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Footage of 65' Donzi in hurricane

Discussion in 'Donzi/Roscioli Yacht' started by Manny, May 26, 2009.

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  1. Manny

    Manny Senior Member

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    Hi all,

    I'm sure some of you know of that story of the 65' Donzi that survived Hurricane Darby back in 1992 at sea. 30 Straight hours of waves up to 30 ft or more, and the boat miraculously survived in the end, but lost afterward. All 7 aboard survived.

    If you haven't heard of it, or want the story in more detail, you can check it out in the link I have below. Knowing Roscioli, I'm sure some of the details are exaggerated:rolleyes: But most is true.

    http://www.donziyachts.com/article.php?file=nowhere

    Well, I somehow stumbled upon footage of the actual occurance. It just so happens that the weather channel show named Storm Stories made an episode of this, and 4 of the 7 men were interviewed on the matter, with some actual footage used in the beginning and end.(the middle was reenacted with a much smaller viking).

    http://www.weather.com/multimedia/v...mail&par=blinkx&promo=top&site=www.blinkx.com

    I guess I should get a Donzi soon, so I'll know that if I'm ever caught at sea during a hurricane my chances of survival are higher. :D
  2. Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Great vid, thanks for sharing.
    Wonder why these guys couldn't take advantage of getting in the lee of the island...
    BTW,that 'Viking' in the reenactment was a Pacifica.
  3. Manny

    Manny Senior Member

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    According to the story published in the Donzi site, there was no lee apparently.

    It was? sorry to me it seemed like a viking.....couldn't really tell with all the weather effects.
  4. Hawk

    Hawk Senior Member

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    The owner of the Donzi in this story is now a proud owner of 120' Crescent
  5. Manny

    Manny Senior Member

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    really? do you know him? did he end up buying another Donzi right after the hurricane as stated in Roscioli's article?
  6. Hawk

    Hawk Senior Member

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    Yes he did buy another Donzi and hung on to it for many years before buying his "big" boat. He is still an avid fisherman and has put many many miles under his belt looking for the perfect fish.
  7. Bamboo

    Bamboo Senior Member

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    That's Donzi weather... :eek:
  8. aeronautic1

    aeronautic1 Member

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    Gulf of Alaska

    In May 1976, I was an engineering officer on USCGC Mellon, a 378' Coast Guard cutter. We drove thru a 940mb low to get to the sailing vessel SORCERY which was rolled by a 100' rogue at 0100. During our run to rescue SORCERY, we encountered 40-80' seas; had to switch from the Fairbanks Morris mains (which red-line at 750 rpm) to the Pratt and Whitney turbines and pitch the props back for 7 knots. That Big White One would come to a complete stop as it slammed into each huge wave sending a wakashaa-wakashaa down the entire length of the ship. 30-40 degree rolls where common. We cracked the superstructure and 11 main beams thru the deck in the bow, had 3 foot waves in the paint locker and tore off all the NBC washdown gear mounted throughout the exterior of the ship. Both 80# "bullnose" covers for the hawser pipe where blown off from their 10 dog mounts (one was found up on the signal bridge). The helicopter flight deck is 40' from the waterline and we would scurry out from the "balloon shelter" in a trough and look UP at crests 20-30'. We succesfully rescued all 11 owner and crew on SORCERY and towed the vessel into Kodiak. Absolutely one of the proudest, and scariest, times in my career. You can read a SORCERY crew account here:
    http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/archive/sorcery/sorcery2.htm :eek:
  9. aeronautic1

    aeronautic1 Member

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    Isla San Benedicto


    ISB is oblonged and only about 3 miles long and less than a mile wide which runs NNE to SSW. Not much protect there. Great fishing though.
  10. Manny

    Manny Senior Member

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    agreed
  11. VikHatBer

    VikHatBer New Member

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    Definitely worth the 21 minutes. I have seen that footage before...a long time ago.

    I bet they were happy to have an enclosed flybridge. I wonder if that would become a liability in such high wind.

    Long live the heavy, overbuilt battlewagons! I would not want to get stuck out there in a Riviera or a Sea Ray.
  12. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    I'm impressed. I don't think too many FL guys could ID the Pacifica.
  13. Manny

    Manny Senior Member

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    they actually didnt have an enclosed flybridge. It was open with enclosures, but the enclosures were washed away; that's why they needed diving masks on the flybridge in order to see the instruments and what was ahead.
  14. Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    I was a frequent visitor to SoCal back in the '80s...
    Is Wanda Kipper still around?
  15. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Negative. 1990 was the end of the road for Pacifica. Favored by hardcore fishermen and designed for the long run to Cabo. They remained almost unchanged for twenty years. Remarkable, but probably not the best strategy for the long term.
  16. Manny

    Manny Senior Member

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    On a side note, does anyone have any info regarding any other Donzi's that have sunk?

    I know of 3 that sunk, this one and 2 others. But details on the other 2 are sketchy. anyone know which ones I'm talking about?
  17. robert biscan

    robert biscan New Member

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    I watched with great interest. It's the hurricane season again. I'd say those guys were extremely lucky.