070123-We were notified late last night of a 32’ sv that went aground a little past the Kaulana boat ramp on the Hawaii island outside of Green Sands Beach. The vessel owner was airlifted from the vessel and taken to Kona Hospital. Vessel information: Doc # 971417 “Tenacious 3”  There is 60 gallons of fuel on board. It appears there is 35 gallons split between two internal tanks and 25 gallons in 5 cans. The fuel tank integrity is unknown.  Currently the vessel in the rocks but the condition of it is unknown. According to my call with DOCARE this morning, this is a very remote area and they will try to get some eyes on it to take some photos. 

I was able to speak to the owner’s daughter as the owner lost his phone in the water during the rescue. She informed me that he does have some sort of liability insurance but she needs to double check to find out what he has and we are going to talk later today when she gets home. The owner is still in the hospital and is being released this morning and he’s working on obtaining a new cell phone. I’m also going to contact the USCG to see if they will remove the fuel from the vessel. I will update everyone once I have more information. This one will very difficult to remove according to DOCARE as there is very limited access to the location. 

The boat was equipped with a GPS repeater and a brother was receiving updates. They are going to go back through the boat log and determine the last position before the boat grounded along with a write up of the actual grounding. I will forward the next string of information that I receive. We’ve been told that the owner has Progressive insurance that covers salvage.  Please follow up with him and/or the insurance company to see what their next steps are.  We also need to obtain the accident report as well.  USCG has the vessel located at 19 00.178N 155 35.222W which puts it about 6 miles north of Green sand beach.  


OWNER OPERATOR ACCOUNT

On the morning of Friday, June 30, 2023, I contacted the U.S. Coast Guard.  I told them after 3100 sail miles and 9 weeks at sea, I was unable to mentally or physically control my damaged sailboat and was requesting help & assistance.  

My sailboat Tenacious III, a 32 foot west sail cutter rig, had been damaged in an earlier storm & the front sail was torn beyond repair, the stay sail had three rips in the sail and the monitor wind vane self steering was broken; which had caused me to have gone the previous 3-1/2 days without sleep in order to control the boat. 

I, at the time, was unable to engage my auxiliary beta marine deisel (sic) engine.  It was stuck in neutral. 

The Coast Guard tried to get someone to help but to no avail.  They told me they would be unable to come get me until that night or early the next morning.  I “love to” and worked on my engine & was able to get it un-stuck.  I motored a safe distance away from shore and gave the Coast Guard my new GPS coordinates.  

I asked for them to send me someone who could motor my boat to a safe harbor & they refused the request.

The Coast Guard helicopter showed up at dark & attempted to send a diver to help get me off the boat.  The winds had picked up & the waves got larger.  I was pushed much closer to shore.  They took the diver back out of the water, due to the danger, and landed on the shore & had their spotlight on my boat.

At this time my boat became grounded & the waves battered the boat toward shore.  I realized it was too dangerous for the Coast Guard to assist so I made an attempt to leave the boat.

After a large wave turned my boat on its side, I crawled out to some boulders on the shoreline of the Volcano Ntl. Park & was able to get to safety.  The Coast Guard then transported me around 11pm, to Kona Community Hospital.
WESTERN SHORE HI ISL
KAILUA-KONA                   