Family Shipwrecked; lost everything
Donation protected
Hello my dears.
Regina from krakenkissed.com , recently from the Schooner Eydis. Here's what's going on...
The Story
We left key west Florida on October 23 with a 7 day forecast showing north east to east winds at 10-15 knots. We crossed the gulf stream to 20 miles off of Cuba in 9 hours under sail alone. We blew out the top of our foresail in a small squall that night.
5 days of fickle light and often contrary winds we finally cleared Cuba. We turned south on our course to Guatemala in 10 knots of east wind with a bit less sail than when we left. We were making 2.5 knots even when the wind increased to 20 knots. We kept getting pushed westward farther and farther into the northbound Yucatan current.
On day 10 we had a strong squall that ripped our dingy engine off the boat, with 4 days of gas left for our generator and more than 7 days left even to Belize, we turned west and ran for Isla Mujeras, Mexico.
Over night, with a strong east wind we crossed to within 30 miles of Isla Mujeras. Then the wind died to less than 5 knots, with our main engine unable to run for more than 10 minutes we were being carried northwest past Isla Contoy, north of Isla Mujeras. We anchored in 16-30' of water 3 miles north of Contoy.
After 2 nights and a day at anchor, with a visit from the Mexican Navy, favorable winds returned. We made our way south along the shore of Isla Contoy, and made it to 7 miles north of Isla Mujeras. As we tried to make easting past a shoal the wind shifted and died. We sailed behind the shoal and dropped anchor at 2am.
Then the squalls began.
By dawn the seas were near 10' with a lee shore 1 mile away. We couldn't raise anchor and sail off in those conditions. I radioed for a tow all that day as conditions worsened. At 3pm I set our second anchor. At 8pm I checked on our gear for the hundredth time and all was good. No chafe at all even in 30-40 knot winds and 15' plus seas. The boat was riding well, very uncomfortable but safe.
We went to bed a dark.
Around midnight we snapped our anchor lines and slammed into the lee shore like we were hit by a truck. I jumped to the companionway and looked out at a shore based light surrounded by riprap aft of us by a couple hundred feet and huge breaking waves smashing into our boat like cadilacs and chevy trucks.
I ordered life jackets and ditch bags. We were being lifted and dropped on the narrow rock strewn strand of barrier island. I called and called on the radio for help with no response as we smashed our way across the land. We suddenly were floating once more in a much reduced sea state and gale force winds with an unknown shoreline less than half a mile away.
I ran to the foremast and began raising sail as Regina grabbed the helm. She yelled that there was no steering and I yanked down and tied the half raised sail.
I fired every flare we had(20+) trying to see what lay ahead for us. We were carried ashore by 6' waves and slammed into the hard sandy beach, pounding and pounding our way.
We prepared to abandon ship onto the shore but then the boat settled a bit, so we stayed aboard. In the morning, I jumped off onto the beach and walked a quarter mile to a building we could see.
There I met Mauricio and Frederico, two very low payed laborers. I told them of our plight and they contacted their boss Hermano who contacted his boss Kirk (a US businessman) who contacted the authorities.
We are all safe, and unhurt, in a hotel in Cancun. My gallant stout ship lies alone on a deserted beach 13 miles north of here awaiting her rescue.
The Mexican authorities have been the absolute BEST. Incredibly helpful, understanding, professional and compassionate beyond measure. I can not praise them enough.
My crew displayed courage and fortitude that can't be adequately expressed.
Then after almost a month of trying to get the boat off the beach, met mostly with delays and theft on our boat, we have realized that all is lost...
All was for naught... we have lost the boat. Alan went out yesterday (12/1)... the boat has a hole, and trying to get the boat off the beach, the main mast broke.
All our belongings are also lost as they were either stolen or destroyed with water and oil in the boat.
How the money will be used
I would actually love to raise more then this, but it will be used to start replacing all our belongings.
We have some of our electronics and a few outfits each, a couple books... and that's it! We can literally carry everything all 5 of us own. Actually we did that today (12/2) to get from Isla Mujerus to Cancun.
It will be used to try to get back to having a few things that are important to us; to help start over.
Especially as Kali's birthday happened while all this was going on, and we have next to nothing as we head into the holidays.
Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart and from all my family.
Regina from krakenkissed.com , recently from the Schooner Eydis. Here's what's going on...
The Story
We left key west Florida on October 23 with a 7 day forecast showing north east to east winds at 10-15 knots. We crossed the gulf stream to 20 miles off of Cuba in 9 hours under sail alone. We blew out the top of our foresail in a small squall that night.
5 days of fickle light and often contrary winds we finally cleared Cuba. We turned south on our course to Guatemala in 10 knots of east wind with a bit less sail than when we left. We were making 2.5 knots even when the wind increased to 20 knots. We kept getting pushed westward farther and farther into the northbound Yucatan current.
On day 10 we had a strong squall that ripped our dingy engine off the boat, with 4 days of gas left for our generator and more than 7 days left even to Belize, we turned west and ran for Isla Mujeras, Mexico.
Over night, with a strong east wind we crossed to within 30 miles of Isla Mujeras. Then the wind died to less than 5 knots, with our main engine unable to run for more than 10 minutes we were being carried northwest past Isla Contoy, north of Isla Mujeras. We anchored in 16-30' of water 3 miles north of Contoy.
After 2 nights and a day at anchor, with a visit from the Mexican Navy, favorable winds returned. We made our way south along the shore of Isla Contoy, and made it to 7 miles north of Isla Mujeras. As we tried to make easting past a shoal the wind shifted and died. We sailed behind the shoal and dropped anchor at 2am.
Then the squalls began.
By dawn the seas were near 10' with a lee shore 1 mile away. We couldn't raise anchor and sail off in those conditions. I radioed for a tow all that day as conditions worsened. At 3pm I set our second anchor. At 8pm I checked on our gear for the hundredth time and all was good. No chafe at all even in 30-40 knot winds and 15' plus seas. The boat was riding well, very uncomfortable but safe.
We went to bed a dark.
Around midnight we snapped our anchor lines and slammed into the lee shore like we were hit by a truck. I jumped to the companionway and looked out at a shore based light surrounded by riprap aft of us by a couple hundred feet and huge breaking waves smashing into our boat like cadilacs and chevy trucks.
I ordered life jackets and ditch bags. We were being lifted and dropped on the narrow rock strewn strand of barrier island. I called and called on the radio for help with no response as we smashed our way across the land. We suddenly were floating once more in a much reduced sea state and gale force winds with an unknown shoreline less than half a mile away.
I ran to the foremast and began raising sail as Regina grabbed the helm. She yelled that there was no steering and I yanked down and tied the half raised sail.
I fired every flare we had(20+) trying to see what lay ahead for us. We were carried ashore by 6' waves and slammed into the hard sandy beach, pounding and pounding our way.
We prepared to abandon ship onto the shore but then the boat settled a bit, so we stayed aboard. In the morning, I jumped off onto the beach and walked a quarter mile to a building we could see.
There I met Mauricio and Frederico, two very low payed laborers. I told them of our plight and they contacted their boss Hermano who contacted his boss Kirk (a US businessman) who contacted the authorities.
We are all safe, and unhurt, in a hotel in Cancun. My gallant stout ship lies alone on a deserted beach 13 miles north of here awaiting her rescue.
The Mexican authorities have been the absolute BEST. Incredibly helpful, understanding, professional and compassionate beyond measure. I can not praise them enough.
My crew displayed courage and fortitude that can't be adequately expressed.
Then after almost a month of trying to get the boat off the beach, met mostly with delays and theft on our boat, we have realized that all is lost...
All was for naught... we have lost the boat. Alan went out yesterday (12/1)... the boat has a hole, and trying to get the boat off the beach, the main mast broke.
All our belongings are also lost as they were either stolen or destroyed with water and oil in the boat.
How the money will be used
I would actually love to raise more then this, but it will be used to start replacing all our belongings.
We have some of our electronics and a few outfits each, a couple books... and that's it! We can literally carry everything all 5 of us own. Actually we did that today (12/2) to get from Isla Mujerus to Cancun.
It will be used to try to get back to having a few things that are important to us; to help start over.
Especially as Kali's birthday happened while all this was going on, and we have next to nothing as we head into the holidays.
Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart and from all my family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Regina Steed-Ford
Organizer
Key West, FL
Regina Steed-Ford
Beneficiary
