Aruba Bati Bleki by Rona Coster
JOLLY PIRATES INTACT. Just as the experts predicted the
Jolly Pirates is up, intact, and heading to a shipyard in
Punto Fijo,
Venezuela for her annual primping and conditioning.
Tim Duncan an international underwater ship maintenance specialist, headquartered in
Curacao operating under the name
Miami Diver, Inc., sent over giant air bags which were strategically placed under the capsized schooner. Then the pumping began, air in/ water out. By Friday afternoon, the Jolly Pirates, a 70-ton giant was out of the water, leaning on a sand bank across from
Playa Linda Beach Resort where she was gently towed to after her unfortunate voyage. Then at 8 p.m., at favorable tide, the
Search & Rescue team showed up as well as every local ‘big-ship’ expert including
Pelican Watersport’s
Martine Molina, Tranquillo Captain
Anthony Hagedoorn,
Atlantis Team, Parasail boat Captain
Rich, and Captain
Sander Vellinga, they joined owner Captain
Harald Buser and they worked until 5 a.m. filling airbags which they placed not just under the boat but also in the lower cabins which raised the Jolly Pirates considerably, then they carefully turned the bow (front) in the right direction and brought her in, into more shallow waters. Jets were gushing out, as the Jolly Pirates emerged from submersion. Out she popped, decks dry, masts, boom, sails and most importantly her name, on the large sign, all intact. Just amazing, but true! The team got to see Captain Anthony’s nephews,
Angela’s sons, third-generation of sea-wolves swinging off the rope-swing! Then the men had beer, naturally, and Captain
Ron climbed the mast and hung the skull and crossbones flag in place. Order was restored. All is well in the world again. As you recall, midday Tuesday, July 10th, Aruba was surprised by strong guests of wind which unfortunately hit the sails of the Jolly Pirates a few minutes away from its home pier at
Moomba Beach. The boat was just returning from a successful snorkeling trip with 39 people on board, 4 of them crew members including the
Dutch Marine trained, owner Captain Harald. The gusts, measured at the airport at 46 knots, were stronger on the open water, Harald states, they filled the sails and capsized the schooner in a matter of seconds. Another boat would have been crushed to pieces, but the Jolly Pirate just swiftly overturned, deposition all of its passengers and its content in the water, across Moomba Beach, a few minute away from home base.
Carla Cavallaro, Harald’s wife reports the life jackets came bobbing up as soon as the deck where they are stashed filled with water and the crew of excellent swimmers were able to help those in the water. Luckily the boat was not full, there were no children on board, no senior pirates. Passengers were all swimmers and held their own until help arrived. Best of all, within seconds, the area filled with every water craft available, every single boat and jetski showed up in urgency, hailing from every local water sports company. “They are my beach heroes,” says Carla, “they did not know whose boat it was, and they showed up, in a matter of seconds.” Carla heard about strong gusts and a capsized big boat when she was getting a trip ready to leave at the Oranjestad cruise ship terminal. She cancelled the bookings and raced back to Palm Beach, the wind almost knocked her out of her car, she says, as she arrived at Moomba Beach not knowing the Jolly Pirates was in trouble, yet all along trying to reach Harald on his phone, but to no avail. When she pulled into Moomba, passengers were getting off dive boats on the pier, and all she could do was hug and kiss every single one of them, all over. Moomba was fantastic, she explains, just doing its utmost for the passengers and serving as improvised rescue headquartered. Having delivered all pirates to dry land and having accounted for them all, the crew started collecting flip flops and beach bags from the overturned ship, returning lost belongings to their owners. One passport got wet and damaged, but the American consul who happened to be in the area arranged to replace AND deliver the document within 24 hours. Otherwise Carla reports, there were no injuries, no losses, it couldn’t have happened to a stronger ship. It couldn’t have happened to a better crew. Some of the pirates came back the following day for a trip on the Jolly Pirate’s sister ship, ”they did not want to ever be afraid of sailing,” explains Carla, “and we invited them all to return with open arms.” It was a fluke, states Aruba’s meteorological service. Harald who looks at the weather all the time, was not the only captain taken by surprise. Luckily, the gusts affected just one and not a series of crafts, and everyone involved agrees, this could have had more adverse consequences. The crew reacted well, and the ship held up, true to its sterling reputation. Incidentally, Tim Duncan whose company Miami Divers Inc. operates out of Spanish waters in Curacao, has been servicing the marine community since his company’s inception in 1976. Miami Diver specializes in underwater ship maintenance and also lived up to its sterling reputation. Sail Jolly Pirates II, the sister ship is working, offering the famed fun experience to pirates of all ages. Jolly Pirates I will be back soon, all gorgeous and brand new, it was scheduled for a month vacation in the shipyard and it is taking it . . .