In early December of 2006, 69-year-old David Irvin Rodman was part of a three-man crew on the final leg of an epic journey. They were tasked with delivering a new 44-foot catamaran, the 'Cat Shot,' from Cape Town, South Africa, all the way to its new owner in Seattle, Washington. After successfully navigating approximately 13,000 nautical miles with stops in the Caribbean, Mexico, and California, the vessel departed from San Francisco on December 8 for its final push north.
Aboard with Rodman was the skipper, 55-year-old John Anstess. The men were seasoned sailors, but they were about to face a storm of historic proportions off the treacherous coast of Oregon.
As the 'Cat Shot' sailed north, the weather began to deteriorate rapidly. The vessel was caught in what would later be known as the Hanukkah Eve windstorm of 2006, a tempest that shattered records and was considered one of the worst to hit the Pacific Northwest in over a decade. In the pitch-dark, early morning hours of December 11, the crew made their last entry in the ship's logbook. At 3 a.m., they recorded their position as approximately 10 miles west of Cape Blanco, noting southerly winds of 40 to 50 knots. They had lowered all sails and deployed two sea anchors, doing all they could to ride out the storm. Data from a nearby weather buoy would later confirm the terrifying conditions, indicating peak winds of 52 knots and monstrous waves reaching heights of 25 feet.
The last log entry was a testament to the crew's struggle against the violent sea. Four days later, on December 15, the grim fate of the 'Cat Shot' became clear. The wreckage of the catamaran was discovered washed ashore on a beach south of Lincoln City, Oregon, about 120 miles north of its last known position. The vessel was found upside-down and had been dismasted, with most of its superstructure torn away by the force of the waves. The meticulously kept logbook was recovered from the wreckage, offering a final glimpse into the crew's ordeal. The United States Coast Guard launched an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving aircraft, helicopters, and boats, but tragically, no sign of David Rodman or his fellow crewmen was ever found. The case remains a heartbreaking tale of experienced sailors on a long voyage home, lost at sea after an unforgiving and powerful storm overwhelmed their vessel.Last Seen: Dec 8, 2006
