 Spirit of Mystery reefed down
Carmen Bell, Sunday, 8 March 2009 The Southern Ocean lives up to its fierce reputation
After battling a fierce storm for two and a half days in the Southern Ocean, the Spirit of Mystery was knocked down more than 90 degrees by a freak wave near Kangaroo Island, South Australia early Wednesday, 4 March 2009, resulting in the injury of crewman Mark Maidman (Pete Goss's brother-in-law), who broke his leg while on watch on deck, loss of the life raft and dinghy and damage of the communications equipment.
Amazingly, a log entry from the 6th of March 1855 gives a taste of what conditions the crew on Mystery encountered in the Southern Ocean: "A terrific gale of wind - heaviest so far experienced. Our gallant little boat rides the mountains of sea remarkably well. Not shipping any water, dry decks fore and aft. I am confident she is making better weather than a great many ships would, if here."
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) dispatched a Donier aircraft and dropped medical supplies and a satellite telephone - all of which landed within 100 metres of the bow. While the initial decision was to evacuate the injured crewman once the Spirit of Mystery was within helicopter range (about 150 nautical miles from Portland, Victoria), in the end the vessel sailed all the way to Portland to deliver the injured man for medical treatment.
The remaining crew (skipper Pete Goss, his brother Andy and his son Elliot) then continued the trip towards their final destination of Williamstown, Victoria.
We wish them fair winds and safe arrival.
UPDATE: The Spirit of Mystery passed Queenscliff Pier on Monday, 9/03/09 and was met by Russ Watson's couta boat Nellie C148 and a number of modern yachts. See photos below ... and this is an excerpt from Pete Goss's weblog: Just before sunup we entered Port Philip and were met by a Couta Boat which is a traditional boat which reminded me of a Falmouth work boat. Fortunately for us the yacht 'Secretary' was just ahead of us and hearing us on the VHF to port control offered to hang back and take us through the western channel. Just as we cleared this Mark Lloyd turned up on a helicopter and we did a photoshoot which included putting up St Pirans - they are stunning. A welcome fleet soon started to build up as we closed Melbourne and the sense of anticipation built. As we closed the marina we noticed a crowd and on closing them realised that they were all dressed in traditional Cornish clothes and waving St Pirans flags.
www.petegoss.com/blog.php
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