An hour and a half later we found out that Sandy Point was not so sandy after all. That's right we ended up hard aground on Sandy Point. Which is at the very end of the Straits of Canso. So there we are stuck on the point. But as luck would have it there was a fishing boat behind us which came to our assistance. So at this point our boat seems to be fine, no water coming into the boat after a quick inspection. The only problem is that we are stuck. As I was saying there is this nice couple on the fishing boat who offered to pull off of the point. So they passed us a line and I attached it too our boat. But when they pulled with their boat it caused our boat to rotated and we think that at this point the rudder came hard up again the point and bent the shaft of the rudder.
The fishing boat did manage to extract us from the point but now our rudder is hard over to port and the wheel will not move. So the fishing boat towed us about 1/2 mile to Eddy's cove where there is a public wharf.
I went for a quick swim and I was able to see that the keel was marked up. But the biggest problem was the fact that the rudder was all the way over to the port side and was pushed up again the bottom of the hull. So we were unable to steer the boat.
Since we were on the outside face of the wharf in an unprotected part we didn't feel it would be safe there until we could get the boat looked at. So we found a lobster fishermen who we paid to use his boat to tow us back to Port Hawksberry marina. This is were things went from bad to worst. Because of the damage to the rudder the boat would not take a tow from the front. So when the boat came along side of us to tow us from the side he came in to fast and punched a hole through the hull on the Starboard side. The good news is that it is on a small hole, better news it was above the waterline. Best news is that we made it back to the yacht club where we were able to secure the boat at a mooring.
So there we were stranded in Port Hawksberry. Thanks to my best friend Piet who offered to come and get us bring us home. So the boat was left at the mooring in Port Hawksberry for 11 days until we could have it haul to confirm the damage.
After talking with the insurance company and having a marine survey done on the boat it was decide to have the boat moved by land to Baddeck to have the repairs done. This is were she is sitting now on the hard. The rudder has been removed and shipped to Quebec to have a new one made. I now know that you can't straighten a bent one. The whole in the side has already been repaired and the keel is being painted this week. Hopefully the boat will be back in the water by middle of Sept.
So what I learned from this accident.
1. Check and double check all hazards and tracks;
2. After an accident stop for a moment before any actions are taken. (things are never as bad as they could have been);
3. Electronic are great but they do fail. (mostly when they are needed the most);
4. Communications with a tow vessel must be very clear and understood.
So now we wait until she goes back into the water so we can complete our sail home. Good thing we have many friends with boats that have support us through this mess and that have taken us sailing to help us from not getting to sail this summer.
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