Problems in Belize

[sailaway78]

To those of you who have not already read about this situation, I wish you would check out this mans problems. And consider whether or not you wish to enter Belizean waters after you do. Poor man has lost everything he owns, including his boat, because of the inactivity of the Govt. down there. Apparently he did nothing wrong, except fall asleep and run aground. Also I would think it appropriate for everyone reading this, to give a big thumbs up to Cliff, who has done everything possible to help, including giving the man food and shelter after it was all over. A letter or two to any appropriate authority would also be in order if you are of that mindset.

 

[Steve677]

Incredible thread... Everyone should read it.

It took me twenty minutes to read the entire thread. Incredible.

 

[jmcclain]

Read This Thread for Sure!

If you are a current or wanabe cruiser this should be required reading! It took a while, but absolutely worth the time. Many lessons are served up in this spellbinding account of a cruisers' nightmare in Belize!

 

[Kevin]

Question for cruisers.

First, let me say that I am not a "cruiser" at this point of my life. I have mostly been day sailing and some overnight trips, but have not sailed the 7 seas and all around the globe. I have my own business, and I have only taken a single vacation of one night in the last 6 years, so a week or two on a boat is not even conveivable at this point. If things go as planned, should be able to start doing some cruising in a couple of years.I read many of the posts about this guy having run up on a reef in Belize. It is a truly sad sitiation, but I am not going to get into the politics of it all.My question is this. It seems that he got to the reef and a boat that was supposed to meet him there and help him through was not there, and would not be there until the next morning. He decided to sail back and forth all night near the reef to wait for the boat to show up the next morining. Apparently, he was very sleepy, fell asleep and ended up on the reef. I asked myself what I would have done in that situation. First of all, even with my limited knowledge, I think that I would have instinctively put some distance between me and that reef. 1. I would have sailed away and anchored somewhere to wait it out and gotten some sleep. 2. Perhaps it is too deep, or there is some other reason that he could not anchor. Surely, if he is singlehanding all around the world like he is, he should have an autopilot. I would have set that off into a safe direction, gone to sleep for 3 or so hours, and then sailed back to meet the boat. 3. No autopilot? I would have sailed out into a safe area and put out a storm anchor, and gotten a couple of hours of sleep and then sailed back to meet the boat.Maybe I am missing something here, I did not read every post about the whole matter, but I still say that I would have put some distance between me and that reef no matter what else I did.What say you?

 

[Gord May]

easy choice make for hard consequences

1. I don’t intend to criticize Bob, nor minimize his misfortune, in any way. but2. Kevin makes some excellent points, from which we can all take instruction.I suspect that he (Bob) decided to sail back and forth all night near the reef as a matter of convenience. Were he to stay awake and alert, the “easy way” would have been “good enough”. He didn’t, and it didn’t prove a good enough strategy.If you don’t have the energy to do it right in the first place, where will you get the energy to correct it?Respectfully, & sympathetically,Gord May

 

[scuba01]

wow

All i can say is wow.. Im glad to be in the good old USA

 

[sailaway78]

Questions

Some interesting observations here. I think that most miseed one particular point. Everyone who single hands should know their own personal limits. Mine happens to be around 30 hours. After that count me out. Also, another thing is this.If I even think I am going to have to go to sleep and there is any danger within many miles, I stop sailing and crank up the motor. Much esier to stay awake with the diesel clattering away. The motion, and sounds when sailing are like a sleeping pill to me. Finally, for those not familiar with that part of the world. There is no such thing as anchoring up offshore. Outside the reef, the water depth drop almost instantly to over 1000 ft.

 

[scuba01]

that a better idea

i was woundering that as well, why not anchor, i new there had to be a reason but if you are sailing back and forth why not do what you said drop sail and motor in a direction other than towards the reef.

 

[Franklin]

two things

Like Bob said....use a sea anchor about 10 miles out. But...when single handling and sleepy and tired...we make bad choices.

 

[Wanderer138]

Thank you Kevin

I too sympathize with Bob and the loss of his boat, but as a singlehander, it's all on you. I know hindsight is 20-20, but as Kevin and others mentioned, the thing to do would have been to put as much room as possible between yourself and the reef and wait for conditions to improve. Several options were available, including heaving-to. The sad truth is that Bob chose poorly and now he has to deal with the consequences of that choice.Any cruiser who thinks a cruising permit gives you the right to prompt rescue from a host government needs a serious reality check. Trying to justify it because "their economy depends on our tourist dollars" is an even bigger mistake. Just my two cents....PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Ed Hanley14076]

The gist of the account is what occurred after Bob went aground, however, there are lessons to be learned from the fact of grounding. I was very early in my sailing experience, when a very well seasoned seaman told me: "NEVER close with the land in the dark!!" Several times since, I figured it did not actually apply to fair weather approaches that I had done dozens of times - and almost every time I deeply regretted it. Not because I came to grief, but because there would come a time when I realized I was unnecessarily jeopardizing a boat and possibly the well-being of myself, crew, passengers, and possible rescuers. I've reached approaches after such rotten trips that nothing seemed worse than standing off all night, but that is the the common sense thing to do. Keep in mind that the area for several miles outside any port will see a lot of traffic all night - fishing boats, ships, etc., coming and going as well as coastal shipping, so pick a place to wait for sun up before you get amongst them.

 

[abe]

It this would happened in USA, Canada, Australia.

we would thanking the Coast Guard. I remember reading a story about someone needing a tow off one of little French islands. Well, their "coast guard" wanted over 10k upfront... they didn't care if their life was in danger. I thank God we live in this country were human life has a vallue.abe