Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We left Charleston for Boston in the blazing sunshine with the usual wellwishers in tow but made preparations for stormy weather ahead. Safety lines would be required and crew began affixing ropes about the ship. I was working by the port gangway when I heard a sickening thud from the direction of the foredeck, followed by a short silence, and then shrill screams and cries requesting help. My stomach turned over as I initially thought that somebody had fallen out of the rigging and the consequences would have been very grim.
We ran to the front of the ship and saw a pernament crew girl and an older trainee prostrate on the floor, the former in excrutiating pain and the latter dazed, her pallour a distinctive grey. It became clear that the girls had been on the foredeck trying to fix a safety line under tension. The rope had snapped propelling them both from the foredeck to the main deck, a drop of ten feet, the pernament crew member suffering not only the impact of the fall but also breaking the fall of the other girl.
Such accidents need careful handling, moving the injured can be potentially life threatening or life changing and both were made as comfortable as possible whilst the Captain turned the ship around heading us straight back to Charleston where proper medical attention could be sought. The well being of our injured girls was not helped as the heavy weather hit us, torrential rain, thunder and lightning and tarpaulins were placed over them to protect them from the elements.Rudimentary but necessary as both became very cold very quickly, shock clearly playing a part in the process.
Flanked by US Coastguard boats we were guided back to the Quay where ambulances were waiting. Treating and then removing an injured person from a Tall ship is not an easy process and we all held our breath as they were taken by the Medics, the pernament crew member collared and strapped firmly to the stretcher.The earlier enthusiasm had long since evaporated and we all hoped and prayed that all would be well. The pernament crew members partner was also on board and we all felt his sense of intrepidation.
It was a long night but amazingly the news coming back from the hospital was all good, no broken bones or internal bleeding, to be honest a very fortuitous outcome considering the distance and impact of the fall. Bruising, swelling and shock was of course to be expected but heh what a result and the following morning we were all overjoyed to welcome both girls back on board.
Just a couple of points of note, and perhaps indicative of America, was firstly Immigrations annoyance that we did not await their attendance before ferrying the injured to hospital and the officials discussing on the Quay what hospital to take them to. It was also of note that a film crew were recoding everything, an intrusion not readily accepted by all on the ship.
But no time for sentiment, we had a race to run and we were already 17 hours behind, but the determination to give it a shot was universal. So for the second time we set the sails our destination Boston. The winds were very much in our favour and together with the positive effects of the Gulf Stream we made very good speed and within two days we were catching up. A couple of days thereafetr we were passing them and Such was our performance we actually crossed the finishing line in first place in our class and second overall, a fantastic result.
What had started so badly turned into a huge success and there was much rejoicing at the barbeque. Another bonus was being able to pull into another port for a day, the City of Gloucester and we were all able to chill out with a few beers although my choice of bar, the Crow, was perhaps a little inappropriate, as it is the bar from which the crew of the fishing boat in the Perfect Storm left from. I hope thats not an omen!! I also found another Dunkin Donuts and not put off by my experiences in Charleston I ordered another six, the lemon cream was particularly pleasing.
The following morning we made the short hop, 30 miles down the coast to the City of Boston, skyscrapers littering the skyline, boats all aroung heralding our arrival, a marvellous welcome from a very friendly city.I think we will enjoy our visit.
Doddy
- comments