#Offshore - Doubts have been cast over the predicament of two female sailors rescued in the Pacific last week after investigators called into question some parts of their story.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiaba were picked up by the US Navy last Wednesday (25 October) some 900 miles from Japan, thousands of miles off course from their reputed voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti.
However, contrary to the tale that the pair had been adrift with no land in sight since the end of May, CBS News reports that their boat the Sea Nymph had numerous opportunities to make landfall, from turning back to Hawaii to seeking help en route at Christmas Island and Kiribati’s largest island.
What’s more, the sailors had even confirmed by radio to the US Coast Guard that they were not in distress at a point after they reportedly lost the use of their engines and damaged their sails in stormy weather — though meteorologists have no record of storm activity in the region where they claim to have been.
The US Coast Guard also confirmed earlier this week that the women had a working EPRIB on board but had chosen not to activate it, despite their claims of being close to giving up on finding help.
CBS News has much more on the story HERE.
