Sobering

You may have noticed that we keep this blog upbeat and with a positive mindset. This is one of the basic fundamentals to our style and we live by it. However, once in a while we run across a situation that deserves mention, yet, has nothing positive or optimistic about it. We strive not to dwell on the negative, and we enjoy being around like-minded people. The following story is not complete, but I will try to present the facts. I am not being judgmental and want you to experience this story at its face value.

The Caribbean 1500 is a sailboat rally for cruisers. It starts in Norfolk, Virginia and finishes in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, about 1,500 miles southeast. It coincides with the annual migration of cruisers wintering in the tropics and departs early in November. The fastest finishers can complete the run in a little over a week. This year’s event had about 80 entries and was hammered by bad weather right after the start. The route takes the participants just east of Abaco. This year, during the high winds and rough seas, an entry named RULE 62, was caught up in the extreme conditions and decided to come through the reefs that fringe Abaco and seek safe harbor. They misjudged the situation and put the boat on the reef. All 4 of them made it into the liferaft and tragically one crewmember was swept off the raft and was lost at sea. Here is a link to the actual loss report. The boat pounded on the reef for 2 weeks, and was salvaged just before Thanksgiving.We witnessed the hulk coming into Marsh Harbor and it was subsequently reattached with its keel, which I presume was removed at the wreck site to facilitate the salvage by lightening the boat. What we watched was just incredible, as the boat was hoisted out of the water by a container-crane and set back onto it’s previously removed keel, right on the freight pier. The boat was a late model Juneau 49 Deck Salon model. I estimate the displacement at 30,000 lbs, the cast iron wing keel being probably about 10,000lbs. of that. Check out these pictures closely.


The boat is patched with sheets of plywood, the rig is completely gone, as are the lifelines and most stanchions. The boat was fully submerged and the inside must have been total chaos. The salvors worked with a 35ft. Panga with triple 150 Yamaha 4 strokes. Air bags provided the lift power. It was truly sobering to see this once beautiful craft reduced to a battered hulk. Our condolences go out to the family and crew of this misfortune, which was very close to our winter home waters.