Search for the Missing Sailor - Running from Hurricane Polo - Pt.2

Firstly, I want to express my gratitude for the outpouring of care and concern for my wellbeing. Truly overwhelming! Secondly, I’m an avid proponent of sharing these experiences with other mariners, so that everyone can learn from these examples. But first, a few clarifications: I am now back in my slip in San Carlos, and at home. Both the boat and I are perfectly fine! I had Starlink, 2x EPIRB, VHF DSC, and satellite SOS capability from cell phone, which was ultimately how I contacted Morgan on wednesday mid-day, 36hrs elapsed, concerned that she would be concerned by then…never did I think people from all over the world would be following this story! So, the story goes like this…I had planned to depart Sunday 04:00 from San Carlos to Puerto Don Juan just above BLA, a known “hurricane hole”. While last minute preparing the boat on Saturday, I found an issue with house bank not going into float on recent history (victron). Checked batteries and found two were hot, and these were dragging down the bank. Not entirely surprised, that battery bank is about 9years old now! I also needed to do an oil change. Realizing the battery issue would need to be corrected before a departure would be safe, I postponed tentative departure to return Sunday to swap out the two batteries with matching type I had in storage. Sunday, I returned and worked through the day to swap out, do quick preliminary tests on batteries/bank, and did oil change. Tested boat engine, propulsion, batteries, checked forecast again, and decided I would depart Monday 00:01 Earlier in the week, right up to Sunday, I had been sharing forecast updates, and communicating with friends about my own challenges prepping the boat for departure, namely battery challenge. This is the information that would later enter the convo and confuse the timeline. The question for Morgan would then become, “wait, did he tell his friends he was having subsequent battery issues AFTER leaving, or was she the last person updated? This is an important point for people to consider in your own conversations with friends and loved ones. When filing float plans, ONE person needs be designated POINT! That person is assumed to have the most updated and accurate info. It would be Morgan. She was unbeknownst standing beside me when I had sent earlier VM’s to friends, but I talk to a lot of people everyday, so no way she was chronicling who and what I was saying. So, when receiving information, it’s important to establish timelines, when did they receive that info? When was POINT person last updated? In the confusion and heightened emotions of these types of situations, the details get fuzzy, but it’s important to regain focus. Morgan was the last person I spoke to, minutes before leaving. Any details about comms checked against that mark could have been regarded as outdated info. Not a blame, but a constructive breakdown of our own communications in this scenario. When stated like this in a debriefing, it makes perfect sense, however in the moment information and activity gets bumped around. So, I had made it nearly to my choice destination, when northerlies started blowing 25knots. Had I had enough diesel, just an uncomfortable 4 more hours of motor-sailing to Don Juan. However, with low fuel, the path of least resistance was to run with conditions to take anchorage, nearest option Isla Salsipuedes on south side. This anchorage was still too exposed to fetch wrapping from north, and southerly swell due to POLO doing its thing! So, next best option, run back home with following seas, since enough time and distance had already been achieved to wait out the storm, and northers were forecast/anticipated and factored as option for speedy return home. This of course would mean some sporty type 2 fun on the way home, but certainly nothing myself or the boat couldn’t handle with a few hoots and hollers of excitement! I was an avid surfer (and surfboard shaper) when I still lived closer to surf, so the opportunity to ride some 8’ swell on a 38’ craft was just a slightly different day of surfing for me 😎 Anyone who knows about the Hood 38 will know that it can handily take on those conditions with a good capt! My key takeaways: • more detailed instructions for emergency contacts, point of control for communications and activating emergency response agencies • always keep diesel full, and/or jerry’s in reserve in case of emergency…don’t be caught on empty when you really need an advantage! • try and not let more than a month go by without routine systems checks, including battery health, especially in off-season (storm season) when boat is not as actively used as other times of year (but may still need to skidaddle on short notice!) • double-check communications systems and & apps before leaving service areas • prayers work! All of the good will came through when I needed things to calm down, or winds to shift…I could feel love and protection in the solidarity of the endeavor.