"If you recently bought a SPOT Connect for its distress calling capability, or are looking at similar satellite messaging devices such as the SPOT Messenger, DeLorme InReach, or Briartek Cerberus, you'll want to read our upcoming report on the tragic April 28 accident involving the Hunter 376 Aegean during the Newport to Ensenada Race."...read more below.

http://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/-10824-1.html

The failure of the SPOT "system" to generate a rescue in a timely manner is really REALLY disturbing, but given Doug Ritter's ongoing warnings - not too surprising.

Very sad indeed.

Very disturbing indeed, but weren't Doug's previous warning messages about SPOT due to mechanical failures of the device itself? This incident looks more like human error.

Built in systemic error -- hopefully the SPOT folks have corrected it.

from the link above:Until they fix the system response for emergency calls, SPOT is just a toy.

No surprise. I use the InReach, but also carry a PLB. The InReach is used to stay in touch with other people, and ask them for help if needed; but in a true emergency the PLB is used. Luckily I have not had to send any emergency signals through either one.

I do the same thing. Up until now, I thought it was somewhat redundant.

Glad I switched from the Spot to the ACR Res-Q-Link PLB. Now that I can send non-emergency "I'm OK" messages with it the Spot is of no use at all to me, particularly because I never used it for continuous tracking.

I have the SPOT Messenger but also a land lubber. It never occurred to me that the captain of a boat would use a SPOT device over an EPIRB. Both are life saving devices but based on the utter lack of resources available in the middle of the ocean I would think that boats would have an EPIRB standard.

As I have always done, I will carry my SPOT with me in my off grid adventures. If that includes water borne excursions, I will make sure the boat has an EPIRB and hope it doesn't need to be used. But I would still use my SPOT as a 2ndary.

Too bad for them. Thanks for the info

The aircraft I fly in occasionally for work has a 406 MHz ELT but that does not stop me from backing it up with a PLB. If we ditch and the plane sinks (after I get out), my PLB becomes primary. On a boat that can easily sail out from under SPOT coverage, why would anyone bother with a SPOT? Rhetorical question...

I have a feeling the Captain of the boat had the SPOT primarily for race tracking purposes, only secondarily for emergencies.

good point, Russ