LOST AT SEA
I just read
an article about a 16-year-old girl who was missing from a camping trip and
found after a long search of a National Park.
I can only imagine the relief of family, friends and the young girl when
she was found.
It reminded
me an old family story about my dad. I’m fuzzy on the facts, but I remember
seeing a newspaper clipping* on the story so I know it is true. I have Googled for further information but
was not successful.
My dad was
many things, one of which was a sailor.
Not an in the Navy sailor, a recreation sailor. He learned to sail racing dinghy’s when he
was very young, and later participated in ocean racing.
In 1938 (I
believe, but it could have been 1936) he crewed in an ocean race from I believe
Newport Rhode Island to Bermuda. This is
a race that occurs every two years and today is fairly routine for skilled
sailors in very expensive boats.
In 1938 the
race was very dangerous. Boats then were
not as well built and equipment not as reliable. I’m not sure if they even had radios, and
coast guard rescue was not as sophisticated or as available as it is today.
Dad crewed on
an old wooden boat owned by a friend.
They did not expect to win as their boat was not as fast as those owned
by wealthier participants. The first
boat finished after five days. Another
day or two and every entrant was in Bermuda and accounted for. Every boat but the boat my dad was crewing
on.
The
newspaper article I remember seeing had a headline “Local Boat missing in
Bermuda Race, Feared Lost”. I can only
imagine the fear and distress felt by my mom, grandmother, grandfather, other
relatives and friends.
Dad’s boat
had no radio and a search found nothing.
What must
have been a very scary time for his loved ones, was just a pleasant sail for my
dad. They were not lost, well they did
miss the island initially, but they did find it and they were just very, very
slow.
When they
finally arrived in Bermuda, three days after the last finisher, they were
greeted with great fanfare. There was
rejoicing and relief all around from the other sailors and the folks back home.
My dad and
his fellow sailors were surprised by the greeting. They were never truly lost (not in the
underwater kind of lost) and while others were worried sick they were always just
fine. Never the less, when they sailed
into port there was rejoicing and celebrating and I’m pretty sure they whole heartedly
took part in the party.
There may
have been alcohol involved.
That boat
never raced again. My dad told me the
next year when they were scrapping and painting the hull, a yearly chore on
those old wooden boats, they ripped holes into the boat as there was so much
dry rot.
He was
luckier than he even realized.
*My SIL claims she knows she has the
clipping…when she finds it I will publish it.
your father sounds to me a great personality who try to LIVE their lives in TRUE meaning of it .
ReplyDeleteglad that he was not REALLY lost and got back to his family safely .and glad you shared this wonderful story with your friends JOE.
have a blessed day
i'd say... they were very lucky.
ReplyDeleteTechnology definitely has it's uses (like phoning home), on the other hand your Dad and his crew mates knew where they were and, thankfully, all ended well. I wouldn't have wanted to know about the dry rot while on the race and maybe not even later :)
ReplyDeleteThey had a guardian angle that's what they had. What a great story.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
It's last race. A fine story.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting story. Sounds as if you almost never were.
ReplyDeleteLucky indeed.
ReplyDeleteThat's an exciting story about your dad. It could have gone horribly wrong but this is a much better outcome, especially for YOU!
ReplyDeleteSo GLAD your dad was fine!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great story.
ReplyDeleteIf that were me, every time a family member was angry with me after that, I'd say, "Fine. I just should have stayed lost at sea!"
Maybe it was a fun time for your father, but I wouldn't want to have been in your mother's shoes.
ReplyDeleteIt's the story of sailor's families, that they stay home and worry.
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to think about it! The three days. Not the return.
ReplyDeleteHe was a rock star and didn't realize it:)
ReplyDeleteAll's well that ends well, but what a worry for those not on that boat. I bet your dad had a brilliant time, though.
ReplyDeleteWow! A great family story!
ReplyDeleteHe certainly was lucky in many ways. He became a hero, had a great story to tell at reunions and actually was never aware that it all could have gone quite wrong. Hope she finds the clipping.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love this story! I love the fanfare awaiting them but mostly I love that they all survived. :D What a great story Joe.
ReplyDelete