On June 22, 2026, within the Copeland Islands off the coast of British Columbia, friends Dave and Karon Wilson hit a rock and lost the keel of their beloved Freedom 44 sailboat, 'Ragtime'. After sailing her to Mexico and back, this seemed unimaginable in familiar waters. Being retired and having suffered financial reversals over the past few years, the initial costs associated with her recovery and salvage determination are about $30,000 and seem astronomical. As the trauma of this loss is just now hitting them, they are paying for a hotel in Lund planning next steps. As a fellow member of both the Bluewater Cruising Association and Schooner Cove Yacht Club, I would like to help provide a contribution towards these initial costs and hope other sailors and friends will also help, with a modest goal of $10,000.

UPDATE: Ragtime has been refloated and is on the hard in Lund. Dave and Karon are exploring options of selling her to someone who might rebuild, or selling parts (i.e. carbon mast) for salvage. After getting an additional bill for recovery (total now $27,000), if they have to pay for dismantling the boat (full destruction) it would be an additional $15,000. So selling some of the parts would have to help pay for this. Either way it is a financial disaster for them. The current actual costs of getting Ragtime to this point are now $35,000.

Thank you to those who have been able to donate. Some initial donations have been disbursed and the first modest goal through Go Fund Me is within reach. Therefore, the goal has been revised to better reflect the total costs of getting Ragtime from the Copeland Islands and onto the hard, where more tough choices have to be made.

The fundraiser link is https://www.gofundme.com/f/accident-at-copeland-islands