Help Ben Jamieson
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On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, the Jamieson family lost their son’s sailboat. In an attempt to save the boat, the father also lost his boat to the rough waves and strong winds. The two boats were pushed into the break wall at the Open Space in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. With no other choice, the boats were pulled out by cranes. In the process, the family lost two boats that meant more than just a place to be on the water: their son lost the opportunity to pursue his dream.
Their father has had the life-long passion of restoring boats. He is described as a man who always needs a project. The Misbehaving was a 37’ CrisCraft Roamer, the third of which he restored for his family. The last one he restored he donated to an auction for a local charity.
Ben Jamieson, 19, recently graduated from Traverse City St. Francis. Inspired by his father, Ben worked for the family business with the dream to buy a boat, restore it, get his captain’s license, and sail around the world. He found the boat three years ago, but could not purchase it yet. The boat sold just months after he found it. He continued to work for three years, and the same boat came up for sale in May of 2015. He bought the 1982 39’ Yorktown and named it Brizo.
Ben and his father finished hand-constructing the trailer just days before the accident; they were waiting for a callback from the marina to take his boat out. His plans for this winter were to repaint the hull, restore the interior, and prepare to take a year off to sail around the world.
While at work, Ben received a message from a friend’s mom stating that a green sailboat had run aground near the Clinch Park marina. Racing down to the park, Ben arrived and discovered that his bow anchor had given way and the strong waves pushed Brizo into the iron break wall. Quickly, Ben called his family. His father, brother, and cousin arrived to help. After calling tow boats in Traverse City, none of which would come to save the boat, Ben’s father launched Misbehaving and attempted to tow Brizo out. While the boat was being pulled, a loose rope fell off the sailboat, drifted to Misbehaving, and was wrapped around its propellor. The waves quickly overtook Misbehaving and it began to run into the break wall.
With no other choice, they called a crane to lift the boats out of the water. When the cranes arrived, both boats had merely cosmetic damage. With upwards of 100 onlookers, the crane attempted to lift Misbehaving out, and the strap broke. The boat crashed back down, cracking the iron hull, compromising the boat. In this time, Brizo ran more and more into the wall, putting a gaping hole in the bow, breaking the keel, and snapping the rudder. By the time Brizo was out, the boat was ruined.
They are very thankful for the love and encouragement they received from the community. At the end of the night, the family was left with ruined boats, many broken hearts, and a large bill.
The Jamieson family has been large supporters of the sailing community in Traverse City. They have volunteered countless hours for the Traverse Area Community Sailing program and the high school sailing team for St. Francis, Central, and West High Schools. The crane company, Team Elmers, has been very supportive and covered the bills from the cranes.
We need the support of community at this time to help Ben repay his family, repair damages, and make it possible for him to one day pursue his dream of sailing around the world.
Their father has had the life-long passion of restoring boats. He is described as a man who always needs a project. The Misbehaving was a 37’ CrisCraft Roamer, the third of which he restored for his family. The last one he restored he donated to an auction for a local charity.
Ben Jamieson, 19, recently graduated from Traverse City St. Francis. Inspired by his father, Ben worked for the family business with the dream to buy a boat, restore it, get his captain’s license, and sail around the world. He found the boat three years ago, but could not purchase it yet. The boat sold just months after he found it. He continued to work for three years, and the same boat came up for sale in May of 2015. He bought the 1982 39’ Yorktown and named it Brizo.
Ben and his father finished hand-constructing the trailer just days before the accident; they were waiting for a callback from the marina to take his boat out. His plans for this winter were to repaint the hull, restore the interior, and prepare to take a year off to sail around the world.
While at work, Ben received a message from a friend’s mom stating that a green sailboat had run aground near the Clinch Park marina. Racing down to the park, Ben arrived and discovered that his bow anchor had given way and the strong waves pushed Brizo into the iron break wall. Quickly, Ben called his family. His father, brother, and cousin arrived to help. After calling tow boats in Traverse City, none of which would come to save the boat, Ben’s father launched Misbehaving and attempted to tow Brizo out. While the boat was being pulled, a loose rope fell off the sailboat, drifted to Misbehaving, and was wrapped around its propellor. The waves quickly overtook Misbehaving and it began to run into the break wall.
With no other choice, they called a crane to lift the boats out of the water. When the cranes arrived, both boats had merely cosmetic damage. With upwards of 100 onlookers, the crane attempted to lift Misbehaving out, and the strap broke. The boat crashed back down, cracking the iron hull, compromising the boat. In this time, Brizo ran more and more into the wall, putting a gaping hole in the bow, breaking the keel, and snapping the rudder. By the time Brizo was out, the boat was ruined.
They are very thankful for the love and encouragement they received from the community. At the end of the night, the family was left with ruined boats, many broken hearts, and a large bill.
The Jamieson family has been large supporters of the sailing community in Traverse City. They have volunteered countless hours for the Traverse Area Community Sailing program and the high school sailing team for St. Francis, Central, and West High Schools. The crane company, Team Elmers, has been very supportive and covered the bills from the cranes.
We need the support of community at this time to help Ben repay his family, repair damages, and make it possible for him to one day pursue his dream of sailing around the world.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alex Anderson
Organizer
Traverse City, MI
Ben Jamieson
Beneficiary
