An East Coast (Near-Disaster
I've been mostly landlocked in the Western Canadian Oil Patch the past year and a half, shoulder to the grindstone, that sort of thing.....
With some hope of fraternity I joined the Bluewater Cruising Association aka BCA that has an active chapter in Calgary, AB. Even though there was an ocean here many millenia ago you have to travel over 1000 klm west, as many from here do to find an Ocean, also the Left one BTW.
Vancouver and Victoria, BC have extremely active groups, sponsor winter training courses, bring like minded together to mutually prepare themselves for Ocean Cruising, etc. If I've understood correctly there are currently about 12 Calgary owned boats currently cruising the World. Surprising at first thought but then this is a fairly well heeeled place.
The Calgary chapter holds monthly meetings and I've managed to catch a few, typical group of sailors, have a "wet", tell stories and typically a keynote Speaker who has been engaged to entertain those gathered.
In November they had organized a local Dentist to come and speak on his Adventure in May, 06. I had somehow managed to not have heard or read antthing about this occurrance and found his story intensely interesting.
He was one of 4 joint Owners of a 45' Beneteau based in Tortola, BV. They shared expenses and I gather shared the Yacht for parts of the year. He didn't mention whether ity was in Charter service and I gathered not. Based on the Insurance Package they'd selected the Yacht would have to be out of the Caribbean for the Hurricane Season so they'd collectively decided to move her to Maine, USA
One partner with several acquaintences had sailed her from the BVI to Bermuda where another crew including our speaker, the Calgary Dentist was to take over for the leg to Rhode Island. He talked about the process of provisioning the boat for a crew of I think it was 5 for a planned 6 day trip across the Gulf Stream in a NNW direction. The weather had been unsuitable for a departure for several days. (selection of a Captain seemed to have been made based on the claimed experience of each of the individuals of that group aboard?) The nominated Skipper eventually told them they were sailing with a three day weather window and winds suitable for their intended course.
6 hours out the wind shifted directly on to the nose and stayed there. They motored straight into it for I think about 2 days. The winds were I gathered 20-25 and the Sea State got progressively worse. If I understood correctly they were carrying a bit of sail but not making any headway. On Saturday afternoon with their position deemed to be just over 200 NM off the US Mainland they decided to abandon ship? The logic being that based on the weather direction and that they were being pushed eastward they would be, by the next morning beyond the service range of Coast Guard Rescue Helicopters. (300 miles) The EPIRB was registered to the Calgary Dentist so when it was activated the first response was for Search and Rescue to attempt to phone the registered Owner. The Dentists' wife received that call. They has Sat. Telephone aboard so the Wife called the Yacht, Our Dentist had decided he would not notify her until they were safely ashore! Via Telephone they then confirmed their location to Search and Rescue and further confirmed their desire to be evacuated that day.
They were first overflown by a Hercules who I think dropped them a VHF-can't remember?
The Helicopter came on station and a man was put in the water on the winch cable to capture each crew member after he jumped overboard. By 10:00 pm that Saturday night the last of the Crew was hoisted aboard the Helicopter. I believe the closest station was North Carolina so that was the destination. No discussion had taken place with Coast Guard concerning the state of/ or sinking the boat. (Hazard to Navigation) They closed the hatch/ companionway and left.
On arrival in the US they were greeted and given every assistance in getting clothing, esentials and assistance with travel arrangements. No charges or assessments from the rescue effort was made against them by USCG/ Homeland Security.
About a week later the Dentist recieves word the Boat had been found adrift by a Norwegian LNG Carrier, taken under tow and had arrived in Boston. The only apparent damage was that done by the ships' crew while under tow, ripped out cleats I think basically.
The Ships' Owners were not interested in claiming salvage and instead accepted on behalf of the crew a voluntary sum of Money offered by the Yachts' Insurer. The boat was taken back by the Partnership and repairs completed. The Insurer offered them renewal coverage with no increase in premium subsequently and I gather they completed the trip to Maine.
At the conclusion I had two questions;
Had you lost faith in the Boat-the Answer-Yes?
Who made on the basis of the 3 day Forecast the decision to leave Bermuda-he wasn't sure?
The dentists' sailing experience consisted I think of racing small keel boats on the Resivoir in Calgary, and ecentially charter type cruising in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean. Got off very lucky I'd say.
Pretty disturbing story.....
, we are now torn between planning a barefoot charter between somewhere around BVI and Tahiti since we loved it there SOOOO Much! Either way, it will definately be a CAT since they are readily available, have exceptional space, and most important, draw very little draft.
