies combined with a sharp wit endeared him to all those who took the time to be in his company.
May your Spirit soar with the majestic wandering Albatross of the great Southern Ocean.
We will remember you my friend.


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 2:31 a.m.

there are older informations abaut S52YS on a german site:
http://www.intermar-ev.de/intermar-yachtlogbuch/index.php?WW-Call:S52YS

.... that 1.01.09 up to now the last contact was. Jure wanted to rise in his Dinghy to clean the underwater ship of his "Lunatik".

he may complete peacefully his last travel

peter, berlin


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 11:17 a.m.

It is a sad story. I hope some could bring the "Lunatic Piran" in, or give her a Viking's funeral, so she does not cause a accident.

"KATANA"


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 3:25 p.m.

very touching story

murri an ADV from Italy


Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/09 10:31 p.m.

r.i.p legenda.


Posted by unregistered user at 5/6/09 2:41 a.m.

Hey guy thank you for everithing (information, pictures, details and first of all tanks for the stop at the Lunatic). Our government again drop the test with her inactive main role at the topic. We all know that Jure is missing from the start of this year. They didn't even contact Australian's about that we are missing him. Thank you guys for your effort and for the infortant information what is going on with Lunatic.


Posted by unregistered user at 5/6/09 5:04 a.m.

Beatufifull story.. Very sad, thats true.. but buautiful. I've never heard about him, but the things i could read about it really touch me. Rest in Peace, Jure.

Mariana,
from Brazil


Posted by unregistered user at 5/6/09 6:07 a.m.

I've read the blog ... and all the touching, heartfelt descriptions of the abandoned sail boat.
Jure Sterk's son is indeed an excellent film director and due to his work, he's often away. It's better to contact him via his G-mail address: sterkigor@gmail.com


Posted by unregistered user at 5/6/09 9:11 a.m.

slava mu.

fantazma
slovenia


Posted by Sister Patricia at 5/6/09 8:43 p.m.

comment from Sr. Patricia. - I think this posting has been the most important posting I have ever done. And the beauty is that I merely shared what I received and others shared what they had to give and it has resulted in a beautiful tribute to Jure Sterk.

Just shows how connected we all are - even when we can't imagine we are.


Posted by unregistered user at 5/6/09 10:36 p.m.

To Friends we have lost by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore, a ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says "There she has gone!" Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminshed size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says " There she has gone!" , there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout;" Here she comes!


Posted by unregistered user at 5/7/09 10:49 p.m.

Interesting story. I feel sorry for him and pray for his safety, or eternal rest


Posted by Kathleen6455 at 5/7/09 11:04 p.m.

Thank you Sister Patricia and for your brother Peter's story a Tragedy at Sea... I thought of this poem 'The sea is so wide and my boat is so small' and found this poem to share instead:

Adrift! A little boat adrift! by Emily Dickinson

Adrift! A little boat adrift!
And night is coming down!
Will no one guide a little boat
Unto the nearest town?

So Sailors say -- on yesterday --
Just as the dusk was brown
One little boat gave up its strife
And gurgled down and down.

So angels say -- on yesterday --
Just as the dawn was red
One little boat -- o'erspent with gales --
Retrimmed its masts -- redecked its sails --
And shot -- exultant on!

RIP Jure Sterk

Peace and prays... Kathleen



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