This is part of the stuff we pulled off Spirit Healer the first evening we were able to get to her. I purchased the Achilles inflatable to replace the Portabote.
Robert on the first day that we started stripping Spirit Healer of all the salvageable equipment.
You can see that we've cut all the portlights out of the boat and have removed the steering system and the Monitor windvane.
This the shrine that provided shelter during the storm. Spirit Healer was anchored just to the left of Leslie's knee. Robert is the right most person in the picture, wearing a blue T-shirt and Leslie is next to him in the yellow shorts.
Most of the salvegable equipment was loaded into this panga to be taken to the Puebla de Bahia de los Angeles. The panga carried the mast, boom, all the port lights, winches, steering gear, and five people to the village.
The 200 HP Yamaha burned about 80 gallons of gasoline during the round trip. Gas is $3.00 a gallon in this part of the Sea. The fisherman charged Robert only $30 plus the cost of the gas for the use of the panga for the day.
Here is a view looking west towards Isla Mejia and the shrine. That is Waking Dream anchored about where Spirit Healer had been anchored during the storm. Spirit Healer went aground about 200 yards to the left of this picture.
The steep hill in the background is part of the reason Spirit Healer experienced such gusty and erratic winds during the storm.
This is the view all boats entering Puerto Refugio from the West will have as they transit the passage between Isla Mejia and the West Bight anchorage.
Three weeks after the storm, and two weeks after the Mexican Navy said they would tow Spirit Healer to Sea for a proper burial, she is still sitting on the rocks.
This was the final ceremony to say goodbye to Spirit Healer, Robert and Leslie. We built a symbolic fire to burn some of the oil soaked personal effects and then each said a few words of thanks and condolances. Robert and Leslie are the two folks with their backs to the cameras.
Robert and Leslie just said goodbye to the boat they
had owned for the last 11 years. They left for the States shortly
after this picture was taken.
This was a very emotional time for everyone and it brings tears to my eyes to see these pictures. Until you have had to leave your shattered boat on a deserted island in a foreign country you can't imagine the heartbreak.