Man Overboard Off Topic-The Banter Room Forums

Man overboard … my near drowning incident, caused by an incompetent BoatUS Towboat Services ‘rescue’ boat operator from Fort Pierce, Florida.

2 experienced sailors and I had inspected, prepped, fuelled, watered and provisioned my Eclipse, a '78 Down Easter 38' cutter, prior to leaving Fort Lauderdale for Bermuda and ... the very day before we were due to sail, I received an e-mail from each of them informing me their respective wives had told them not to go.
Despite my better judgement … we all know sailing solo is dangerous and no fun, I did not change my plans, informed my retired sea captain next-door neighbor I was going, he wished me luck and I cast off.  9 days later, with 1-hour naps on deck at night and several pods of dolphins later, I was happily anchored in St. George’s.



FYI ~ I am documented as, 'The World’s Worst Fisherman' ...  I can fish, I just can’t catch.  My best is: 28 days at sea, 2 lines, trolling 24/7 = 3 fish – 1 mahi-mahi, 1 tuna and 1 mackerel.  Flying fish discovered on deck at dawn don’t count.  Once again, I proceeded to uphold my title as, despite towing a line and regularly changing lures for over a week, not a single fishy specimen was brought on board.

On another trip, I warned the crew of a sailboat delivery from Marathon, FL to Halifax, Nova Scotia of my 'title' but they insisted on fishing as it would be fine so long as I was at the wheel.  40 minutes later, we heard the whine of the line as it left the reel.  "Told you so" one of them shouted at me, at the helm and not holding my breath, as the 2 of them hurried aft to reel in.  Honestly, I tried not to laugh but what else can you do when someone goes deep-sea, blue-water fishing and catches a seagull.  The gull was released unhurt and the fishing gear stowed ... never to be seen again.

3 weeks later, I departed Bermuda (solo) and, despite filling up with diesel before departure, including 6 extra 5-gallon cans lashed on deck under the dinghy, I ran out of fuel around midnight in the Gulf Stream approx. 15 miles off the coast of Florida.  
I had motored most of the way as, no matter what direction I headed, the wind was continually switching against me or, there was no wind whatsoever … and the gauge (no longer trusted) showed I still had fuel.
  Eclipse was then being carried north by the Gulf Stream at approx. 5 miles an hour and my mobile phone had no signal as it was out of range.

I radioed the Coast Guard in Miami, told them the situation and that I was OK and, as a member, asked them to please contact BoatUS Towing Services.
  The Coast Guard kindly did as requested and continually called me on the VHF to monitor and update my position.
  By 3:00 AM, the Stream had become very ‘lumpy’ and Eclipse was rocking 'n' rolling from side to side.  
I left the main hoisted to combat the roll and switched on the spreader lights and a flashing strobe on the mast-head in order better to be seen.

BoatUS Towing Services sent out a boat from Fort Pierce and the operator radioed me to ask if mine was the boat lit up like a Christmas tree.  As no other boats were visible in the vicinity, I’d say that was a pretty good guess on his part.
  He arrived, not wearing a buoyancy flotation device (there were none on board), with 2 cans of diesel which were floated across to me attached to a line but, as bad luck would have it, the starter on the 13-year old Volvo Penta MD40 decided this was the perfect moment to quit and did so.  As I could not start the engine, my 'rescuer' offered to tow me in.

A hefty tow rope was heaved across and made fast.  I asked him not to start towing 'til I had taken down the mainsail and dowsed the lights but, as I was about to do so, he pulled away at an incredible rate of knots that literally flipped me backwards overboard ~ snapping my lifeline in the process and also ripping the towing harness contraption out of the bottom of his boat.
  I found myself floating, treading water in shorts and a T-shirt, drifting north in the swells … without a light, radio or life-jacket and Eclipse was fast disappearing over the horizon while the towboat operator was figuring what (damage ?) he could do next.  
Knowing he had no clue what he had accomplished, couldn't see me in the dark and would never hear me once he re-started his engine.  I shouted as loud as I could and after about 10 minutes was able to attract his attention, swim over and clamber into his semi-self-destroyed vessel … the engine of which was literally dead in the water.

I was safely aboard and shivering uncontrollably (no warm clothes available on board) when he radioed home base to advise of the situation and request 2 more towboats be sent … 1 for my Eclipse and 1 for his now ‘lame duck’.
  He was informed, “You’re on your own, there are no more boats here.”  
However, a second BoatUS Towing Services vessel was later dispatched from Vero Beach to search for Eclipse and,
 with more luck than judgement, my 'rescuer' was finally able to restart his engine but, as we limped to shore, he stopped along the way every so often to throw up (nerves / seasick ?).  Meanwhile, I discovered and informed my 'rescuer' the BoatUS Towing Services rescue boat 'towing harness contraption' had been installed with non-stainless steel lag screws.

Once on terra firma, neither dry clothes nor hot meal were offered – but, I was checked into a motel (which I later paid for) where I spent 2 or more hours soaking in a very hot bath to thaw out as, despite the Gulf Stream being warm, I was frozen ... (delayed shock ?).  
The next day I had yet another ordeal to surmount ... dealing with local boat mechanics who knew nothing about starter motors!  The local mechanic I opted for sent the motor out of state for repair and, in addition to that bill, kindly charged me his hourly rate for doing so.

Thanks to the still-set mainsail and all the lights left on, the 2nd BoatUS Towing Services rescue crew finally found Eclipse approx. 25 miles offshore and towed her (slowly) in to port where we were reunited.  
Again, due to an 'on-the-nose' wind, I had to motor ... 110 miles or more home, navigating by knot meter as I skirted along the eddies at the western edge of the Stream and, to once more prove (if not nail down) a point, no fish were apprehended along the way.

Upon my reporting the incident to BoatUS, they magnanimously and, possibly as a peace offering (or proof I was never a member and they were therefore neither liable nor responsible for damages, physical or mental, done), generously refunded the $24.00 annual cost of my membership for that year.

 Eclipse at anchor.