Once the water reached the top of the stern bulwark rail, it took only
about 25 minutes for "A Fine Mess", a 36' trawler, to go under. We've seen
hundreds of "florida boats", but this is the first in many years that we've
been present for when it sank. And, to think, a few minutes of time and
either of the boats that came to take pictures could have run it into the
shoals. I guess that the 3 small fenders hanging off the side of the boat
just wasn't up to the job of keeping it afloat. Now, who's going to clean
up the oil, fuel, waste, or any other stuff that comes out of it? This
yachting just never stops being fun!

*Rudy & Jill Sechez *
*BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler  *
Anchoring Consultants-trawlertrainingabc.com
*850-832-7748 *
Chesapeake SC Northbound-Chesapeake

http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail
Virus-free.
www.avg.com
http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail
<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

Rudy, at least no one was in immediate danger.  Hearing your story reminds me of the only sinking I ever saw, which was a bit more exciting.  Briefly:
Shortly after I'd foolishly left a safe harbor, single handing my Mainship 390 in near gale conditions, my VHF lit up with a Mayday call.  I realized the it was from a boat about a mile off my starboard and very close to the rocky shore.  I relayed the mayday to the CG, and heard that a rescue boat dispatched from the other (lee) side of the island.  Being single handed with high winds and short steep seas I didn't dare venture close.  I circled, timing my turns to the waves.  Completing one of the circles I looked and the boat was gone.  No too long after the Baywatch rescue boat arrived.  They hailed me, saying they couldn't see anything.  I pointed them to my last sighting and then they found a debris field.  The call was "my deck hand is going in the water". Thinking of the rescuer's bravery still gives me a chill.
They pulled five people out, a couple with serious but not life threating injuries.  Turns out I came upon the second of two boats.  The first was probably gone before I realized there was trouble.  The second had ventured in to help their friend who'd gotten in trouble.  My leaving port in those conditions was stupid, but may have saved a life.
A FOIA request to the CG got me a CD of the radio traffic: I haven't replayed it for some time, but the terror in the voice calling mayday is enough to make my hair stand up.

Stay safe!

Jamie Millar,
Mainia, Mainship 390
Safe in port

-----Original Message-----
From: Rudy Sechez rudysechez@gmail.com
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2020 10:39 AM
To: Trawlers and Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: Gone!

Once the water reached the top of the stern bulwark rail, it took only about 25 minutes for "A Fine Mess", a 36' trawler, to go under. We've seen hundreds of "florida boats", but this is the first in many years that we've been present for when it sank. And, to think, a few minutes of time and either of the boats that came to take pictures could have run it into the shoals. I guess that the 3 small fenders hanging off the side of the boat just wasn't up to the job of keeping it afloat. Now, who's going to clean up the oil, fuel, waste, or any other stuff that comes out of it? This yachting just never stops being fun!

*Rudy & Jill Sechez *
*BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler  *
Anchoring Consultants-trawlertrainingabc.com
*850-832-7748 *
Chesapeake SC Northbound-Chesapeake