... with everyone having warned "don't do it!" ? About week ago at a restaurant overlooking a river leading to the Gulf Of Mexico on the Central Florida natural coast was a two masted about 38 foot center cockpit sailboat covered with black plastic bags apparently with personal stuff, other stuff piled on the deck - none of which was tied down, two propane tanks off a stern mount - not fastened down and the boat over all very dirty, plus the inside cabins looked full of stuff thru the port hole windows. While most sailboats aren't made strong enough to sail the world, this one is. Or rather was 40 years ago. All the mast stay-lines were loose, various boat components laying all round the deck otherwise piled with stuff. In the restaurant the waiter we know quite well said it is a couple in their 30s. She's never sailed in her life. He's sailed a few times. I knew this boat had been for sale for $15,000 OBO for a couple of years at a marina near us. 200 hours of scrubbing and fixing up, maybe a couple thousand to replace this and that and sure, it could be seaworthy old sailboat. But it wasn't. Our friend said they were going to Mexico with it. My response? "Someone needs to really talk them out of this for so many reasons. You don't just go to another country in a boat. You go to an entry point. They aren't going on a lake, but on the Gulf of Mexico in the winter. They can't have a gun - so the odds they would be robbed (or worse) are VERY high. Everything is going blow off the deck. It's rigging obviously hasn't been attended to in decades. It is extremely unlikely they will make it for the sailing, probably will be robbed, raped and killed - and if they do by a miracle get to Mexico really where they are going is to a Mexican jail - and they can kiss that sailboat goodbye - as the best possible unlikely outcome." He said everyone has warned them, but they won't listen. 4 days ago we were back at the restaurant and the boat gone. They had left that morning. I hoped they made it, but knew they wouldn't. But then we'd never know - or would we? 2 nights ago a cold front blew in. Wind hitting about 25 mph and the temperature dropping to near freezing. That meant 30+ mph on the Gulf. With that cold night strong wind I thought of them. If there were out in the Gulf on it, they are now fighting for their lives being violently tossed about in the boat - hopefully smart enough to be IN the cabin - not on the deck. If either of them blow/knocked overboard, they could never swim fast enough for how fast the wind would be pushing against the hull - a common cause of sailer's death even in a light breeze. Yesterday online we learned their fate - and they had lucked out. They had sailed south along the coast to Port Meyers, Florida and were only 40 miles on the way off shore towards Mexico when their dream was dashed by the cold strong wind storm. Main mast broke, dragging one side in the water. Old motor quit. Rudder blew off. Just being thrown around by strong waves and powerful wind. Without a doubt they had no storm anchor and the rotted anchor line wasn't hold them into the wind. Fortunately they were within range (cell phone? radio?) and the Coast Guard rescued them. Likely the next day would retrieve the boat as a navigation hazard. I admire their courage, their desire to live their dream and to pursuit it. Then again, they were two very lucky idiots more than they were unlucky - because they lived, weren't hurt and aren't in prison. If everyone in a boating, yachting and fishing community says "DON'T DO IT!" probably you should listen. I hope they learned something - but I doubt it. I bet he would like to try to fix up that old boat - having no clue how - and dreaming of heading for Mexico again - but she probably would bail out of it. Sailing blue water is a guy thing. It only takes ONE storm being thrown around inside a tiny cabin for hours or days for 99% of women to say never again! Then again, for such idiocy in a derelict sailboat the Coast Guard might condemn it, attach a rescue/towing fee to it and impound it. For their sake I hope so.
I often download podcasts & audio books for road trips ~ I would definitely luv to listen to your colloquies of maritime banter... just saying, you seem to have an untapped gift here... ~ keep me on your 'short list' for first edition... S
I was super worried this was my sister and brother in law- sailing buffs who just moved to FL and are looking for an ocean-worthy fixer, until I saw it was posted a few weeks ago. I've heard from them since then
