BajaNomad - EMERGENCY in ABREOJOS

EMERGENCY in ABREOJOS

shari - 4-1-2009 at 10:44 AM

morning nomads...a friend of ours has shipwrecked her sailboat between La Bocana and Abreojos and needs assistance...does anyone have phone #'s of any nomads in that area I can call??? I will do a full report later...we are trying to get a handle on this....Sarah and her crew Peter (one of our guests) are OK but shaken...boat is totalled.

Bajaboy - 4-1-2009 at 11:35 AM

Try and get a hold of Whistler...he's been down there for many years. Send him a U2U

shari - 4-1-2009 at 11:45 AM

i really need a phone number as quickly as possible

shari - 4-1-2009 at 12:31 PM

OK, story is...folks she was buddy boating with set a course for Bahia Santa Maria and gave Sarah the course to follow...she did...why they didnt figure on the dangerous rock 6 miles offshore and give it a wide berth I dont know. The rock is a very very small one but the pinnacle sticks up sharply and can hole a boat....but it is so small it's just bad luck to actually hit it...hmmm...fate works in strange ways. But they did and the boat quickly filled with water and Sarah headed for shore where they hit the only rock in that little sandy bay and got hung up on it...another bummer...the 2 boats she was with didnt' respond to her mayday on several channels but a mexican fisherman did and he called the navy who tried to get to them on a panga but couldnt manage to they ended up swimming for shore! Wow! they lost everything including passports, money etc and we will be beachcombing to look for stuff. They were able to get to the boat at low tide to salvage some things and we are trying to figure out how to get the engine out...Sarah told me if she could sell the engine maybe she could get another boat and continue on...boy that girl has huevos! So everyone is safe but the boat is ripped apart...will post photos when I get them.

BajaGringo - 4-1-2009 at 01:02 PM

Wow! Glad they are safe...

Whoa!! What a day!

fixtrauma - 4-1-2009 at 01:07 PM

Sorry I can't help. Keep us up to date. Thanks.

nancyinpdx - 4-1-2009 at 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGringo
Wow! Glad they are safe...

Me too! Thank God! Thanks for the update. I will pray for them that their stuff is salvaged and that they can sell the motor.

Paulina - 4-1-2009 at 01:11 PM

Shari,

Check your u2u, email sent.

P<*)))>{

BajaGeoff - 4-1-2009 at 01:12 PM

What an incredible double-stroke of bad luck. Hope they find all of their stuff and get a new boat. Glad they are safe....and I really admire their persistence in the face of such rotten circumstances.

ELINVESTIG8R - 4-1-2009 at 01:47 PM

I'm so glad they are ok!

Speaking of boating problems, Rolli at Mama Espinoza's took in a man and a woman with a couple of kids after their boat sank at an unknown location. I did not inquire as to what happened but heard that fishermen plucked the family from the ocean and brought them to Mama's. He is a Frenchman and his wife is Peruvian.

Cypress - 4-1-2009 at 02:21 PM

Salvage an engine etc? Cutting torches, wrenches to fit? In the surf under water? Heavy lifting boom? Good luck.

shari - 4-1-2009 at 02:29 PM

much depends on if it has sand and salt water in it...may not be worth the trouble. MOre news at 11.
What I want to do is mobilize people in the area to keep an eye out for stuff that washes up on the beach.

DianaT - 4-1-2009 at 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
much depends on if it has sand and salt water in it...may not be worth the trouble. MOre news at 11.
What I want to do is mobilize people in the area to keep an eye out for stuff that washes up on the beach.

What about the fishing coop in Abreojos?

mike odell - 4-1-2009 at 10:41 PM

Shari,
Sorry to here about this, but glad all hands are ok, if I can help with
something, let me know. Lost a boat and the contents myself, so know the feeling. Best to Sarah and Peter.

shari - 4-2-2009 at 07:49 AM

thanks all for your concern...latest update...sarah and peter arrived back in Asuncion yesterday afternoon...a couple of the Baja Boyz went to get her and they got off some very soggy deisel soaked personal stuff. Sarah arrived with a borrowed jacket, t-shirt and sweatpants but no shoes!
They look a bit stressed and certainly tired as they hadnt slept at all and just been through a horrifying experience....but arrived still smiling!

The Baja Boyz donated some of their clothes, shoes and hats and we all went out for a huge buffet dinner at La Palapa restaurant on the beach.

After chowing down and draining several bottles of wine, the survivors were ready to tell their harrowing story which was a fascinating tale of a string of mishaps and plain bad luck. After hitting the rock at sea and taking on water, they headed for shore to try and beach the boat. When they got close on one side they saw big breakers and to port saw calmer water so chose that which turned out to be the rocky side where they got hung up on a big rock which ripped the boat apart. It is a long story and we video'd Sarah and Peter's description. Here they are reflecting on their misadventure.

We then proceeded to the campground for a big fire, music and more stories of daring do on the Boyz final night in Asuncion. Kevin entertained us with some wine bottle slide guitar.

At dawn this morning Sarah,Juan, and his partner Martin set out to the wreck to see what they can salvage. Sarah plans to try to sell the gear to raise funds to get another boat asap. In the meantime she is here with us until she can get back on her feet...or sea legs.
Anyone who has contacts with yacht gear dealers or has any ideas on how to sell the stuff please let us know. I'm thinking maybe an add listing all the things...or maybe somehow get the stuff up to a sailors exchange in San diego or something. Sarah sold everything she had and invested her life savings into her boat and has lost everything...but she is strong and determined to sail home. She wants to spend the summer in baja and may try to get to La Paz where she has a friend who owns a restaurant there.
Thank you Baja Boyz for your kindness and all the beer you provided this week...it was quite a group!

dtbushpilot - 4-2-2009 at 08:04 AM

Shari, we Nomads (and everyone else for that matter) are fortunate to have friends like you and Juan in Baja. Your mobilization to help those in trouble is commendable but not surprising. We're a long way South but if there is anything we can do to help out let us know.........dt & jt

Hey, is that our yard bird cooker?.......still need to do that trip report..

shari

desertcpl - 4-2-2009 at 08:25 AM

you might want to take a look at this,, it might be helpful for selling some ofhttp://thelog.com/Home/LogMain.aspx her stuff

desertcpl - 4-2-2009 at 08:26 AM

http://thelog.com/Home/LogMain.aspx

Hook - 4-2-2009 at 08:26 AM

Whatever happened to Wandering Puffin?????

shari - 4-2-2009 at 08:42 AM

We finally got a message through to Wandering Puffin by going up to the highest hill here and I was able to get them on the VHF. They continued on to bahia santa maria and I should hear from them sometime today. So much for buddy boating eh! It is outrageous that while buddy boating your buddies arent monitering the radio when you call a mayday :?:

what were they thinking?

Which brings up a point I want to stress...again...when convoying or buddy travelling...PLEASE do just that...please be in sight of your buddy...otherwise it doesnt work. The buddy behind could have an emergency and you wouldnt know it till it might be too late...so keep close or in radio contact at least.

805gregg - 4-2-2009 at 12:52 PM

In these days of GPS, I don't think running into the only rock around is bad luck, more like bad seamanship. If you lose your boat 1/2 of the way down Baja, you might want to opt for another mode of transportation.

stanburn - 4-2-2009 at 01:20 PM

805Greg,

You obviously haven't looked at any nautical charts of the Mexican coast. Unless it is a major ports the surveys the charts are drawn from are from the 1700s and 1800s. Before I moved ashore I cruised 2 full years, including hurricane season and spent about half of the time anchored up to 2 miles inshore according to the GPS and my electronic charts. So the likelihood of being able to establish the location of a pinnacle rock from a chart is so miniscule it is beyond belief.

Now you can apologize to these people who are suffering even more due to your ignorant comment.

shari - 4-2-2009 at 04:02 PM

thanks stan...ditto that. I just got these photos of the Gabriel...so sad

Diver - 4-2-2009 at 04:16 PM

Glad to see they were able to save so much.
Gotta be a good local fiberglass guy around ??
I KNOW there is someone close who can figure out how to get her in the water again.
Mexican mechanics are VERY creative !!

rts551 - 4-2-2009 at 04:24 PM

That night and until she left the military and the coop stood guard on the boat... for those that thought there were scafengers around. I have lots of photos.

shari - 4-2-2009 at 04:27 PM

does that mean they abandoned their watch after she left??? she only left to get help and came back today.

805gregg - 4-2-2009 at 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stanburn
805Greg,

You obviously haven't looked at any nautical charts of the Mexican coast. Unless it is a major ports the surveys the charts are drawn from are from the 1700s and 1800s. Before I moved ashore I cruised 2 full years, including hurricane season and spent about half of the time anchored up to 2 miles inshore according to the GPS and my electronic charts. So the likelihood of being able to establish the location of a pinnacle rock from a chart is so miniscule it is beyond belief.

Now you can apologize to these people who are suffering even more due to your ignorant comment.

I crossed the Pacific ocean from Ca to New Zealand in 1978, fished commerically up and down the Ca, Or. and Wa coasts in the early 70's and just brought a boat from Ca to Cabo in Sept. Been boating since since 1965 never hit anything, currently own a 38' sail boat and 26' power boat, I guess I'm just lucky.

stanburn - 4-2-2009 at 06:20 PM

I highly recommend you take a look at the survey dates the charts were based on. And yes you might have been lucky.

DianaT - 4-2-2009 at 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter

What about the fishing coop in Abreojos?

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
yes, I spoke to them this morning but they dont know the gringo numbers and forgive me for this but...many people will just be out there to see what they can scavenge for themselves...which is why I wanted friends of ours out there in hopes she might get some stuff back...very sad.

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
That night and until she left the military and the coop stood guard on the boat... for those that thought there were scafengers around. I have lots of photos.

Good to know that the coop people were there to help.

Diane

longlegsinlapaz - 4-2-2009 at 07:04 PM

Quote:

Shari, not a positive sounding commentary! You made it sound like you don't trust the members of the local fishing coop...isn't Juan a member of the coop? Aren't the coop people friends & members of your local community?

I'm sincerely glad both Sarah & Peter made it safely to shore & hope she can recover all the vital things. From your comments, I take it she didn't carry insurance on the boat??

RIGHT ON !

djh - 4-2-2009 at 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
Glad to see they were able to save so much.
Gotta be a good local fiberglass guy around ??
I KNOW there is someone close who can figure out how to get her in the water again.
Mexican mechanics are VERY creative !!

Totally agree here !

I've been sailing for 30+ years. And I worked in the biz for a few years too...

That sailboat CAN be fixed, and may be their best and most cost effective option to getting back on the water and pursuing their passion. If not in the immediate area there, I'm sure there are experienced repairmen within a day's drive who would love the work and the challenge.

Don't abandon ship yet !

Good luck.

djh

You really can't know that without seeing the boat

Dave - 4-2-2009 at 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by djh

That sailboat CAN be fixed, and may be their best and most cost effective option to getting back on the water and pursuing their passion.

Down here, you improvise...

Pompano - 4-2-2009 at 07:49 PM

1998..32' Trimaran Quetzal ( a Brown design) drug anchor during fierce chubasco and holed herself on rocky beach at Escondido in Conception Bay.

Crew: skipper Johnny Tequila and first mate Cindy.

Temporary fix afloat with rotating crews manning pumps, while JT installs a temp. plate... then beach hauled for complete repairs, including fiberglassing, struts, etc. Total time for repairs...who was counting days?..we just had fun doing it. Let's just say there were lots of beachfires and songfests.
.

.
Unfortunately no such repairs were possible on this sailboat wreck at Pta. Terasa just a couple years ago. Pretty much a dead loss except for some salvaging.
.

.

We hope that is not the case with the sailboat at Abrejos. It appears to have suffered little damage considering the circumstances.

[Edited on 4-3-2009 by Pompano]

shari - 4-2-2009 at 08:17 PM

uh...well...see for yourself....here is a link to todays photos that sarah took...she was so bummed that she didnt just stay a teeny bit more to port and beached her on soft sand.

http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo295/blowhole1/gabriel/?...

oh by the way, I didnt mean that the coop guys will be scavenging at all...it's just we all know and have seen the number of folks that scavenge on wrecks everywhere...it's very common. The kind people of Abreojos did a fantastic job of responding to this emergency and looked after things as best they could. Chelo was fantastic organizing things and we thank her especially.[Edited on 4-3-2009 by shari]

[Edited on 4-3-2009 by shari]

[Edited on 4-3-2009 by shari]

Pompano - 4-2-2009 at 08:20 PM

After thsoe views, it is a disaster! From the other photo it looked not nearly so bad. My sympathies to Sarah.

Diver - 4-2-2009 at 08:24 PM

WOW, looks like she rolled in the high tide and waves last night, bummer !
No fixing that mess now....without a shipyard and $100K.

shari - 4-2-2009 at 08:33 PM

Sarah also wants to extend her thanks to richard of Abreojos for helping so much and being a good guy...she may take you up on that lift.

4baja - 4-3-2009 at 03:39 AM

i guess "open your eyes" and gps wasnt applied hear.

shari - 4-3-2009 at 07:32 AM

There were 3 boats travelling together and the other 2 MEN were very protective of her and helping her along which was nice. HOWEVER...a common error for novices is to take the advice of seasoned sailors. The morning of their departure, the man charted their course that were all to follow and read it out to Sarah to write down...i heard the radio transmission about the straight shot...one course all the way to Sta.Maria. He was kind of the leader of the pack type guy and a navy man so Sarah followed his directions. She has a GPS and claims she was on course...she had fallen behind because they hove to and slept a couple hours.
My point is there is lots of blame going around but that course took them too close to that distant rock...yes sarah should have checked the charts to see that the navy man's course was OK...but she trusted his knowledge. ooops. If it had just been the one rock they hit, the boat could have been repaired but it was night and when you are nearly sunk...well you just want to get yourselves to shore...ni modo that it happened in a very rocky bit of coastline.
Another beef I have is the buddy boat system where your buddies arent monitering the radio....especially at night when crap can go down. Had they been together more, perhaps they could have assisted and guided her into a safe place to beach.
woulda shoulda coulda...but destiny calls and sh*t happens...we may never know why but this girl is one helluva woman...my respects.

Bob H - 4-3-2009 at 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
uh...well...see for yourself....here is a link to todays photos that sarah took...she was so bummed that she didnt just stay a teeny bit more to port and beached her on soft sand.

http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo295/blowhole1/gabriel/?...

[

Oh, Wow, what an ordeal. I'm just glad there were no injuries, etc. The photos are just unbelievable.
Bob H

David K - 4-3-2009 at 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
rts551...were you the one of two gringos who showed up that morning? Sarah mentioned there were 2 gringos...one who took lots of pictures but when asked to give her a hand, gave out his email address in case she wanted the photos and then just walked away. :no:

guess he probably had some pressing business to tend to.
The other guy who we now understand was Richard stayed and helped out for a couple hours she said and his help was much appreciated.

[Edited on 4-3-2009 by shari]

Wonder if 'Richard' is our amigo "Fishin' Rich"?

Here he is with elgatoloco in 2001:

and with Desert Bull at my Viva Baja #3 party following back surgery!:

[Edited on 4-3-2009 by David K]

shari - 4-3-2009 at 10:55 AM

Sarah is a young woman who had no insurance and spent her life savings on this boat to fulfill her dream. She had no self steering gear or radar or anything fancy at all...her chart didnt extend to that area I understand (another problem)...they had been buddy boating for severall months. She needed to sleep a bit as her crew was ill from doing mechanics down below and she had been steering in very rough seas for 12 hours straight...better to nap than fall asleep at the wheel. They werent that far apart and should easily have had radio contact. I hope to hear from Wandering Puffin today.
I realize this woman was not an experienced sailor but I know navy men with a lifetime of experience who have lost boats as well. It was a succession of errors and ignorance that ended up in a tragic loss of her boat. Whatever the cause, we are trying to help Sarah get through this and continue her life's voyage.
Thanks to those of you who have U2U'd me offering assistance.

shari - 4-3-2009 at 11:50 AM

I want to clarify something here...I fully recognize the assistance that some folks in Abreojos gave to Sarah...thank you especially Chelo...you are a saint and do good work there with the beach clean ups I understand. The fine people of Abreojos responded quickly and earnestly and have helped clean up the residue a wreck leaves behind.

rts551 - 4-3-2009 at 02:54 PM

I will extend the thanks to everyone especially Chelo.

Sorry I missed Juan while he was here.

shari - 4-3-2009 at 03:05 PM

thanks for that...i believe someone took my meaning the wrong way about the possibility of people removing items from the boat. I also think that there was a misunderstanding at the site of the wreck...sarah was in shock and just wanted to get somewhere safe with friends and mentioned that AT THE MOMENT all she wanted to get off the boat were some personal items...which looks like got interpreted to mean..she didnt want anything from the boat...which is NOT what she meant at all. She planned to go back the next day to initiate the salvage with some trucks.
Perhaps that is why many items of value disappeared from the vessel that evening.

rts551 - 4-3-2009 at 03:09 PM

No was not me. Only person out there was fishin Rich. I took pictures after she was already at Chelos and before she came back with Juan to get what the could.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Wonder if 'Richard' is our amigo "Fishin' Rich"?

Here he is with elgatoloco in 2001:

and with Desert Bull at my Viva Baja #3 party following back surgery!:

[Edited on 4-3-2009 by David K]

Skipjack Joe - 4-3-2009 at 04:24 PM

It's unfortunate that, after the initial accident, she wasn't able to make it to either of the lagoons, La Bocana or Coyote. Those large pacific rollers just pounded that boat to bits. Once she decided to head for the open shore that boat was history. Such a shame.

On the positive side: she's still alive, healthy, and young. Material things can always be replaced.

Ok, now I Surrender....

djh - 4-3-2009 at 04:52 PM

Maaa-un !

The photobucket slides certainly show a quantum leap forward in damage (compared to the first photos posted a couple of days ago)... A few additional tides and further wave & surf action and she becomes not WORTH repairing...

Wishing to "salvage" some hope, I suppose....

Alas.... people are more important than things, and this young sailor, fortunately, still has a whole life ahead of her to dream, scheme, and follow her passions.

djh

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by djh

That sailboat CAN be fixed, and may be their best and most cost effective option to getting back on the water and pursuing their passion.

shari - 4-3-2009 at 05:21 PM

sarah's GPS had her 6 miles off a midnight.

shari - 4-3-2009 at 08:09 PM

If anyone is coming this way passing Vizcaino or could drop off a package with someone in Mulege like Pompano...Sarah's amigos in LA would like to send her a care package...she needs a cord for her mac computer that was saved and underwear etc. (is that too much information??) We can pick it up somewhere like Mulege and deliver it to her...gracias.

DianaT - 4-3-2009 at 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
If anyone is coming this way passing Vizcaino or could drop off a package with someone in Mulege like Pompano...Sarah's amigos in LA would like to send her a care package...she needs a cord for her mac computer that was saved and underwear etc. (is that too much information??) We can pick it up somewhere like Mulege and deliver it to her...gracias.

How long is she going to be there? It will be a couple of weeks before we return---not really sure of a date yet.

If someone is headed south sooner, that would be better for her, but if not, let us know and we will bring it all the way to Bahia Asuncion. :lol:

Diane

[Edited on 4-4-2009 by jdtrotter]

shari - 4-3-2009 at 09:15 PM

Sarah is taking it one day at a time...she needs to get some cash to get to mexico city for her passport and a new visa etc etc. My guess is she will be here a couple weeks. She plans to do some horseback riding, whale watching....the moms and babies have started passing in front of the house now...relaxing, reflecting, reading and fund raising and learning some spanish.

shari......coming through April 8.

fixtrauma - 4-4-2009 at 02:47 AM

shari......We are passing through LA April 6. Crossing at Tecate morning of the 7th, staying at GN that night. On the way to La Paz on the 8th. Can we be of assistance for a care package delivery?.............Don

Pompano - 4-4-2009 at 05:48 AM

Quote:

No problema for me, shari. Anyone can drop off whatever Sarah needs and I'll be here to pass it on.

Also, I have some free bedrooms if any nomad or distressed travelers need them during the Easter Madness. (Except for April 4-8..too many relatives here now!)

shari - 4-4-2009 at 07:58 AM

thanks for that...since we will swing by Pompanos on our way back from our camping trip that would be the easiest drop off point...we'll see if the LA amigos can get it to you that fast fixtrauma.

Jack Swords - 4-4-2009 at 05:34 PM

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=...

rts551 - 4-4-2009 at 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by whistler
Ralph,
Did she beach the boat right in front of town?In front of Nacha's place?She must of hit "Piedrita",the small rock 3 miles off the beach.I can see that happening if she was traveling at night.Normally you can see a swell coming off the rock even when it is not exposed.Plus vision is impaired in a sail boat since the c-ckpit is in the rear.

e beach

OK she hit Baleena and then tried to make the beach but made th point in front of town n stead. the worst part she could. no more said

rts551 - 4-4-2009 at 08:22 PM

ok email me Shari

we are heading north in two weeks

abreojos - 4-5-2009 at 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
thanks for that...i believe someone took my meaning the wrong way about the possibility of people removing items from the boat. I also think that there was a misunderstanding at the site of the wreck...sarah was in shock and just wanted to get somewhere safe with friends and mentioned that AT THE MOMENT all she wanted to get off the boat were some personal items...which looks like got interpreted to mean..she didnt want anything from the boat...which is NOT what she meant at all. She planned to go back the next day to initiate the salvage with some trucks.
Perhaps that is why many items of value disappeared from the vessel that evening.

Interesting, if there was a misinterpretation, why wait for night to take things? Hard way to find out the meaning of Abreojos. My condolences.