We are still very much in touch with the Magellan Net and enjoy hearing what everyone is up to and where they are.  From them we learn more all the time about the various islands, anchorages and passages we may well be making.  We have now met Rob and Dee who arrived here aboard Ventana a short while ago.  So good to put names to faces and hear more about their adventures.  Over drinks that turned into dinner, another dinner and lunch over the next few days we found a lot of common ground with both sailing and climbing experiences.

On Tuesday last week we were idly listening to the net controller set things off with the usual radio check followed by a call for any urgent traffic which is usually met by silence.  We were stunned to hear Chinook Wind come on and very calmly report that they had run aground on the  Aves Islands off the coast of Venezuela at 2300 the previous night.  They were high and dry and in no immediate danger in steady weather but they knew their yacht was a write-off.  They had switched on their EPIRB (the device that sends an emergency signal and your position to the Coastguard who then co-ordinate your rescue – yes we have got one!) so knew that help would be on its way.

You could all but hear the collective gasp from everyone listening and once again there was someone who knew exactly what to do.  Rob, from Ventana, just next to us here in Falmouth was straight on with sensible advice, local knowledge having been in the area several times, about how good the Venezuelan Navy are and the suggestion that Chinook Wind went onto the radio on the hour so that others on the net could pass on information and keep up to date with what they needed.  The moral support element was unspoken but recognised by everyone I think. 

In addition Rob said he would use his cell phone to call the US Coastguard to get the number for the Venezuelan Coastguard who he would then call (in Spanish) to check that they were on the case.  Imagine how reassuring that would be for the couple aground.

We called Rob to say we were standing by if there was anything he needed from us.  There was – our satellite phone, because his pay as you go card had run out.  So Mike called the US Coastguard while Rob came over in his dingy.  Michelle at the US Coastguard was very efficient and had the number at her fingertips.  Rob made the call to Venezuela and within a minute knew that the coastguard would be with Chinook Wind within the hour. 

He passed that news on to Chinook Wind (by SSB radio) who therefore had the first positive acknowledgement that someone was not only on their way but nearly there.  Rob then gave more sensible advice on preparing for the rescue.  We later heard their last transmission, via a relay from another yacht, saying that the coast guard ship had arrived.

Two more Magellan Net yachts were heading that way so yesterday Cuttyhunk went to check out the scene.  They reported back this morning that at the wreck site they had met the Coastguard who had been part of the rescue so they had proper confirmation that all on board were safe.  They had a good look at the site and took some photographs.  The yacht has already been stripped bare of sails, solar panels; pretty much anything that could be salvaged has been but not of course by anyone who is going to give them back to the owners. That is how it is at sea.  Chinook Wind is high and dry on the reef and looks as though it will only shift next time there is a storm. 

Dick and Carol, the owners are now in LA where they have a daughter living.

Once again a very moving story of how the community of sailors look after each other and how effective the Magellan Net has been.  It is tremendously reassuring to know that the bleep from the little yellow box (EPIRB) really does switch on the Coastguards rescue coordination centre somewhere (in our case Falmouth) and how incredibly organised the various search and rescue authorities are.  We have also learnt again the value of having a satellite phone.