Mayday! Mayday!

R

RogerJuntunen

New member
Mayday! Mayday!- That is what IN CAHOOTS heard on September 13 as we pulled out of upright channel headed for Pevine pass. We had waited for the fog to lift at Friday Harbor and were headed to Anacortes. With Lopez Island to the South we had just passed a sailboat and saw the ferry off the starboard side. The radio report was loud and clear,like he was reading what to report right off of the card that Barry and the USCGA hand out.

My response to Cheryl was, "wow, that is right behind us!" As I began to turn around I waited for a fast sport fisherman, who was now starting to go really fast! The radio report sounded very serious-Washington state ferry has run down a sailboat! As we turned back to the ferry that's all we could see and the ferry was stopped dead in the water. The ferry crew were getting ready to launch a RIB off the stern. As we came around the side of the ferry a totally mashed sailboat was in the process of going down. A lucky sailboat skipper was being wrapped in a blanket on the sport fisherman.

In retrospect, I appreciate whoever made the Mayday call and I suspect it was someone in a house on the cliffs. I appreciate the silence on the radio after the Mayday call. This left the radio open for important business. I was grateful that other boaters didn't flock in. This situation was not appropriate for sidewalk engineers and curious sightseers.

The accident is under investigation.
 
Roger, Glad that wasn't you in front of that ferry. Saw some of that on another thread here and then a quick spot on the news.

Glad it wasn't worse.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
We are relatively new to boat cruising and one of the reminders from this incident is how fast things can go from wonderful to spooky! Heading back on a reverse course to the ferry with the hammer down, my thoughts were first aid kit, extra life jackets, boat hook, throw rings, flairs, etc. We had just gone through this several days before with C-Brat Barry. Also, some great safety tips in general. Thank you Barry! I would like to see the accident report findings on this but I am not sure where to find it? It was a bad situation but could of so easily been tragic! Be prepared!( Boy scouts of America} Roger
 
When things get dicey sometimes silence is golden. A clear size up from the guy reporting and deliberate action to follow. This is a lesson I learned along the way in my business. Glad all went well......except for the hosed sailboat.

Chris
 
There will be a CG investigation--since a public carrier was involved. The report will eventually come out--but don't expect anything for months. Fortunately there was no loss of life.
 
Back
Top