Sailing Yacht Grounded on Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
June 16, 2007
A sailing yacht (40+ ft. Vagabond, ketch rigged) coming from Green Cove Springs, FL sailed out of the St. John’s river, Jacksonville, FL and headed south with a gentle NE breeze of about 12-15 knots. As she was cruising along nicely at about 4 knots, a mile off the beach the crew settled in for a leisurely first leg of their sail down the eastern shore of Florida, through the Okeechobee and across the Gulf of Mexico to Pennsicola, FL.
Then the wind eased around to the east as the sun dropped below the horizon and she started inching towards the beach. Trying to keep her pointed south/southeast became more difficult. The captain finally decided that they were being forced to tack offshore. He had a hard time getting the genoa to come around the forestay and the engine was not starting. It appeared to have a fuel clog. She was approaching the beach more with every breath of the easterly breeze. Finally the crew decided that the anchor had to go over board, be set and that would give them the time they needed to get everything straightened out. So the 45 lb. CQR dropped to the sand off the bow sprit in the 10 depth. 60 ft. of chain went out and that was all they could spare from the looks of how close the beach was now. The swells were pretty high, 4 - 5 ft. now with an occassional breaker. Wait a minute. They were dragging and with a couple of bumps and bangs they were tossed onto the beach right on the highest tide of the month, a day after the new moon, and at midnight.
As an offshore master captain working for Tow Boat US, I was out there on Mon. to assist a 500 hsp tug boat in dragging the big ol’ heavy cruisin’ gal off the beach. A little late, after the high tide, which barely touched the shoal keel of the Vagbond, a little short on line with the tide falling and the waves beggining to roll in, and a little short on horsepower appearantly, after a little more than an hour we only budged the ol’ gal about 6 inches. Being parallel to the surf, the goal was to get her turned into the waves and drag her in. Not on that day but we are moving on to plan C tomorrow. Stay tuned, same Tow boat US captain and same watersports E-Magazine channel.
Fair winds, tight lines and following seas.