Trinidad & Tobago Sailing Association Fr., 6/2/2006
Indian Arrival Day last Tuesday was not a good day for us. A local Freedom 44 ketch with many party guests on deck apparently didn't see DHARMA BUM III and plowed right into our port bow while going very fast. Now there is a hole in the bow, the crash bulkhead is delaminated, the pulpit is destroyed entirely, all but one of the stanchions are ripped out of the deck, bent and destroyed. The rubbing strake is bent and there is extensive fibreglass and gelcoat damage all over.
It appears that LA BALEINE is not insured, but belongs to a famous Trinidadian and was skippered by his grandson, Sebastien Paddington. We went to the Coast Guard and the Police in Carenage together, and the next day I went to see the Director of Maritime Services by myself. According to him, everything is very simple. I was stationary and he hit me, end of story.
The owner of the boat is expected to arrive here today and our respective surveyors have already had a good look and taken plenty of pictures. Everybody agrees that we will have to come out of the water and that it will take quite a long time until ourboat is shipshape again, especially as all the yards are booked out and the rainy season is beginning.
It will certainly cost us plenty money, plenty time and plenty nerves, that's for sure.
That's how it goes...