Missing Sailor Alert

Dutch sailor missing in the Atlantic...

We don't receive press releases like this everyday, so we thought we would pass it along in its entirety. Hopefully all is not lost for this Dutch sailor...

The Netherlands, 25 March 2014
Dutch sailor Sietse Hagen left the port of Tenerife heading for the Caribian isles on January 15th, 2014. Since his departure, now over 60 days ago, he has not reported home. His friends and family, as well as the Dutch sailing community, are deeply concerned about the well-being of this very experienced sailor.

Sietse Hagen is sailing a 27ft Gib’Sea Flush Poker named ‘Pokerface’, small but well prepared for long voyages. He carries no satphone or SSB radio. The boat is recognizable by its fixed spray hood and the black painted stern. Sietse has been reported missing at the local and international authorities, but all help by keeping a lookout for his boat would be very much appreciated.

If you have any information that could help finding Sietse please contact The Netherlands Coastguard or your local police.

###

The Whale And The Chief

Photo Credit: SEFSC.NOAA

Last weekend while manning a vendor booth at the Philadelphia Boat Show, I was approached by a young man with a whale of a tale.

He was wearing a white baseball cap, embroidered with the name "The Chief". I asked him for the story behind the name, assuming that the boat's owner was a fire chief or something of the like. While I never got the boat name's meaning, I did hear a story that I had to 'google' to believe...