Boat rescued by Bermuda-bound cruise ship
Norwegian Majesty answers mayday call, comes to aid of stranded crew
Mark Harold's calls for help kept going unanswered.
A fierce thunderstorm had swallowed the Mount Pleasant man's boat, Knot On Call, and the four-man crew was running out of options.
Lighting crackled all around the 24-foot vessel as huge waves crashed against its bow, dumping vast amounts of sea water onto its deck. The water was pooling so quickly that they didn't know how much longer they could keep afloat.
Their only choice was to keep riding into the storm as it came in from the northeast, slowly pushing the boat farther from the setting sun, some 30 miles from shore. The battle went on for hours, nearly draining its 170-gallon fuel tank and all of its two-start motor oil.
'Mayday,' Harold called.
What happened next was nearly as surprising as the storm itself. Little did any of the crew know that within 24 hours they would spend Memorial Day weekend sipping beer and eating lobster tails beneath the Bermuda sun.
That might have been the least likely scenario for Harold, whose repeated distress calls were overshadowed by other troubled boats closer to home.
For nearly two hours, Harold listened as aid came to other boats. One local boat started taking on water and was rescued by a cargo vessel.
Harold's only hope came from a strong signal from the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Majesty, which left Charleston around 4 p.m. and was on its way to Bermuda.
Harold started calling specifically for the Majesty. Two hours later the cruise ship answered the distress call and turned around.
But Knot On Call was not out of trouble. Harold said the boat had only about 20 to 30 gallons of fuel left and almost no oil. The boat would shut down any minute, and even if it didn't, he would no longer be able to see the seas once the sun set.
'It would have capsized us,' he said.
Within an hour, the huge cruise liner pulled up beside the boat and blocked the strong winds as it took in Harold's three crew members, Michael Cease, Greg Stevenson and Allan Narowski.
Harold was the last to leave his cherished boat. The network engineer with Nucor Steel dropped the anchor to keep it from going adrift. As he did, the boat finally shut off and lurched away from the liner. He clutched a rope held by the liner's crew members, and he blistered his hands pulling himself to safety aboard the immense ship.
It was about 8:30 p.m., 15 hours after the four men first left the Wappoo Cut that morning to troll for mahi. Several of the large fish still were aboard the ship, which Harold watched disappear after boarding the liner.
'The thought of losing my boat was just about more than I could stand,' he said.
The staff gave the freezing crew members hot coffee and towels and set course for Bermuda.
Twenty-four hours later, Harold was in an office aboard the cruise ship, retelling the story over the phone while sipping a beer and wearing freshly pressed clothes.
'I'm about to eat lobster tail and beef Wellington for dinner,' he said.
The cruise is nice, he said, but he plans to come back as soon as possible so he can hopefully be out again this week, fishing. He won't know his boat's fate for a couple of days, after a friend checks on it.
Things could be worse, he said. He could be aboard a freight liner like that other boat's crew.
'They're probably in the bottom of the boat smoking a cigarette with some Russian guy, drinking vodka.'
Reach Andy Paras at 745-5851 or aparas@postandcourier.com
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Comments
This article has 22 comment(s)
Posted by CedarPosts on May 26, 2008 at 2:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard "Not On Call" Thursday or Friday on Channel 16, with the radio working 10x10 but Sector Charleston's radio comes and goes.
Some days it's clear as can be others barley audible.
More about this weekends storms and the shrimp report at www.lifefloatingby.blogspot.com
Posted by BillytheKid on May 26, 2008 at 4:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How many boats do you have?
Posted by Neponset on May 26, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not sure what type of boat this was, judging from the size of the fuel tanks, must have been a small open power boat. They should have kept an eye on the weather and when things started to go south, used their speed to get inside. Outsie is no place for the duffer.
Posted by momszoo3 on May 26, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I must say I know this man and this proves how much of a jerk he is. Yes, kudos to the Majesty. Yes he should have paid more attention to the weather and he and his crew are very lucky to be a live but "can't wait to get back to fish again"? What about can't wait to get back to see his children and family? Or, I am glad to get my crew back to their families. WOW, He thinks highlt of his crew, doesn't he? Things could have been worse for instance being fish food at the bottom of the Atlantic not sitting in a container ship smoking a cigarett drinking vodka with some Russian.If he was in that container ship he and his crew would be thanking that Russian in every way they could! He should be thanking God that somebody even heard his mayday and is able to make it home to his family and children. Thinking of himself was easier than thinking of his family. Do not do a follow up, glorifying this man is a sad move.
Posted by CedarPosts on May 26, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, you know it's kinda like bananas and suitcases, always bad karma to comment on another captain's misfortune.
On the other hand learn for his mistakes.
Posted by JohnS on May 26, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The sea can turn on you. I have seen it like a smooth lake going to SW Banks. Fish for a few hours and then come across six foot seas for the next 25 miles on the way back. The next thing you know you are burning gas at three miles an hour fighting the waves. These men are lucky. Sorry to see they had to leave the boat. You can always get another boat. A good Eprib with GPS also helps.
Posted by lbe on May 26, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad that he is ok;however I hope is too beautiful children NEVER see this article!!! Thank God he will be able to go fishing again soon!And I am sure it was the most awful thing ever to have to leave his beloved boat! And to think, some people would say, "I cant wait to hold my children after this!Forget losing the boat (and the kind that picked us up)I am just thankful to be alive and see my family!" So very sad :(
Posted by iopturbo on May 26, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know Mark and these comments about what he should have said or done are ignorant. He loves his Children and was just trying to make light of the situation. momszoo3, you are a total a.s.s and if you were on fire I'd throw gas on you.
Posted by punkalunksmomma on May 27, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am his wife and I would really appreciate it if all these comments could stop. Everyone has a right to express their opinion but this has gone way too far. My oldest daughter is bouncing of the walls excited that her Daddy is coming home tonight and we are trying to have a happy day. Reading this stuff is pretty hurtful. Our focus today should just be being grateful that he and his crew are alive and well and we can see him tonight. PLEASE STOP. Thank you.
Posted by PalmettoDP on May 27, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard his calls for help on ch. 16, but for some reason he couldn't hear me when I tried to contact him. After that, my radio shorted out and all I could do was say a prayer for them - the storm was so bad I was about to be in trouble myself if I didn't get back in. Good to find out they're okay.
Posted by pelagicnavigatordotcom on May 27, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
stand828- because the paper called it a "crew" instead of "fishing buddies" he needs to go back to boating school? That makes sense. I guess if you read it in the paper or online it is true.
I would like to challenge all crappy comment posters to join us in further discussing this on a good website devoted to stuff like this www.pelagicnavigator.com
Posted by JohnS on May 27, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The next sea school starts June 7th on Daniel Island. I agree this would be a good fathers day present. If the Sea School is too much a $149.00 Satellite Messenger and Personal Tracker
(Spot Sat) could have located the boat within a few mins. Help would have been on the way within a half hour.
Posted by kingfish on May 27, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess it depends on the topic of the story. We are lucky to have so many MDs, ATTYs, Bridge & Highway Engineers and Indian Cheifs in this town.
Now...Everyones a Sea Captian......
Bottom line,Everyone is safe!
Posted by pelagicnavigatordotcom on May 27, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JohnS question for you? What makes sea school such a great gift? Are all involved in incident alive? So when a plane crashes, should the pilot have been more educated?
Posted by JohnS on May 27, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To answer: Sea School and other good training will inform the captain of what is available to him as far as gear. It appears from the article all he had to contact with the outside world was a VHF. Another device along with a VHF could have made his rescue easier and quicker. What if the vessle had burned or capsized. It seems in this case no one knew where to look for them. When you take other people out into the the big water you need to be prepared.
Posted by punkalunksmomma on May 27, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. It doesn't take much of a man to criticize another man when he is not here to defend himself.
Thanks for those Father's Day gift suggestions. If my husband needed boating school or didn't already have an EPIRB, I am sure my girls would consider them for gifts for their Daddy. For now, I think we will stick with a nice dinner and ice cream cake if you don't mind. Perhaps those of you who gave the suggestions should spend less time worry about what my husband should get for Father's Day and more time pondering what is wrong with you that you would think targeting a 9 and 1 yr old with rude jokes about what they should give their Daddy for Father's Day is funny or even appropriate.
Posted by CedarPosts on May 27, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of what I have learned about boating I've learned the hard way. Even when someone told me it wasn't until I did it the wrong way that I understood.
Leme tell ya... I did my first charter when I was 12 and learned the hard way that you need a Captain's ticket to do that and it helps if it's ok with your dad as well.
One thing I learned the easy way is that being 30 miles from shore in a thunderstorm is not a good thing, and a VHF radio even at 25 watts coming off a small boat in ugly seas is just not going to get out there.
I think the coasties should have heard his calls as they have several big sticks to listen from, so I'd be really interested in finding out who else might have heard a mayday from Not On Call....
Posted by gonfishing on May 27, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Before you start pointing fingers at the brave men and women of the Coast Guard who protect and save thousands of people a year you should realize the limitations of VHF, mainly that the high-site at Mt. Pleasant(400' tower) is unreliable outside of 24nm during ideal conditions(remember VHF is line of sight) and ensuring that your own equipment is functioning properly with maintenance conducted regularly(buy a watt-meter to verify your transmitter is sending the proper power out). If you are going to go 30nm offshore maybe you should invest in an HF transmitter, a sat phone, or if you were really in trouble you could have used your epirb. Also why would someone go that far out to sea without checking the weather forecast? Then again Darwin was almost able to prove his theory right yet again.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on May 27, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And all the posters think that victims of tragedies never read these comment sections. This is nothing compared to the deceased 15 year and mother who were critized up and down this site only a few weeks ago. It's amazing no lives were lost Saturday but equally amazing so many boats were that far off with bad weather knocking and forecasted at the door. You can make one but there's just no excuse to fall to sleep in an oven knowing a fat lady lives in the house. Sh.. happens though and I hope a cruise liner will get me when Im running out of gas and daylight trying to keep my bow above the crests.
Posted by CaptPete on May 27, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I was this numbnuts I would not been laughing about his ordeal drinking a beer it on some cruise ship. He almost cost three other people their lives. His wife sounds smarter than he is. I wonder if his tank was full when he left the Wappoo Cut based on what he said he had left in it. Also don't be cutting down the Coast Guard for not saving your sorry self. It's your job as a Captain to know what you might have to face and deal with it. A Helo from the old Navy Base to where he was is under 15 mins. Preparation
Posted by chasnfish on May 29, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is really sad that this has gotten so much flack. It is especially sad that the man's wife has had to defend her husband and family. What's worse is that most of you men that are deeming the captain a jackass due to his comments from the cruise ship, knowing that as prideful as you men can be - since when do you ever admit that you may have used bad judgement, were frightened for your lives, or truly upset about what could have been? The fact of the matter is that dozens of boats were out that very day, most that I have spoken to also fought to make it back - just because he was picked up by a cruise ship and now in Bermuda doesnt make him lucky - I am sure what he didnt say in that interview was that he really wished he was home with his family - and losing your boat sucks. It was a bad hand no matter how you deal it.
Posted by gcaterpillar on May 31, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My husband and I along with two other couples were aboard the Majesty at the time of the rescue. We were all very thankful that all four of the men were safe, as was the majority of the people on the cruise. Most of us have never been interviewed by the newspaper or media, and do not know how we would respond if we were. We were able to talk to a couple of the guys who were rescued, and they were very grateful. I am sure all four of them were. The entire ship was delayed and the ship had to make up the time in order to get to Bermuda. The sailing was a little rough getting there, but we are not complaining. We are very thankful that the Majesty took the time to rescue these guys, and thank God that there are people that do still care and are willing to take time to help each other. And to the family, be thankful that your loved ones are safe and don't worry about the negative comments. Your family is all that matters.