On my 30 foot sailboat on what started as a perfect day, beautiful weather and marine life swimming around me ended disastrously. I am an experienced sailor in the navy. So you can definitely describe my catastrophe as unexpected and uncontrolled flooding. I would advise everyone inspect all the hull valves prior to offshore sailing. First and foremost have a properly registered ResQlink and or EPIRB onboard.

When I knew the drainage issue was not repairable I set off my PLB and signaled for help. Help came the PLB did its job. Although incredibly disappointed in the outcome, looking back at all I had it was the device, the PLB, that I didn’t think I would ever need which is what became essential.