Dear Compass,
Heather and I enjoy browsing the Caribbean Compass monthly updates. Both of us wrote articles for Compass back in the 1997/1999 era. We even met former editor in chief Sally Erdle a couple of times. The article in your October 2025 issue on rudder loss especially resonates with us. (caribbeancompass.com/loss-of-steering-disaster-or-inconvenience)
At the time of the incident, which occurred in January 2006, we were part of a widely scattered flotilla making its way across the Atlantic to Barbados. The Atlantic crossing was the final leg of our circumnavigation on ARGONAUTA I, a Beneteau 440.
Here are two excerpts from the piece I wrote in 2021 about our Atlantic crossing, published by Sailworld (sailworldcruising.com/news/234594/Memories-of-a-Circumnavigation-Atlantic-Crossing).
Thanks for keeping Caribbean Compass coming. Yachties either active or retired really enjoy reading it and I know those many readers out there find it a great source of information.
Kindest regards,
Hugh Bacon
Excerpt #1
Following a similar rhumb line was a gaggle of about ten other yachts separated by distances of up to 1000 NM. Most had departed from the Canaries. An HF radio net had been established with a scheduled daily communication. About 1000 NM east of Barbados, a major drama began to unfold. On January 10, a US registered J/44, S/V First Light, lost its rudder and was wallowing out of control. The crew had reported a leak around the rudder bearing area prior to rudder departure. They were attempting to jury rig steering and had been working at it all day without success. We were the closest yacht to their position, which was about 130 NM ahead of us.
I had suggested that a train of yachts sail by the stricken vessel over the next week or so. The idea being that at some point, if steering proved impossible, a crew pick up would be available should the gut-wrenching decision be made to abandon the yacht. We fervently hoped the crew would succeed in regaining steering. Needless to say, all the various authorities had been advised of the situation. As the closest yacht, we proceeded to the position, 15 34.44N/043 04.106W, some 980 NM from Barbados. We made visual contact at 1000 GMT, January 11.
It was early morning. The swells were huge but the vessel seemed secure. A tow by us looked impossible in such seas. There were three onboard. The skipper evinced strong determination to devise a jury steering rig. No supplies were needed. We circled them as moral support and to assure them they were not alone. Shortly thereafter, the Net offered precise guidance for a bridle/spinnaker pole solution. The next vessel would rendezvous in about 24 hours. It was heartbreaking to sail away watching First Light slowly dip below the horizon.
We maintained VHF contact and learned that the drogue they had thought might work as a warp proved too large, but a bicycle turned out to be about right. By the end of the day, they had got under way making 2 knots but only in a northwesterly direction. A Mayday declaration would of course save life and limb, but it would mean abandoning the yacht. To the surprise of all, a sailing trawler with only an HF receiver appeared on the scene and offered a tow. The skipper accepted. Towing was indeed unsuccessful due to chafe and tow induced yawing of up to 90 degrees. The tow line reportedly had parted twice and by then, the crew of First Light was exhausted and disheartened. At 1800Z, January 13, the decision was taken to abandon ship. The crew intended to transfer by dinghy to Ros Ailither, the towing vessel. In the prevailing sea conditions this seemed life threatening! There could be no further communication as there was no HF transmitter on the rescue vessel. Silence.
Excerpt #2
To the huge relief of all, on January 21 Ros Ailither appeared in Carlyle Bay, Barbados, with First Light crew safely onboard. They immediately departed by air for the US. On February 16, 2006, First Light fetched up on Morgan Lewis Beach on the east side of Barbados near the town of St. Andrews. Evidently she had drifted with the current and wind some 800 NM over a period of 33 days. Clearly, she was intact throughout and progressed to Barbados. A witness at the beach with whom I spoke described First Light as broken in two with gear scattered about the beach, a total loss.
