Canon FD Photos of the Month: July 2017

Chuck, I don't know...my guess is he became a special guest of Cunard aboard QM2. Mr. Wheatley came down to the ship's theater a couple days later and gave a real good chat about what happened, along with Captain Wells. A very fit 73 year old ex-Royal Marine with that British knack for understatement and perfect delivery, he said his first indication of trouble was finding himself hurled out of the bunk at 2am. That was because Tamarind was inverted, mast steeply down, seawater coming in through a broken porthole, his socks and food floating everywhere...even at that, he was not ready to declare an emergency and only did so hours later when he realized her steering was damaged beyond repair.

Mervyn said he was fortunate that his radio did not go overboard, "...that would have been...(pause)...tiresome". I laughed out loud at his choice of words!

He said leaving Tamarind was very painful, even moreso since this was the first time in eight attempts he led the OSTAR race. At this Captain Wells looked over and wisecracked, "But Mervyn, you still ARE leading the race!" Perfect timing, guys!

Mervyn talked about the tanker's futile rescue attempts, during which he was informed by the patrol plane that QM2 was en route and would arrive mid-morning. "Well then, sir, if I have any say in the matter..." We all laughed! He continued, "It's not so much about the luxury, but being a passenger ship she has doors down near the waterline where perhaps I could enter...but since that time the Captain has disabused me of the idea that he would open those doors while out at sea!"

Another priceless moment came during our Q&A period...when asked what was in the big bag he tossed aboard the rescue boat (and nearly lost over the side!) he said the rescue beacon (with its hefty deposit), passport, wallet, some clothing. Again, Captain Wells looks over: "And hopefully your credit card!"

Absolutely hilarious!

A really nice touch was Captain Wells bringing the rescue boat's three man crew on stage and introducing them. Bravo, guys, bravo! What a brilliant operation they have.

Disembarking at Brooklyn I saw huge arcs of scratched paint almost down to bare metal on QM2's hull, from Tamarind's wildly swinging mast. That was a pretty intense rescue mission!

Here's a good report on the rescue, with photos and video: Queen Mary 2 Rescue at Sea

Chuck's question is also answered definitively.

Changing subjects, we are now back aboard Queen Mary 2 and in the process of rescuing solo yachtsman Mervyn Wheatley, whose boat Tamarind was disabled by a very powerful Atlantic storm.

 

Tamarind was not easy to spot, she was often hidden entirely behind the ocean swells![ATTACH=full]1195986[/ATTACH]

Wow...you guys took the Queen Mary.?

I would love to do that...

You shot a great series BTW.....i saw your other month post as well.

My first attempt at this, 80-200/f4l.