Case 28 Storm at Sea
Setting: Bermuda Triangle; Your Position: Delivery Captain
For 20 years you have engaged in the business of transporting sailing yachts to their owners up and down the United States Atlantic coast. Demand is greatest for bringing vessels from the Caribbean to the Northeast in late spring and for transporting them down south in late fall. Insurance companies put stipulations on travel during the typical hurricane season, from the first of June to the first of November.
The boats which you deliver are generally in the 40- to 60-foot range, and you select a crew appropriate to the size of the vessel. You prefer to get people who have sailing experience but are reluctant to offer them anything more than food and free passage since that reduces your earnings.
It is now late May, and you left the Virgin Islands three days ago en route to New York City. The distance is 1,300 miles, and it should take you about 10 days, barring any major incident. The vessel is a 50-foot sloop and your "crew" is composed of a young woman who you met at a bar the night before departure and two young men who were hanging around the dock looking for a trip back home. All had professed to have sailing experience, but their claims proved to be greatly exaggerated. As a consequence, you have had to assume responsibility for virtually all aspects of the operation of the vessel.
For the first two days the weather was splendid, and the four of you had a great time getting acquainted with one another and with the operation of the vessel. However, the trip turned ugly when a fierce storm with gale-force winds came up from the southwest. After a 70-mph gust, you heard a snapping sound as the forestay gave way, and seconds later the mast and sails came crashing down. You are reassured to see that the life raft is still secured across the cabin. You are confident that the yacht's motor will start, although there is insufficient fuel to get you to Bermuda, which is 350 miles away. A decision must be made about what to do.