# Was sailing the HMS Bounty through this storm as stupid as it seems to a layman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260 "2012-10-29T20:56:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/41 "2013-03-30T17:30:17Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > That a buttload of water to manually pump out. I saw what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/42 "2013-03-31T01:58:06Z")
> [@](#): > > My understanding is that engine trouble was the primary culprit; no engine to drive her nor power for the bilge pumps. It’s interesting to speculate that if this had happened in 1790 or thereabouts, they might have been able to keep her afloat. The crew of the original Bounty numbered 45, while the IIRC the crew of the replica were only 19 in number. Very likely the number of crewmen in the original would have been enough to keep their manual bilge pumps manned and operating until the storm was over. I rather expect that the replica would not have had any manual pumps of the necessary size aboard, and even if they had, a crew of 19 would have been physically exhausted long before a crew of 45. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/43 "2013-03-31T05:47:06Z")
Interesting point, and I suspect you’re right. High tech isn’t always better tech. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/44 "2013-03-31T07:26:52Z")
Whats so dangerous about harbours for the ship ? lots of ships were in harbour for Sandy and how many sank ? There’s no dramatic problem - storm surge just means you have to tie up to a vertical pole, so that the ship can go up and down without a problem. Captain should have chosen to hug the shore and pull into harbour if Sandy does come through. There’s a million safe harbours , all that bayoo along the coast there… he could just tie up to tree and not even be asked to pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/45 "2013-03-31T09:15:16Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Whats so dangerous about harbours for the ship ? lots of ships were in harbour for Sandy and how many sank ? There’s no dramatic problem - storm surge just means you have to tie up to a vertical pole, so that the ship can go up and down without a problem. > Captain should have chosen to hug the shore and pull into harbour if Sandy does come through. There’s a million safe harbours , all that bayoo along the coast there.. > he could just tie up to tree and not even be asked to pay for it. really… hmmmm Please activate you search IQ before you post. tsfr ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/46 "2013-03-31T17:21:12Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > really… hmmmm Please activate you search IQ before you post. > > tsfr **Moderator Note** **ThisSpaceForRent** , please refrain from pointless jabs at other posters. If you want to criticize a post, explain why. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/47 "2013-03-31T18:32:52Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Whats so dangerous about harbours for the ship ? lots of ships were in harbour for Sandy and how many sank ? There’s no dramatic problem - storm surge just means you have to tie up to a vertical pole, so that the ship can go up and down without a problem. > Captain should have chosen to hug the shore and pull into harbour if Sandy does come through. There’s a million safe harbours , all that bayoo along the coast there.. > he could just tie up to tree and not even be asked to pay for it. I don’t have a cite for you, but I’ll venture that the typical hurricane destroys more craft in marinas and at anchor than they do at sea. For decades, it has been SOP for some fleets to go to sea to ride out storms rather than risk being driven ashore while in a harbor. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/48 "2014-06-13T16:47:34Z")
The U.S. Coast Guard investigation report is out, and it is not flattering of the captain: [http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/us/hms-bounty-tall-ship-sinking-investigation/index.html?hpt=hp\_t3](http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/us/hms-bounty-tall-ship-sinking-investigation/index.html?hpt=hp_t3) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260/49 "2014-06-13T22:03:06Z")
About what I expected. Hope they do allow the training & pleasure ships to keep working as usual. More attention to making a passage is OK with me as long as they do not make one owner, non commercial open water sailing any more restrictive.I do not trust them to do that or keep the assurances they are spouting at this time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-sailing-the-hms-bounty-through-this-storm-as-stupid-as-it-seems-to-a-layman/639260.md?page=2)