Drama at Choc Hole Friday June 20

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:22 am

All hands on deck...this is not a drill. Our story unfolds as the pool boy/drink fetcher/drink maker/driver and his posse are spending their last day at Maho. Just lovely. Little breeze, little waves , cold beer, a few clouds. Time approx 9:45ish. Fast foward to the noonish time and the weather has changed. Dem fluffy cloulds dey be black now. Wind is also ramping up. Sandie and I are on the beach our friends are out watching the turtles. I say to myself.."self we better pack up". Note to audience this drill hs been preformed many times before. We had a great parking space just across from us so no big deal loading up. The wind decides to really try out high gear along with rain as we head back to the villa, Southern Cross, at the end of Chocolate Hole. See her at seaviewhomes.com We drive through leaves, branches and some construction damage on our way. Get back to the villa and the storm is about over. My buddy goes out on the deck and says, "hey is that supposed to be there?" I look and see a boat on the rocks across from us. No one aboard, but it is getting banged up. Reach for the phone and its dead. Run to get my cell and look in the phone book for help. I had seen Capt John Bandi come into the cove and moor the night befor so I called his home and cell. Left messages at both numbers. Called the VI folks and got the number for the Coast Guard. Had to leave a message at that number as well. Next called the Beach Bar. Got Boo on the phone and told her what was going on and if there was any local folks who could help. She said there were folks there and they would be coming. I kept looking at the boat and saw dive tanks on it and thaought it looked like Collett's boat form 6 Paq Dive. I even asked Boo if she was there and she thought she was out on a dive so it couldn't be her boat. I called 6 Paq anyway and left another message. About 10 minutes pass and the Beach Bar boat arrives. Too shallow to get close so one guys swims over to the boat and trys to move it. No way this is going to work. We think we hear him say that there is hull damage. They leave. More time passes....Three dingys show up along with John Bandi getting to his boat which is moored there. A lady dives in off the dingy and swims over to the boat. I think it must be Collett. Other swimmer gets there as well.They start bailing the boat out but waves add more. The boats are doing the hokie pokie trying to get close and avoid hitting bottom.I call Capt John on his cell and he says to "wish them luck". He sees us up on the cliff at the villa and waves.Long lines are attached and Capt John Bandi's towing service finally gets the boat free. They get it to the shore at the end of the bay. It is saved at least. I call RickG to give him a heads up and leave a message. Thought he could put this on the board as we don't bring the lap top with us...Thats the end of the show folks...this was going to be in my trip report but...there seems to be a leak...guess who. For those folks who read USATODAY, I will be in the Friday Money section. They are using my question for their retirement panel. Picture as well. Fresh St John suntan on his smiling face.God bless.....Bill

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:04 am

Bill, thanks for the update. It sounds pretty hard core. I've read a good bit on a boating forum about how important it is to check mooring lines and mooring anchors. I wondered what failed here.

Cheers, RickG

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:08 am

Yo...You could see a broken line off the bow. Don't know what else may have failed...God bless..Bill

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:17 am

Wow that sounds intense. In the end it wasn't John or Collette's boat, right? Or maybe we don't know the answer to that. Feel bad for whomever! Thanks for the report. Now someone go slap that webcam!

sailorgirl · Post by **sailorgirl** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:30 pm

A Moorings charter boat on the last day of its charter sank on the same day. There were some nasty squalls reported. According to eyewitness accounts I've read the sail boat had three men on board, all retreived safe by a passing boater who went to their rescue. It looks like things got bad fast. Winds were clocked at 50 knts and they got blown over on their side. They apparently left some port hatches open (Note to self... always double check the hatches) and took on water fast. They managed to get into the partially submereged dingy and were rescused. The boat is another story. It apparently sank in thew deepest part of Drake in 160 feet of water. Time to call the insurance company!

cliffnchristi · Post by **cliffnchristi** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:25 pm

We were at Maho, too. That wind was something else, wasn't it?? Nothing like being sandblasted in the face. Did you see the wild donkeys that were on the beach that morning? We were the ones that were playing with them. They were as tame as could be. We were staying in Chocolate Hole, too (Calypso DelSol), but didn't see all of that action. We had one of our patio umbrellas in the pool when we got back, tho.

villafish · Post by **villafish** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:39 pm

His name is John Brandi not Bandi.

ccasebolt · Post by **ccasebolt** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:44 pm

sailorgirl wrote:A Moorings charter boat on the last day of its charter sank on the same day. There were some nasty squalls reported. According to eyewitness accounts I've read the sail boat had three men on board, all retreived safe by a passing boater who went to their rescue. It looks like things got bad fast. Winds were clocked at 50 knts and they got blown over on their side. They apparently left some port hatches open (Note to self... always double check the hatches) and took on water fast. They managed to get into the partially submereged dingy and were rescused. The boat is another story. It apparently sank in thew deepest part of Drake in 160 feet of water. Time to call the insurance company!

Located more info on the Moorings boat:

http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?sec ... 1214367656

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:29 pm

Yo troops...just got off the phone with Colette of 6 Paq. The boat took a hit and is in the boat yard. Good news is the motors were saved. She hopes to have her back in a couple of weeks or less. Very thankfull for the response. Lesson here is that if it don't look right then call someone. Glad I did....God bless..Bill

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:30 pm

well done Bill!

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:40 pm

Nice Job, Bill. Glad to hear that it was not worse.

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:50 am

Hey troops. Forgot to mention that Collett has rented another boat while her's is in the shop so all her trips are fine. She also told me that this is not the first time that an issue has happened with a boat in Choc Hole. Seems there are four other times that boats were damaged. SO...all you Choc Hole renters are now sworn in as Chocolate Hole Deputys. We will even let you say "Book em Dano" if you want. God bless...Bill

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