NEWS AND NOTES
Blue Water Sailing
June 22, 2009
S/V PAULERIC safe and finally free from rocks of Rose Atoll
On Saturday, June 13th, a call for assistance was picked up at 3:20 Zulu from a Captain Dominique Clere, a single-hander aboard the S/V Pauleric.
Map of American Samoa courtesy of mapsof.net.
He gave his position as 14.32 S and 168.09 W, near Rose Island (a Marine National Monument belonging to American Somoa) located about 2,500 miles south of Hawaii, is at the east end of the Samoan archipelago. It is one of the smallest atolls in the world, consisting of two low sandy islets, which is probably the main reason Clere ended up stuck between two rocks there on the reef. The captain reported that he was not in serious danger and that he could easily reach shore if necessary, although he was without engine power and had been there for five days.
He signaled that he was requesting a tow NOT declaring an emergency and wished to stay with his boat.
Contact was made and a post was put out on the Pacific Puddle Jump Yahoo Group Cruisers Forum by Paul (vk2hmv) requesting help from any nearby vessels.
Then, on June 17, Paul and his wife arrived on the scene to offer assistance. Paul wrote, "We have arrived at Rose Atoll at 1150 local time and established VHF contact with Dominique. After having assessed the situation and discussed our options with Dominique we came to the conclusion that we could not safely get to him to pull him free. He is wedged between two rocks and needs a sledge hammer to break free. We only have a light hammer which he already has. He is sitting on rocks some considerable distance across the reef and just on the eastern edge of Sand Island (which is only a small mound of sand), near the pass into the lagoon. I feel his only/best exit is out onto this boat pass/lagoon rather than back out across the reef. I was not prepared to enter the pass as I felt it was just too dangerous. In any event even if we had got into the lagoon Dominique felt it would be pointless unless we had the large sledgehammer to break him free. Apparently this weekend and early next week will be the highest tides and his best chance of getting free and he is extremely anxious that someone will come with a sledge to his assistance then. He is well and in reasonably good spirits considering his ordeal. He says he has enough water to drink for two weeks and food for one week. I have been in Satellite phone discussions with the Rescue and Coordination Centre in New Zealand but they have been and are continuing to, try to get a vessel to come from Pago Pago or Apia to Domnique's assistance but so far have been unable to get anyone to help. There is a Samoan patrol vessel n Apia having repairs done and it expects to be operational again next week but they were unsure if this vessel would be prepared to help free PAUERIC. The RCCNZ believe that Dominique should abandon his vessel and they could then instruct a rescue vessel for him but at this time he is not prepared to leave his boat. I asked him if he would come with me to Apia but he declined.
My wife and I have now left the scene and are on our way to Apia and expect to arrive at 1300 hrs local time tomorrow (Thursday). I will try to get some assistance for Dominique when I arrive. I feel a little guilty at not being able to do more but with only my wife on board and her extreme nervousness of the situation I am not sure what more we could do than continue to try to get a capable vessel and crew to go to the scene."
Saturday, June 20: Paul posts this note from Dominique on the PPJ Forum, "Well, it is all over the tide was right and PAULERIC came free by herself. Dominique had no help from the boat that was on its way as it had not yet arrived. Dominique would be one happy man today. This would be the news of the week. Good luck and God bless Dominique and PAULERIC.
It is good to have a outcome like this. Cheers to all. paul (vk2hmv)."
A thankful Dominique had this to say in his note to Paul, "Hello Paul. Thank you for this kind message and your support. As you can see the name of my boat start (Sic) with your name too Paul; the boat name is Pauleric. It is the first name of my mother - Paule and the name my son – Eric. So all make Pauleric. I wish no one to make this experience as it is very painful. I am here nearly 3 weeks alone on this beauty island how seem somed times a nightmare (Sic), but thanks to Randy, George and some other chap I have survived. I do not complain as it seems that soon a vessel will come to help me save my boat. They will arrive on Sunday morning and Monday morning I think we will take Pauleric out from the claim of this 2 rocks. I will not be in Pago Pago in US Samoa for long as I prefer to be careful as in the next fews days things could still happen. But of course I feel more confident as only for 4 days ago RCC NZ rescue told me they have no ship to send to rescue my boat. They wanted to rescue only me. . . so now I see (light at the) end of tunnel. Again, thanks to Randy and George who did a fantastic job. My final destination will be Brisbane (AUS) and then probably put my boat in for repairs before heading to Mooloolaba marina. Of course I will come to Sydney to visit you. So Paul, I am going to sleep a bit. I have Sailmail connection only during night here around 5PM to 4AM UTC tonight I may feel that the boat move a bit on it's own, as it will start to be a high tide and that every day bit more until Tuesday next week . God bless you and wish you all the best.
Regards, Dominique."
Hopefully Dominique will share with us how he ended up stranded on Rose Atoll, as these hard-learned lessons are valuable to all sailors.
