Lizzie Borden Society Forum

The Sailing vessel FREE SPIRIT has been lost at sea and Coast Gaurd has called off it's search after a couple of days.

The Free Spirit was a 41 foot sloop out of Newport R.I. that was making a trip to the Azores with 4 people aboard and experienced storm conditions 400 miles east of Cape Cod, 200 miles south of Nova Scotia. Four People were lost. I find it sad because a 19 year old young girl from Newport, Molly Finn, who signed on for the adventure was lost.

The boat ran into storm conditions, the remnats of tropical storm Alberto. Once a storm reaches the high latitudes it begins to move much faster. If you have a storm packing 30 to 40 mph winds and is traveling at 40 to 50 mph over ground, the winds could translate to 90 to 100 mph if you are at the wrong quadrant at the wrong time. It does not need to be a hurricane to sink you.

It hits me hard because I have tried that trip twice in the past 3 years, both times becoming so seasick that I had to return. (baby) I know what it takes. Much has to do with a safe weather window. My trips were towards the winter when contitions are much more crucial. You need the right people, the right boat and equipment, and the right weather window. I think perhaps that the Free Spirit, at the very least, lacked at least two out of the three. To Bad.....The northern Atlantic can swallow you up, even in the spring or summer. Have no idea who Molly Finn was, but need to admire her courage......

Just a note of interest, at least to me....

So sorry about that Micheal. Your sailing feats and attempts are very important to you. I can see why you would be so upset. It hits very close to home.
That's sad news.

Thanks Kat: My experience is that it should have never happened. I would have not left until Alberto went by. They had plenty of warning and still left. When they left Alberto was just crossing Florida. The capitian was known to be extravagant, excessive, and reckless with his money and His business. So I can only imagine that he was the same with his prep for this voyage. He was a Brit. and a lawyer who lived in Newport at the time.

I just feel sorry for the young lady Molly Finn.

They probably got caught in the Gulf Steam which is one place you just do not want to be in a storm. Very dangerous place to be, any navy man will tell you that. It happened almost in the same general area where the fishing vessel went down in the famous story "The Perfect Storm."

Rule number one for me is if I'm headed off shore and there is any activity in the Caribbean or the Gulf down south, stay Put....

Thanks Kat.. Don't think we have many sailors on the forum but thought some would find this post some-what of interest. Thanks.

I didn't know anything about it. Have to rely on you for such news. I think sailing information from your area of New England is fascinating!
It's sort of time travel, pitting *man* against nature in such an ancient sport, or such an early form of transportation. And the sea will always be the sea....