November Storm

On November 3rd, the remnants of Hurricane Noel made their way to southern New England. Packing winds in excess of 70 knots, Noel promised to wreak havoc on the Rhode Island coast.

On the day of the storm and throughout the following week, Safe/Sea was involved in salvage operations on numerous vessels. Following, are descriptions of some select operations.

S/V Sylph

On the day of the storm, three captains and two salvage hands donned foul weather & survival gear and ventured out into 7+-foot seas and 70+ knot winds in two of the largest salvage vessels owned by Safe/Sea. Aboard the 35-foot M/V Safe/Sea Newport were Captain Andrew Casey and salvage runner Robert Hutchinson. Aboard the M/V Safe/Sea Salvor were Captain Peter Andrews and salvage runner Nick LeBlanc. Captain Phil LeBlanc, returning from a report of a vessel aground, agreed to meet the two boat crews at their final destination.

Upon leaving Wickford Harbor, Safe/Sea's crew received reports of a vessel adrift off URI's Bay Campus. While underway to this location, it was determined that there were no vessels adrift in that area at the time. Taking into account the prevailing conditions and wind direction, Safe/Sea's crew decided to proceed to Dutch Harbor.

Captain Andrew Casey was first to arrive on scene in Dutch Harbor and immediately found three vessels entangled in the southern part of the mooring field. To the Safe/Sea crew, it appeared that the S/V Sea Fever had dragged down on a mooring occupied by the S/V Sylph. The combined weight of the two vessels caused the entangled pair to drag down on another mooring occupied by the S/V Dawn Treader. The combined weights of the two moorings held the three boats in one place about 150 yards from a rocky shore, with the Sylph's mooring penant caught on Dawn Treader's jib. While Captain Casey monitored the situation with the entangled vessels, Captain Andrews proceeded Dutch Harbor Boatyard courtesy dock to pick up Captain Phil LeBlanc who had just arrived by vehicle.

After transferring to the M/V Newport, Captain LeBlanc assumed the helm, and both Safe/Sea vessels stood station beside the tangled vessels. As the three vessels worked in the wind and seas, the Dawn Treader's jib caused the Sylph's mooring penant to chafe. Eventually, as the wind and seas increased, the penant chafed faster and eventually parted, sending the S/V Sylph towards shore. Captain LeBlanc quickly maneuvered alongside the S/V Sylph, allowing Captain Andy Casey to board the casualty with the towing hawser in-hand. He immediately secured the bridle to the bow cleats of the Sylph, and the casualty was taken in tow for Wickford.

On the way to safe harbor, the Safe/Sea crew battled gusting winds and seas in excess of 7 feet. Approximately 1.75 miles south of Fox Island, the S/V Sylph chaffed through the towing bridle and began drifting quickly back to the south in the treacherous seas. Amazingly, Capt. Andrews was able to maneuver close enough alongside the casualty to permit Capt. Casey to attach a second towline. While this presented intense dangers to the rescue vessels and crews, inaction would have resulted in the S/V Sylph drifting quickly down upon the rocky shore of North Kingstown, where it would have inevitably been destroyed.

As the parted towline was recovered, Capt. Andrews transmitted a radio call informing Capt. LeBlanc that due to the difficulty in attaching the bridle and the heavy seas, the bridle had once again become fouled on the bow of the S/V Sylph. Capt. LeBlanc was instructed to maneuver alongside the still towing S/S Salvor, and transfer Capt. Casey to the S/S Newport. After accomplishing this difficult task, it was then necessary to maneuver back alongside the S/V Sylph, and one again transfer Capt. Casey aboard the casualty, where he would remain to un-foul the bridle. This entire course of events was accomplished in gale force winds, breaking seas in excess of six feet, and each required both the vessels and Capt. Casey to be placed in immense peril. If, at any time, the maneuvering was mishandled or Capt. Casey lost his footing, he would have been plunged into the water with little chance of recovery.

Luckily, after clearing the bridle everything went well, and the S/V Sylph was secured at Brewer's Wickford Cove Marina at 1615 hours.

 

S/V Iwalani

During the storm on November 3rd, a 42-foot Formosa Ketch named Iwalani dragged her mooring in Coaster's Harbor, Newport, and drifted towards the Newport Bridge. The storm surge and wind-driven high seas caused the Iwalani to strike the Newport Bridge. The impact with the bridge caused both of the casualty's masts to be broken off at the deck and the top of the cabin sustained heavy damage.

The call to assist the Iwalani came in to the Safe/Sea Response Center through the Iwalani's insurer. The Response Center immediately dispatched a Captain Andy Casey by water. Once Captain Casey assessed the situation, Captain Phil LeBlanc and salvage runner Robert Hutchinson were dispatched by land to assist.

It was necessary for both heavy wooden masts to be removed from the water and secures alongside the vessel before it could be towed.

The S/V Iwalani was secured at New England Boatworks later that afternoon.

 

S/V Chez Chiens

The S/V Chez Chiens, a 47-foot Juneau sailboat was moored in Dutch Harbor on the day of the storm. When Safe/Sea arrived on scene in Dutch Harbor in the height of the storm, the Chez-Chiens was already laying on the shore. Later that night, the Chez-Chiens owners hired Safe/Sea to remove her from the stranding.

When we arrived on scene the following morning, we realized that the Chez Chiens was a very large, sturdy cruiser that would require some extra effort. The next day, Captain Phil LeBlanc, Captain Andrew Casey, and runner Nick LeBlanc arrived back on the beach at Dutch Harbor and began to prepare the large sailboat. Rigging the large cruiser involved a hull strap with extra reinforcement, removing rock from in front of the vessel, and modifying the rudder so it did not cause more damage to the hull during removal, and last but not least, hiring a large tug to facilitate the pull.

Later that afternoon, the Safe/Sea crew returned. Aboard the M/V Safe/Sea Newport was Captain Andrew Casey, and aboard the M/V Safe/Sea Salvor was Captain Pete Andrews. On the shore to monitor the hull strap and exterior of the casualty was Captain Phil LeBlanc and aboard the casualty to monitor the interior and operation was runner Nick LeBlanc. Operating the Tug Otter was Captain Chris Lisi and his crew. Using the Tug Otter, the casualty was slowly removed from the shore.

Once in the shallows, the Tug Otter was released, and Captain Andrew Casey began to pull the S/V Chez Chiens forward while Captain Peter Andrews heeled her over using her main halyard. Once in fair water, the casualty was inspected and placed in tow for Jamestown Boat Yard where she was secured.

S/V Shiloh

At about the time the S/V Iwalani was being slammed into the Newport Bridge, the S/V Shiloh, a 29-foot Erickson, was breaking free from her mooring and moving towards Fort Adams. When the S/V Shiloh reached shore, the wind and seas placed her in a very precarious position. Once aground, she lay alongside another larger sailboat with their spreaders literally touching. Although the hulls of these two vessels were not yet touching, they were very close and would require special handling.

When Safe/Sea's Captain Andy Casey returned the next day to evaluate the situation, it was determined that the best way to remove the S/V Shiloh was by land crane. After a phone call and a short wait, a land crane was on the scene and began the removal of the S/V Shiloh.

 

S/V Sanctuary

The S/V Sanctuary, a 37-foot Beneteau was in Dutch Harbor when the storm hit on November 3rd. By the end of the day, she was on the shore at the southern end of Dutch Harbor. The Sanctuary's owner contacted Safe/Sea on the night of the storm to have his vessel removed from the shore.

On November 5th, two days after the storm, Safe/Sea's crew went to work salvaging the Sanctuary. At about 0830 that morning, Captain Phil LeBlanc and runner Nick LeBlanc began setting up a hull strap that would allow the S/V Sanctuary to be pulled from the beach.

At approximately 1500 hours that afternoon, just before high tide, the M/V Safe/Sea Newport, M/V Safe/Sea Salvor, and M/V Safe/Sea Rescue arrived on the scene at Dutch Harbor. The S/V Sanctuary was turned bow-out by the two 35-foot salvage vessels, and once she began to show signs of movement, the M/V Rescue heeled the casualty over by pulling on her main halyard. As the casualty leaned over and was pulled forward, she freed from the bottom and was towed safely to a mooring.