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I'm also a local, long time sailor. There's been quite a few instances of big ships ramming small craft and no debris remaining. I don't know what the visibility has been offshore but here in Alameda there has been periods of low visibility (read fog) over the last several days.

The area between the gate and the Farallons is a major shipping lane with ships coming from north, south and west. They don't always stay in the lanes and they don't always keep a good look out. I've had some close calls with the bigguns myself over the years, and that's standing a constant watch. A single hander can easily get distracted or become ill and not see what is coming right for him.

As to taking the boat somewhere else, there's only a few places places within a reasonable distance: Half Moon Bay or Drakes Bay. I imagine the CG has covered those bases.

Unless the guy got a total wild hair and decided to go off voyaging without telling anyone, he's on the bottom.

Thanks for your informative reply.

I have to set this straight: I sailed there from 1967-'73. I haven't sailed in that area since then. I am sure freight traffic is intense by now---it was not a great worry back in the late '60's.

We used to do the race to Encinada every year for about 4 straight, and, out of Newport Beach, to Catalina quite often. No Sea Lions then to harass your transom.

Half Moon Bay or Drakes Bay. I imagine the CG has covered those bases.

I know where Half Moon Bay is...still trying to recall Drake.

It's still difficult for me to imagine a boat-destroying accident on such a good day and with such an experienced skipper, who has (had?) lifetime knowledge of the area.

I still suspect self-induced skullduggery.

I could see how that scenario could happen because the container ship would not have to center punch the sail boat, it might hit it and open a hole at one end or the other then knock it over on its side at the same time. It could sink and be gone in 90 seconds or less.

Also those container ships are coming in pretty fast, 18-20 knots at least.

I had a few years sailing out there in the Bay area back in 1992 to 1995'sh. My training was buying the boat, reading books, talking to people, and I single handed it first time out and thereafter including flying the spinnaker.

I kept my boat at the Brisbane Marina. My mentor who was also at Brisbane at the time invited me to be his mate for the 1993 Farallons Island race in the 2 man crew competition.

Man I learned a lot from him. He was very adept and a intense competitor. Among other things we flew a spinnaker in 20 knot+ winds & high swells, yes we had a mast slap or two.

He later did excellent in his class and overall in the 1996 TransPac-Singlehand.

Back to the article, I don't see how the guy could have got beyond CG detection in such a short time, I think he's on the bottom too.

Wolf