Hurricane Sandy: HMS Bounty tall ship crew rescued in storm after making distress call

29 Oct 2012 11:42

The ship, a replica of one made famous in the film "Mutiny on the Bounty", was abandoned off the North Carolina coast


HMS Bountywww.tallshipbounty.org

A tall ship crew have been forced to abandon their vessel in stormy seas off the east coast of the US.

The 17 people aboard HMS Bounty - a replica of one made famous in the film 'Mutiny on the Bounty' - scrambled into lifeboats wearing survival suits and life jackets.

The crew had earlier sent a distress call off North Carolina's Outer Banks as the ship began to take on water.

Coastguard spokesman David Weydert said the ship was drifting about 90 miles off the coast when the ship's owner called saying she'd lost contact with the crew.

An air crew subsequently made contact with the 180-foot, three-masted vessel after receiving a signal from its emergency position indicated beacon.

Swirling winds of up to 40mph and 18ft waves were reported at the scene.

Hurricane Sandy: HMS Bounty tall ship crew rescued in stormy safter making distress call - Mirror Online