Pumpkin Pie
This is a story about a sailboat that was in Marathon when we were there waiting for a weather window. I was told by captain that 2 of the 3 guys on a boat docked just across from us were from the sailboat Pumpkin Pie. He reminded me of how he and various other dudes hanging out at Marathon waiting thought it crazy this boat had actually left to sail direct to Isla Mujeres during the arrival of a cold front.. The captain said they got de-masted in heavy seas and had to cut it loose as the boom was banging against the hull and they worried it might punch a hole. Apparently the fore stay gave way and it fell back then the port shroud and it was in the water on the starboard side held to the boat by back stay and starboard shroud.
Anyway yesterday I talked to the owner and got more details. He blamed it on the failure of a steal pin that was involved with attaching the fore stay to the bow.. Call it lack of inspection or maintenance. He did mention the seas being up to 6' but also that they were within 27 NM of Isla Mujeres when it occurred. They had a SPOT unit and sent out a distress with it which was responded too by the Mexican Navy. They even towed the boat to Isla Mujeres so they were able to salvage some items from the boat...electronics and the like. He then sold the boat cheap and they are volunteer crewing on a boat heading back to Florida at the next weather window.
I will add that my captain while seeming to enjoy talking of these guys foolishness does not have a SPOT unit or EPIRB or any such GPS location emergency signally device. Just a VHF radio, chart plotter, handheld GPS, and SSB receiver only.
Anyway yesterday I talked to the owner and got more details. He blamed it on the failure of a steal pin that was involved with attaching the fore stay to the bow.. Call it lack of inspection or maintenance. He did mention the seas being up to 6' but also that they were within 27 NM of Isla Mujeres when it occurred. They had a SPOT unit and sent out a distress with it which was responded too by the Mexican Navy. They even towed the boat to Isla Mujeres so they were able to salvage some items from the boat...electronics and the like. He then sold the boat cheap and they are volunteer crewing on a boat heading back to Florida at the next weather window.
I will add that my captain while seeming to enjoy talking of these guys foolishness does not have a SPOT unit or EPIRB or any such GPS location emergency signally device. Just a VHF radio, chart plotter, handheld GPS, and SSB receiver only.
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