A Bad Day in Paradise

It does happen occasionally even in paradise: the universe conspires against you.  So being oblivious to their fate, a family left the anchorage on a sunny, blustery day for a delightful sail and by the time they realized that some crucial equipment was malfunctioning and that the stars were not aligned for them, they and their boat, Flying Dragon, were hard aground on the beach.

Ken and I, along with others, responded to the call for assistance Monday evening.  We worked our dingy by moonlight and flashlight handling lines between the tug and the grounded vessel.  We tested our engine’s capacity as we carried the heavy lines toward the vessel and then had to back out of the surf zone to avoid flipping.  We would tie the lines and then move out of range in case they snapped.  Our handheld radios crackled with instructions.  Patience and stamina were tried and optimism tested as lines broke throughout the night as the tug tried unsuccessfully to pull the 80,000 pound vessel off of the beach.  The tide steadily increased until 1:30 a.m. when it began to subside and the rescue was called off for the night.  It was determined that attempts would be made again at the next high tide on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. so we motored back into the dark, quiet marina wet, tired, and disappointed. 

We walked out to the beach in the morning, were hoisted aboard Flying Dragon and began packing up EVERYTHING and off- loading it onto the beach.  The refrigerator, washing machine, batteries, the rocks and lead used for ballast, clothing, dishes, tables, dressers, pictures, lamps, books, linens, everything that had created a comfortable life afloat was piled on the beach.  Within a couple of hours, what had once been a home became a shell holding nothing but sweet memories.

A welder arrived and cut off the 5-foot rudder that was preventing the boat from pivoting.  An excavator arrived and dug around the rudder, hoisting it away from the boat.  It then removed the sand around the perimeter of the vessel. 

Pumps and generators were donated.  A large, heavy sailboat arrived with a strong windlass that was used to pull on the huge lines.  A Nordhaven arrived and was used as a tug boat.  Lines were cleated to its stern.  Cruisers and vacationers grabbed onto the lines and began pulling in unison while others pushed on the bow and the Nordhaven pulled to turn Flying Dragon into the sea. 

It was 5:00 p.m. on the high tide when she turned to the west, was pulled past the surf line to cheers, whistles and clapping and towed to a nearby marina.

It was an amazing confirmation of the fundamental goodness of humankind and the strength of community.  Boats, lines, muscle power, food, beverages, radios and many other resources were donated without hesitation.  Strangers worked long hours side by side to help others in need. 

There is no denying that the family’s financial and emotional losses.  Flying Dragon has an interesting and checkered past and the current owners worked tirelessly those days to save her.  They carried themselves with extraordinary grace under extreme pressure and the cruising community was there with them to help carry the load.