Staniel Cay 3
Ambler Isle
V and S
Thu 20 Jan 2011 16:33
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Another yacht went aground today. This one was a
trawler on its way into the marina at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. The
dockmaster saw the trouble and quickly warned him away. Several people
called him the VHF to tell him he was too close to the hard reef that guards the
marina. But somehow it hit the reef anyway.
He kept going, seeking a place he could tie up easily
since he'd lost his hydraulic system. On the VHF radio he inquired about
using a unoccupied dock by Club Thunderball. About that time the nice
young fellow from Staniel Cay Divers came on and suggested he might want to tie
up by his diving boat, and that he would call the marina to ask
permission. The dock was shared by Amazing Grace. He
returned to say the dockmaster preferred he return to the marina for dockage and
they would help him. Amazing Grace also called, introducing
themselves as the Overseas Salvage Co. and exchanging phone numbers.
Another Salvage Co.? A salvage company might be paid $1million if they
rescued a $2million boat from destruction! So it does not take many
salvage operations to make a fortune. Later still we heard the "nice,
young man" from Staniel Cay Divers hail Amazing Grace on the VHF to set
up a time to call on the phone. Not surprisingly, salvagers and divers
often work together when salvaging a boat. In the old days this was called
"wrecking" and was a huge business before lighthouses, and later aids to
navigation. The Florida Cays thrived on it.
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