Help John get home after the sinking of Mermaid
A sailing legend had to live through a skipper's worst nightmare when his boat sank off the coast of Honduras. John A. Smith, author of "Little Fish Big Pond" had lived on his engineless Carriacou Sloop SV Mermaid for more than 50 years. The classic wooden boat has been on the hard for the last few years and John had renovated the vessel with heart, soul and dedication.
The disaster unfolded as he was about to leave for Utila. With a total crew of 3, the Mermaid was pulled by a tugboat through the shallows off Ceiba to the open sea as she had no engine. The boat ran aground several times during the process and on top, they even lost the tow line. John immediately set reduced sail to crawl away from the lee shore with 4 steel wrecks on the reef and many dangerous rocks. But Mermaid already took on water. John had just bought brand new batteries, 2000 gph pumps and a 1.5 inch gas pump which gave up within 15 minutes. The leak worsened after they ran aground, but they were already out of the gate, a dangerous gate. John prepared the lifeboat while his crew manually pumped, cleared out the thrommel boxes of the electric pump and tried to rebuild the brand new fuel pump ...to no avail, as the water coveted the batteries and inverter, it was evident they could not save Mermaid without a working trash pump, 2 ships arrived, none had a pump, they were there to evacuate the crew, not to tow or share a pump. ...
John was the last man in the lifeboat with ditch bag and flares...A line was thrown to them, the lifeboat was brought alongside and the three wet sailors were pulled aboard...John could not look back to see the Mermaid of Carriacou going down into the abys. She was his home for most of his life. John is now living out of his ditch kit and donated clothing in a tent on Gunaja, a small Island off Honduras. His story with Mermaid began long time ago on the Island of Carriacou. This is the place where he feels at home and where he would like to continue... After his sad loss he aims to get back to Carriacou and live with his sailor friends. This will require about 2k for the trip and another 3K should provide John with initial shelter, clothes and food. Please let's help together to get John back home.
The moment the sailors were being brought to safety on the Utila Dream Ferry 
