Maritime Stories
The mission of BoatWatch.org is to maintain a worldwide network of resources to aid mariners that are missing or overdue; have a boat stolen; or to whom urgent messages need to be relayed.
Maritime Stories
Are You Prepared For A Medical Emergency In a Remote Anchorage?
Are you prepared for a medical emergency in a remote anchorage? *Posted here from Boat Watch Facebook Group. Deb Hare is the author and it was originally posted on Bahamas Land and Sea Facebook Group March 14, 2024 Deb Hare Bahamas, Land and Sea LESSONS LEARNED from medical emergency. It has...
SV Escape Two Sailors Killed
120407Z JUN 22 HYDROLANT 1508/22(14). WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. DSW 17. S/V ESCAPE, FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD, DISMASTED, TWO PERSONS INJURED, IN 39-46.67N 063-01.20W. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO RCC BOSTON, PHONE: 617 223 8555. Anatomy of...
SV AQUARIUS Dismasted Cape Verde to Eastern Caribbean
Re SV Aquarius - Dismasting The United States Coast Guard Operations Center's LANTAREA, which is the Atlantic Command is coordinating the situation with SV Aquarius phone number is 1-757-398-6700 and email D05-SMB-CAA-LANT30cc@uscg.mil. Yachts crossing the Atlantic to the Eastern Caribbean should...
Four Sailors Rescued from Liferaft after SV Raindancer Hit by Whale in South Pacific
Key Communications in An Offshore Rescue by Ann Hoffner Contributing Editor Ocean Navigator Magazine May/June 2023 SHORT TACKS On March 13, on a South Pacific crossing midway between Galapagos and the Marquesas, s/v Raindancer with four people on board sank after an encounter with a whale. It...
Elvis Missing at Sea 24 Days, Rescued and Heinz Ketchup
Photo Courtesy of EMO News The Famed “Ketchup Guy:” A New Life for Elvis Francois BY CARIBBEAN COMPASS March 19, 2023 in BREAKING NEWS, ON SHORE by Elaine Lembo Thanks to Heinz, we’ve heard plenty about the Ketchup Boat Guy. Back home on Dominica, especially in his village of Anse du Mé,...
Sailor Survival Story, 6 days in a Life Raft
Don Cavers, the captain of SV Starlight tells his gripping story of shipwreck, survival at sea in a life raft and eventual rescue.
A Story of Survival and Safety Tips by A Coast Guard Veteran
Lessons to Take Away Form This Survival Story Story and Interview by Paul Bernard, USCG *Operate with a layered safety strategy. *Fully plan and prepare for every trip, no matter how quick you think it may be. *Always file a float plan with a picture of the boat. *If you boat on or near...
Rescue of 10 Crew from the “Terry T” in 30-foot Seas, Snow and 60 knot Winds, North Atlantic
This article is written in memory of Vice Admiral John P. Currier, USCG (retired), who passed away on March 1, 2020 at home in Traverse City, Michigan. He is recognized as the "godfather of the Coast Guard’s modern H-60 helicopter program,” and received many commendations for flying and rescue...
Cubans Shipwrecked For 33 Days
Shipwrecked! Two men and a woman who were stranded on a deserted island in the Bahamas for 33 DAYS after their boat capsized are finally rescued by Coast Guard and say they survived on COCONUTS. Two men and a woman have been rescued from a deserted island in the Bahamas after they were stranded...
Rescue In Maine From a Dinghy At Night
Boatwatch received this first hand account of a rescue from a dinghy at night in cold Maine waters. A dinghy is a very important asset to a boater and can save your life if properly outfitted for any circumstance. Please Wear Your Life Jackets By Captain Judy Long & Captain Stephen...
Cruisers Rescue Two Bahamian Fishermen Drifting For Three Days
This is the story of the Rescue of Two Bahamian Fishermen by John and Shelly Roberts on SV LONG REACH Long Reach is a Lagoon 420 and our first boat and our first season cruising. We left our homeport of Little River, SC on Christmas Day 2019 for Fort Lauderdale. We met up with two...
Dramatic Story of Cruisers Rescuing Cruisers La Paz
The Rescue of 'Green Dragon', By Jessica Lockfeld, January 10, 2020, published in three short parts in Latitude 38 is a dramatic, gripping actual story of a cruising boat helping other cruisers. Someday you may be out there and hear that chilling call on the radio, "Mayday". It happened to us in...
Murder in Paradise on SV Windancer, Panama
In January of 2011, M/V Tothill had just returned to full-time cruising in Florida after 10 years in the Caribbean. We initially received email and Single Side Band inquiries from worried cruisers located in the San Blas Islands of Panama about our good friend Don North. Don was a single handed...
Rescue At Sea, Loss and Recovery of SV Kelaerin
A first-hand story of rescue at sea SV Kelaerin, 45’ Omega Jim Carey and Joy Carey 180 miles off the coast of Washington state June 17, 2018 For months, I had been imagining the end of our circumnavigation. We would finally pass by the Fuca Pillar, make our way into Neah Bay and have a good two...
Two Bahamian Fishermen Rescued by Cruisers
The following Bahamian rescue at sea began on the beautiful island of Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands. We, Commodores Glenn and Eddie Tuttle, Tothill, were fortunate enough to have been able to lend a hand, as were several other SSCA Commodores who assisted in, and actually made, the...