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MISS TIPPY DRAMA AT SEA
A dramatic day on Miss Tippy ( some graphic pictures.)

Wed 20th January.
We are well into our passage to San Blas. Tortola is 175 miles behind us with a beautiful sunrise at sea. All is calm and peaceful on Miss Tippy with a good weather forecast. She is cruising along at 6 knots, heading southwest.

Brian and I share 2 hourly watches overnight so are well rested and Freddie joins me for the sunrise shift. The girls and Brian sleep after their graveyard shift!

The wind speed is 10-15 knots and we expect a lovely sail with the wind right behind us.

After breakfast, we think about poling out the headsail which is flapping around when the wind drops causing unnecessary chafe on the canvas and lines but decide against it as there is enough breeze to keep the sails full, allowing a relaxing mornng while Miss Tippy glides through the calm sea. The fishing line is released and we lie in the sun waiting…and soon get a bite!

It’s very exciting, it looks like a Mahi mahi and we play it carefully in order not to snap the line. Our hearts are racing! Freddie is taking in the sails to slow us down to 1 knot, Annie and Charlie and are ready for action.

Brain and Freddie take on the challenge and the game is tough. They play the fish for 45 minutes feeding the line in and out tentatively.
It puts up an almighty fight…

It is an amazing sight…
At last it is tired and time to reel it in.

The fish is on deck, it’s lively!

A blow to the head with a priest, some brandy down the gills, the fish very quickly expires .

Annie is only 3inches taller than the Mahi mahi.

Lunch is good today.

Tippy Drama!

Friends, please know some pictures are graphic!

It’s 4pm, Brian is giving Charlie a lessson in how to pole out the headsail, she is keen to learn and strong enough to help. Annie is watching, Freddie is helping with the lines. I am down below.

There is an eruption of a noise, a thunderous crash like we have never before heard on a boat. In an instant I think we must have a massive hole in the hull.
The next moment brings a bloodcurdling scream from Annabelle and distressed shouts from Freddie and Charlie. I now think Brian has gone overboard.
On my way out I glance through the glass roof of the saloon I see Brian is on the deck, lying over the window and there is blood and he is still.

The longest journey through the cockpit past the crying children through the sprayhood window there is more blood and he remains still.

He is lying in a heap on the deck and blood is pouring from the deep head wound, the children stop crying and bring towels to stop the flow.

After 3 or so minutes he comes round, as I roll him over I can see the skull under the gash in his head at least it is hard and white not soft and grey! He is now conscious but mutters unintelligibly.

Brian collapses into the cockpit. Charlie brings the medical bag.

The spinnaker pole is dangling upside down in the water we realise the spar fixing the pole to the mast has broken and the whole weight of the 20ft steel pole has crashed from at least 15 ft above onto his head.

The children are eager to help and spring into action.

Charlie and Freddie help to bring in the pole, which is now banging against the side of the hull. It’s heavy and still attached to lines on the outer end end. We consider cutting it free to fall into the sea but manage winch it up and then lift it in over the guardrail and dangle it upside down by the outhaul. It is now lashed to the deck and a line goes forward to hold it to the windlass, unusual rope work but effective!

Brian can speak to us now and is very shocked.

.

The wind seems to be increasing in strength and the boat is rolling with the boom out over the starboard side on a preventer and no balancing headsail up. Freddie takes in the mailsail while the preventer is let off slowly for him.

Annie takes care of the patient and feeds him ice.

Brian needs hospital attention. There is too much blood to suture his head and blood pressure is low. He could have a compression injury to the neck so we dare not allow him to move.
The Glasgow coma score is good. No urgent panic at the moment!!

Annie says “Mummy I can talk to Daddy and keep him awake”

The boat begins to rock and roll. It takes about an hour from the accident to stabilize the patient and the boat.

Freddie the navigator looks at the chart and says, “Mum we could go to Puerto Rico it’s the closest island.”

Only 55 miles away, an 8-10 hour journey with the wind dead ahead…Great!

It’s about 5 pm.
The U.S. coast guard is called on the SSB radio, which has about 600 mile range and on the VHF radio which has only about 30 miles range.
We give our ships details and explain history of the accident. Permission is requested to land in the U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico, we have no U.S. visa, however, Ponce in Puerto Rico is confirmed as a landing place.

There is a long silence I think he must be checking with authorities whether we are allowed to land.

We have confirmation that we can enter the country for medical treatment and check into customs later, he wants to speak on the satellite phone every 15 minutes for the first hour, then half hourly.

The U.S. coastguard never leaves me feeling alone in the darkening night.
His name is Jason and he feels like my best friend at the moment.

A helicopter rescue is offered for the patient but we decline as the BP comes up and the bleeding slows down. We request an ambulance at the pontoon and Jason confirms that all required assisstance will be available when we arrive at the safe harbour.

Freddie (aged 11) puts in a waypoint for Ponce on the chart and plots our course.
Charlie (aged 12) says “As first mate I’m skipper now and will take the helm.” She turns the boat 180 degrees now heading north.
Annie (aged 9) says ”Mummy what can I talk to Daddy about now to keep him awake?”

Amazing kids.

As night drew in the wind increased to 25 knots, which made for a rocky ride. The sea crashed over the bow as we rolled along. It rains and feels like a real dark and stormy night! The patient is thrown around.

We get advice and reassurance from Jason the U.S. coastguard all night long as we head towards unknown waters.

The children are very brave and a constant support to their Daddy
They are hungry but don’t complain when all I can do is give them chocolate from the fridge.

I am seasick.

There is a huge container ship on a collision course with Miss Tippy.
I radio her on the VHF channel 16 and request her to change course to avoid us.

I cannot ask Freddie and Charlie to avoid collision as the patient is complaining of more blood loss under the dressing and needs attention.
Annie gets tea towels and we pack the head. With an allergy warning Brian is ready for the ambulance. We let him fall asleep for a few minutes at a time.

The container ship not only obliges safe passage but offers to send assistance if we need it. We decline the offer but are grateful for the safe crossing behind our stern.

The children take turns to have half an hours sleep. All is calm with our patient.

The sea is rough. The waves are now breaking on the side of the boat but we must keep a steady course.We are all wet and cold.

The night is long. Jason the coast guard assures us again that help is at hand should we need it.

We are nearly there. On the chart Freddie plots our rendezvous to meet a U.S. coastal cutter, which will escort us from a waypoint 10 miles out of harbour.

When the cutter arrives she is an impressive 110 ft long and she sits on our stern like a guardian angel.

A police escort motors alongside and with a cheery wave they guide us from the front avoiding hazards, on towards the pilot vessel 2 miles further in.
The pilot vessel is now visible. We slow Miss Tippy down so that harbour pilot Coqui, driven by Fernando, can step aboard with deckhand David to guide us into the dock.

I slide my hands from the wheel with difficulty, they are stuck fast! With hugs for both men I ask them to close their eyes so we don’t spoil night vision with the flash!

Coqui is a sailor too and is in familiar waters.He takes Miss Tippy to the dock with great care.

There is a waiting party on the pontoon and they take care of my husband .

The children are taken by Coqui’s wife Marilyn, to an all night diner for pizza!
Brian and I go on a very smooth ambulance journey after police and customs take a few important identification details.

The doctor is happy all vital signs are good and the wound is sutured.

Brian is healing quickly and feels much better!

I wait while he has a CT scan which is clear.

8 am. We can go home to Miss Tippy.It’s a relief to be back.We go to bed and sleep forever.
Marilyn and the children are back after a fantastic sleepover and T.V. heaven in her home.

Daddy gets big cuddles.

4 days later the scar is healing really well and no lasting damage,as one friend said in a message “Lucky it didn’t hit him anywhere serious!”

25th January We are off to San Blass this evening a 875 mile journey and we feel good about going.
Love and thanks to all friends and family for kind messages,we will have no internet for about 2 weeks now.

Love Sheila xx

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