Shipwreck -

So after we had put Bora Bora about five miles behind us, a "Pan Pan" came over the radio. A Pan Pan is similar to a Mayday but without the immediate risk of death. We answered and were told by the boat in distress (Monteverde) that they had lost their rudder, an engine, and were taking on water and that they were at the pass of the island that we were heading to.  I let them know that we were on the way and that we would let the authorities know. I called Bora Bora Gendarme (police) and was answered by Tahiti. I let them know the situation, and they tried to contact the boat in distress. As it turned out we were the only boat that could hear Monteverde so we acted as the relay. About 10 minutes after receiving the Pan Pan, Monteverde called to let us know that there was already a half a liter of water in the hull. I told them no problem that we were on the way. I updated Tahiti, and they asked if we could tow the boat to Bora Bora, I let them know that we probably could, thinking there really wasn't any serious damage, and thinking they could probably motor back with their good rudder.

About an hour later Monteverde called and said something to the effect that the water was at the top of the hull. I asked them to repeat and it became clear that they were half sunk. I asked if they had a dingy, and they did, and they stated that they had already started to prepare to leave. They asked if they should abandon the ship, and I told them "no" that the catamaran would not sink. 

Then I called Tahiti and let them know we had a problem. Monteverde was sinking!  Somehow the conversation that we had about the 1/2-liter was actually 1/2 meter. (Shannon actually said that is what she thought she had heard). I told him that we were increasing to full speed, and the additional catamaran that was with us increased also to 9 knots. Tahiti said they would have someone out of Maupiti and to the sinking vessel within 10 minutes.

In summary the people were rescued by a passing fisherman, we were the second boat on the scene and found the catamaran listing at about 30 degrees, with most of the bridge-deck underwater. As I swam up to the boat I noted that one engine was missing its entire prop, and the other had a badly chewed prop. Both rudders were gone, and the dagger-boards had been sheared off. The port hull was basically totally underwater. The dagger-board casing on the port hull had broken free thereby creating a large hole. The starboard hull had some holes around the dagger-board area.

Very interesting day!

Courage