Icelandic Disaster: Retirement Gone Awry…

Summary

Real Survival Stories: Icelandic Disaster – Retirement Gone Awry…

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Icelandic Disaster: Retirement Gone Awry…" from the podcast Real Survival Stories, host John Hopkins delves into the harrowing experiences of Maury Pearsall, a 65-year-old recently retired theater teacher whose dream of exploring the world from the deck of a sailboat turns into a life-threatening ordeal. Produced by Joel Duddell, Ed Baranski, and the talented team, this episode masterfully captures Maury’s journey from excitement to survival against the formidable North Atlantic.

Setting Sail: A Dream Realized

Maury Pearsall, fueled by a lifelong passion for sailing instilled by his parents, decides to embark on an ambitious voyage from the Chesapeake Bay to Reykjavik, Iceland. Despite his retirement, Maury craves the adventure and camaraderie that sailing offers. Alongside him are Captain Wes, a seasoned 75-year-old sailor with extensive transatlantic experience, and Bobby, a commercial fisherman in his early 50s proficient in engines and electronics but new to sailing. The trio boards the Valiant, a 40-foot sailing boat, eager to conquer the 780 nautical miles ahead.

Initial Challenges and Adjustments

The journey begins smoothly as the Valiant glides through the waters with favorable winds. However, the excitement is short-lived when the wind suddenly dies down, forcing the crew to rely on the boat's limited engine power. Unable to reach their intended destination of Halifax, Nova Scotia, they reroute to the closer harbor of Shelburne for resupply. This early setback serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life at sea.

“We did a recheck in of the sea ice and as is often the case, was not favorable conditions for trying to go there,” Maury explains at [14:47], highlighting the necessity of adaptability in survival situations.

Embarking on the North Atlantic: The Longest Leg

After regrouping in Shelburne, the crew sets their sights on Iceland, embarking on the most challenging leg of their journey—1400 nautical miles through the vast and treacherous North Atlantic. Maury describes the isolation and beauty of the open ocean, where sightings of whales and serene sailing coexist with the looming threat of unpredictable weather.

“What we knew was that this trip was going to be far more demanding than anything we had prepared for,” Maury reflects at [18:15].

The Storm: Disaster Strikes

On the night of July 26, 285 nautical miles southwest of Iceland, the Valiant encounters a massive 21-foot wave that capsizes the boat. The storm's sudden ferocity leaves Maury and his crewmates battling freezing temperatures, torrential rain, and relentless waves. The disaster unfolds rapidly as the boat is overwhelmed by the ocean's wrath, leading to a terrifying fight for survival.

“It was the sound of crashing, ripping, breaking glass. I mean, it was a cacophony of sounds that were pretty, pretty extraordinary,” Maury recounts at [23:33], illustrating the chaos of the moment.

Struggling to Survive: Immediate Aftermath

Despite the boat capsizing, Maury and his crewmates remain conscious but face the immediate threat of sinking. The Valiant starts taking on icy water, and the crew must act quickly to pump out the water to stabilize the vessel. Captain Wes demonstrates remarkable ingenuity by activating a pre-designed pumping system, allowing them to manage the influx of water despite the severe conditions.

“The air is now whipping through the boat because all the portholes and all the hatches are gone and you're in water up to your waist,” Wes explains at [27:06], emphasizing the dire situation.

Preventing Hypothermia: Strategic Measures

With temperatures plummeting and no immediate rescue in sight, the crew focuses on preventing hypothermia. Bobby, leveraging his practical knowledge, advocates for using synthetic clothing over cotton to stay dry and warm. The crew systematically removes wet clothes and layers up in synthetics, while also improvising insulation using rubber mattresses to block the cold wind.

“Anything we found, socks, anything, we would wring it out, put it on in layers so that there's less water involved and your body can help warm you up and eliminate the moisture,” Bobby advises at [29:50].

A Glimmer of Hope: Signs of Rescue

After hours of relentless effort to secure the boat and maintain body heat, Maury spots a plane overhead. The crew immediately activates their emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and deploys flares in a desperate attempt to signal for help. Initial contact with the pilot proves futile until a large commercial fishing vessel, part of the Greenland Marine Science expedition, intercepts their distress signal and initiates a rescue operation.

“A rescue vessel will be along within the hour,” the pilot assures at [37:04], bringing a surge of hope to the stranded sailors.

The Perilous Rescue: Climbing to Safety

The rescue process proves to be as dangerous as the initial disaster. The crewmates must navigate their inflatable life raft through fierce waves to reach the commercial fishing vessel. Maury describes the harrowing climb up a flimsy rope ladder, battling exhaustion and the overwhelming power of the sea. Despite the treacherous conditions, Maury manages to reach the deck of the rescue vessel, followed by Wes and Bobby, ensuring their survival.

“I started to climb. I could not move my arms. I literally was. I don't know what happened. I was on that ladder and I guess I was just totally spent,” Maury recounts at [41:09].

Aftermath and Reflections

Safely aboard the research vessel, Maury, Wes, and Bobby are provided warmth, shelter, and medical attention. Their ordeal receives media attention, and they return as survivors of a near-fatal maritime disaster. Two months later, they reunite in Richmond, Virginia, reflecting on their experience. Maury expresses immense gratitude for his crewmates and rescue team, acknowledging that their combined skills and quick decisions were crucial for their survival.

“Luck and good fortune in conjunction with the preparation and the diligence that Wes exhibited... is pretty significant. There's a lot of people to thank and that's kind of humbling,” Maury reflects at [48:04].

Conclusion

Maury Pearsall's story is a testament to human resilience and the power of teamwork in the face of nature's might. His near-death experience has not only deepened his appreciation for life but also rekindled his love for the sea. The episode underscores the importance of preparation, adaptability, and maintaining composure during crises, offering listeners a profound insight into survival against all odds.

Notable Quotes

• “We fit the bill in terms of the seamanship sailing experience side as a crew member,” Maury notes at [11:34].

• “It was an experience that was pretty extraordinary on a lot of fronts and we were very, very fortunate,” Maury emphasizes at [29:27].

• “All's well that ends well, and it was all good,” Wes summarizes their reunion at [46:32].

Key Takeaways

• Preparation is Paramount: Captain Wes's pre-planned pumping system was instrumental in managing the flooding, highlighting the importance of foresight and preparedness.

• Adaptability Saves Lives: The crew’s ability to pivot from their original route to Shelburne and later to Iceland underscores the necessity of adaptability in survival scenarios.

• Teamwork and Communication: Effective collaboration and clear communication among Maury, Wes, and Bobby were critical in navigating the crisis and executing their rescue strategy.

• Mental Fortitude: Beyond physical survival, maintaining mental strength and focusing on actionable tasks helped the crew stay alive during their ordeal.

Reflections for Listeners

This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the thin line between adventure and disaster. Maury Pearsall’s story encourages listeners to appreciate the value of preparation, the strength found in teamwork, and the resilience of the human spirit when faced with life-and-death situations.

Stay Tuned

In the next episode, Real Survival Stories introduces us to Zemon Kingi, whose whitewater rafting adventure in Papua New Guinea takes a drastic turn, leading to a race against time and nature to save a friend from crocodile-infested waters. Subscribe to Noiser+ for early access and ad-free listening to continue exploring these extraordinary tales of survival.

Transcript

[A]

You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart Choice Progressive loves to help people make smart choices. That's why they offer a tool called Auto Quote Explorer that allows you to compare your Progressive car insurance quote with rates from other companies so you save time on the research and can enjoy savings when you choose the best rate for you. Give it a try after this [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy it's July 26, 2017, approaching 3am 285 nautical miles southwest of Iceland. Despite the hour, the proximity to the Arctic Circle means that the sky is illuminated by persistent daylight even in the depths of night. Above the water, heavy clouds hang low, casting a dull, muted glow over the sea. Rain pelts down, merging with the cold spray of the restless sea. A small sailing boat, the Valiant, sways and dips with the rhythm of the waves, its long, low silhouette almost disappearing at times into the churning waters, the white hull blending into the seascape. Inside the boat, 65 year old Mori Pearsall perches in the companionway, the narrow passage between the deck and the sleeping area. Through oblong portholes, he observes the world outside, a palette of gray and white. Marijuana is on watch. In conditions like these, with unpredictable weather, he and his crewmates operate in strict shifts. Every three hours they rotate, ensuring the safety of the boat and each other.

[B]

The routine was for your three hours. Check the radar, do a log entry of the conditions, the wind, the barometer, the charge of the battery state. You're buckled in, you're harnessed in, always harnessed in. Whenever you go out and about every 20 minutes, whoever is on watch would go up on deck, survey the situation, get a feel for what's happening.

[A]

Morris steps out onto the deck. The waves are substantial, 21ft high, sending spray over the sides of the boat. But it's nothing the Valiant can't handle. He heads back to the companionway. It's a cold, grim night. He sits down, tired, his elbow resting on the small chart table. It's then that an otherworldly roar echoes around him. It fills the air, sinister and bellowing. Seconds later, an enormous wave smashes into the boat. The Valiant pivots around and a chaotic flurry of possessions, charts and equipment fill the air before the side of the boat hits the water. The impact propels moray across the companionway, and the boat can't withstand the force of the ocean.

[B]

Plexiglass burst open and cold, dark green water came pouring in. The boat. And I was thrown up on the low side of the boat with that water coming in all around me. It sounded like a really bad car accident. It was the sound of crashing, breaking glass. I mean, it was a cacophony of sounds that were pretty, pretty extraordinary.

[A]

The boat is fully capsized. Maury struggles to his feet, trying to get his berries. He's soaking wet, and as he looks at the porthole, icy water continues to pour in. It inches up the walls, threatening to drag the Valiant into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

[B]

I can't believe this is really happening, but this actually is happening. I thought I was going to drown and I thought that could be it. The last thing I remember seeing was the portholes blowing out, the water coming in and the boat being over and thinking, this is not good.

[A]

Ever wondered what you would do when disaster strikes? If your life depended on your next decision, could you make the right choice? Welcome to Real Survival Stories. These are the astonishing tales of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations. People suddenly forced to fight for their lives. In this episode, we meet recently retired teacher Maury Pearsall. While retirement may conjure images of leisurely walks and relaxed lunches for some, Mori wants to explore the world from the deck of a sailboat. Eager to chase his dream, he signs up for a voyage that promises to take him from the US to the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik. He'll be part of a little crew of three with a combined age of nearly 200. But when a freak wave strikes in the North Atlantic, Morris grand adventure becomes something far more sinister. He'll face freezing temperatures, the threat of drowning, and memory blackouts as he and his crewmates. Decisions dictate whether they live or die. And even if help can reach them, getting out of this situation will take a monumental effort.

[B]

Oftentimes, you can survive the disaster and get killed in the rescue. As I looked out on this situation and didn't know how it was going to end, it just became very difficult for me to accept that I wasn't gonna see. I wasn't gonna see my family anymore.

[A]

I'm John Hopkins from Noise of this is Real survival stories. It's June 2017 in Richmond, Virginia, one of the oldest cities in the US With a large river running through its downtown. It's home to Maury Pearsall and his wife. Maury's at his computer, going through emails. As he scrolls through his inbox, deleting adverts and spam, there's a ping. A new message pops up. It's from his friend, a fellow Sailing enthusiast. He opens it, intrigued. It looks like Charlie's forwarded him something.

[B]

He got this as a member of his yacht club and he said, this ain't for me, but I think I know somebody that may be interested.

[A]

Moray is interested. He reads on and his eyes begin to flicker with excitement. He's just retired after years of teaching theater to school kits and he's been telling friends and family that he wants to use this next chapter to get back into sailing. Clearly, Charlie has been listening. The email contains details of an upcoming voyage.

[B]

The trip was from the Chesapeake to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland, and the owner was looking for two other individuals to go with him on this trip.

[A]

Maury fires off an email to the boat's owner. The trip will be a month long and is due to begin soon. Leaving from Chesapeake Bay just over an hour away by car, Morrie is buzzing.

[B]

And long story short application met him, went sailing with him and all those things and as the trip that looked like something that was good for me. Recently retired, June, this was going to happen July 1st. Perfect for me to just say I can go, I got the time, I'm free of work and don't have a lot of other obligations. But wow, what an opportunity to do a trip like that and learn and do the things that looked like were in store for us in that trip.

[A]

Sailing has long been Morris passion, a love instilled by his parents. Although he grew up in the city of Philadelphia, weekends were spent by the sea. The family would pack the car with sailing gear and plenty of snacks and head to the coast.

[B]

We would drive five hours from Philadelphia to the east end of Long island to a place, a magical place called Shelter island on the east end of Long Island. And it was just magical to me. It was magical to me to be on the boat, to wake up under sail in the morning when my father had cast off at 5:30, 6:00 in the morning to the sound of the water lapping in the wind. It's something about that oneness, it's something about being part of that, but certainly not being in control of that. There's a beauty, a majesty and an awesomeness that conveys respect and awe.

[A]

Those rose tinted days on Shelter island shaped the rest of Moray's life. The smell of the old alcohol stoves they used for cooking on board, the clink of the icebox, the electric hurricane lamps that lit up the evenings. After that, he leapt at any opportunity to be on a boat. And when he met his now wife, their romance was forged on the water. They weren't just partners, they were crewmates.

[B]

And with my soon to be wife, we sailed up and down the northeast coast in a rudimentary little 26 foot sailboat, loving every bit of it.

[A]

But soon reality took over. Children arrived and the demands of family and work overshadowed everything else. Mori held various jobs, corporate sales, commercial real estate, and eventually he became a theater teacher. The weekends once spent on the water were now filled with obligations. And while he sailed when he could, it was no longer a priority. As retirement neared, however, Moray and his wife began talking about returning to the sea, maybe even getting their own boat, and recapturing the magic of their early years together. So when that email from Moray's friend Charlie arrives, it marks the first step back towards the ocean. It's July 1st at the fishing Bay Yacht Club. Chesapeake Bay boats are packed closely together, moored along jetties that stretch across the horizon, swaying in the breeze. Mori arrives, supplies in tow, ready for the month ahead. The boat is docked and waiting. There will be three crew members on the voyage, each bringing something unique to the mix. First up, Maury. Recently retired and in his mid-60s.

[B]

I fit the bill in terms of the seamanship sailing experience side as a crew member.

[A]

Next, the captain and owner of the boat, 75 year old Wes.

[B]

He'd been to Europe and back. He'd done a ton of the stuff in the Northeast. He'd actually circumnavigated Newfoundland at one point. He'd done a transatlantic, over and back accomplished fellow. And the third person was a commercial fisherman here in the Chesapeake Bay. Extremely knowledgeable about engines, electronics and various other things, but not a experienced sailor per se, as in sailboats. A seaman, but not a sailor.

[A]

That's Bobby. He's in his early 50s, the youngster of the group.

[B]

So the three of us had skill sets that actually kind of really were a good combination of skill sets.

[A]

They'll be journeying on the valiant. It's a 40 foot long sailing boat, white with a red stripe running down its side. It's compact and in many ways quite basic. A hatch leads to the companionway, taking you from the deck to the cabin below, much like Maury's days back on Shelter island with his family. They'll be cooking on a small portable stove and living simply.

[B]

Not a creature comfort boat. It was literally like camping. I mean, you had no headroom below. It was very rudimentary, very fast, very capable and very responsive, but very light and not a lot of room, but that was okay. That's what I was signing up for. That wasn't a problem for me.

[A]

The crewmates climb on board. The boat will be their home for the next month and they won't be back on land again for 780 nautical miles. When they hit their first stop in Nova Scotia, they cast off on their adventure. The sun beams down on them as the wind fills their sails. The Valiant skims along the water and things get off to a great start.

[B]

We were just getting in our groove and enjoying the trip. We were very compatible, had a good time, didn't know each other, but got to know each other very quickly and got along great.

[A]

But it isn't long before the wind dies down and on a sailing boat, that's a problem. Their destination is the Nova Scotian city of Halifax at the southeastern tip of Canada. Without wind, they risk running out of supplies before they arrive. When the boat comes to a near standstill, the crew reluctantly turns to the engine as a backup. But there isn't enough fuel to rely on it for the entire journey. So they can only use it sparingly to keep moving. As the wind remains elusive and fuel reserves dwindle, it becomes clear they won't make it to Halifax. Their only option is to reroute to the closer town of Shelburne. It's smaller, but within reach. Six days later, on July 7, they pass the town's 18th century buildings as they glide into harbor.

[B]

It certainly has to be something that's par for the course because things never rarely work out the way you plan them in advance and you just have to be in the moment, deal with what you have and make adjustments along the way.

[A]

In Shelburne, they stock up on fuel supplies and head to a restaurant for a hot meal. When they return to sea, they navigate north. Their destination is Newfoundland's largest city, St. John's the weather shifts as they move through the water. It's cooler, foggier, and the sea around them teems with nature. Blue whales, fin whales, minke and humpbacks.

[B]

Whales so close that literally, if you were ever on a whale boat watching trip that you were paying dearly for, you wouldn't get anywhere near as close. They wouldn't even let you. But when they come up next to you, what are you going to do? So we had several different kinds of whales, we had great bird life and the sailing was fantastic. Time to work on your gift list with Black Friday deals at the Home Depot right now. Get a select tool from top brands like Ryobi and Milwaukee for free. When you buy a select battery kit. Choose from reciprocating saws, multi tools, sanders and more. Whether you're stocking up on power for your personal workshop or grabbing the perfect gift for someone else's, Get Black Friday tool deals delivered from the Home Depot. Limit one per transaction. Exclusions apply. Full eligible tool list in store and online.

[A]

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[B]

We did a recheck in of the sea ice and as is often the case, was not favorable conditions for trying to go there, which we knew was a possibility. But you never know to get there. By the time we actually were leaving we had to say okay, plan B.

[A]

Instead they decide to travel straight to Iceland. It'll be their longest leg so far, a 1400 nautical mile route that will take them into a vast stretch of the North Atlantic. It's much more time than they expected to spend in the open water and conditions will be challenging icebergs, unpredictable weather and low visibility.

[B]

Remember, this is not designed to be a particularly ocean going sailboat. It's designed to be a fast racing boat. Not particularly designed for these kind of.

[A]

Conditions, but the crew plan accordingly, rest up and prepare themselves for the immense daunting journey ahead. Never before has the boat's name, Valiant felt so appropriate. It's July 24, a chilly afternoon in the northern Atlantic. Icy winds are propelling Mori, Wes and Bobby towards Reykjavik.

[B]

Just a really enjoyable fast sailing, cold, foggy, fast sailing and you're saying okay, wow, we're moving quickly and we're putting in 100 plus miles a day, so it isn't going to be that long.

[A]

Maury looks out at the ocean. It stretches as far as the eye can see on all sides. It's a lonely spot.

[B]

We never saw a single vessel of any kind, whether it be commercial fishing vessel, cruise ship, pleasure boat, sailing yacht or any other vessel of any kind. But you couldn't see much anyway because it's so foggy. But we never picked anything up on radar even, is what I'm saying. There was really nothing are ever around. It was quite desolate and it was a very, very powerful experience. The longer we were in that and the farther we went. And yes, you are aware that there's really nothing around you. Nobody. Nothing.

[A]

Despite the isolation, it should only be a few days until they make it to the Icelandic capital. Reykjavik promises a hearty meal and a hot shower. But in sailing, nothing is predictable. Just when it seems that the coast will appear on the horizon, the wind turns and the boat slows.

[B]

So the biggest disappointment was. Oh man, another couple days of going nowhere.

[A]

It's approaching 2am on July 26, 285 miles off the coast of Iceland and the Valiant's progress has stalled. On top of that, miserable weather has moved in. Driving rain, heavy fog and the 24 hour summer light. Which means the crewmates are surrounded by a persistent shade of gray.

[B]

We've been in those conditions before, all of us. So it wasn't something at the time that said, oh gosh, this is conditions that are life threatening. Yeah, it's going to be really uncomfortable and yeah, we're not going to go anywhere for a couple days while we, you know, deal with it. But you deal with it.

[A]

The crewmates take turns on watch, rotating shifts to ensure the boat is always under supervision. At night. One person remains on duty for three hours while the other two sleep. The crewmate on watch is responsible for monitoring the radar, logging weather conditions and assessing the battery charge. After completing these tasks, they must head to the deck to see what's happening. They're always secured by a harness so they can't disappear overboard in the middle of the night. Currently it's Morrie's turn. Wes and Bobby are curled up in their bunks, having completed his checks. He stares out into the gloom.

[B]

You're very vulnerable, very vulnerable. And this boat's a small boat. It doesn't have a lot of freeboard, which means it's not a lot of height above the water for a boat 40ft long. You would normally Have a lot more freeboard. It would be higher off the water, it would be more room, more weight. This boat, when you're standing in that boat in the cockpit or sitting in the cockpit, you're only a few feet above the water.

[A]

Low in the water, the waves appear even more monstrous, surging to 21ft, crashing against the hull and drenching the deck with spray. For now, the situation seems manageable. The rhythm of the swell has been fairly predictable. But at around 2am, the once steady wave pattern becomes erratic.

[B]

At one point, the boat literally got dropped off of what must have been a little bit of a cresting wave. So we fell off a little bit and it was not a lot, but it was enough to say, boom. Oh, ok, okay. Whoa. We just kind of dropped off a little something there.

[A]

The boat bumps back onto the water's surface, shaking Mori into action. He goes to the controls and makes some adjustments. Maybe it's to do with the boat's angle in the water. He does what he can and then sits down in the companionway. It's now 3am he'll head back up on deck in 20 minutes to check the weather again. But just then, everything changes.

[B]

And the next thing I knew, I heard this tremendous roar, I really did. And the boat got picked up and tossed, smashing onto the water on the low side of the wave.

[A]

The companion way rocks and spins as the side of the boat makes contact with the water. It's impossible to know which way is up. The boat suddenly seems to disintegrate around moray.

[B]

Plexiglass burst open and cold, dark green water came pouring in the boat. And I was thrown up on the low side of the boat with that water coming in all around me. It sounded like a really bad car accident. It was the sound of crashing, ripping, breaking glass. I mean, it was a cacophony of sounds that were pretty, pretty extraordinary.

[A]

The boat has fully capsized. Water continues to gush in through the portholes, filling the companionway, threatening to submerge Mori. But even if he tried to get above deck, he'd now be swimming into the freezing Atlantic.

[B]

I can't believe this is really happening, but this actually is happening. We're totally screwed. That moment I thought I was highlighting that I probably wanted survivors because I thought I was going to drown.

[A]

The boat is buffeted again, and Morris flung through a freezing torrent of frothing water, careening this way and that. It's all too much. And he blacks out.

[B]

Next thing I recall was being on the floor of the cabin Sort of on my knees. And my life vest is a life vest that activates if you fall in the water. It will, it will deploy. It had deployed because I was in the water.

[A]

He looks around, trying to orientate himself. The portholes, which had turned into inlets for icy green water, are now showing the gray sky again. During his blackout, the boat has somehow miraculously righted itself. Wes and Bobby are scrambling from their beds.

[B]

They're trying to figure out what happened and get out of their bunks. And everything they were laying on is now on top of them and soaking wet and mad and sleeping bags. And they don't know what the hell happened because they were asleep. So they come up and then the first thing was, okay, whoa, we just got rolled. Is everybody okay?

[A]

Amazingly, they are. No broken bones or injuries. The Valiant, on the other hand, isn't in a good way. Murky water half fills the cabins and the electrics have blown. The air temperature is 4 degrees centigrade, the water 9 degrees. The boat is impossible to sail. They cannot get out of this themselves. They pull out the emergency position indicating radio beacon, or epirb, and send out a request for help.

[B]

But you don't know if anybody's hearing it and you don't know what they're doing about it because you got to remember we're 285 miles off the coast of Iceland in pretty, pretty adverse conditions.

[A]

Not knowing when they'll be found, if at all. Every decision now is crucial. The most obvious problem is they are still in immediate danger of sinking.

[B]

Now we got to get the water out of the boat. If the water isn't out of the boat, you risk being lower in the water and having other waves break on you and the next one could sink you completely.

[A]

The water is near freezing. To get it out of the boat, Captain Wes has developed a pumping system for this exact scenario. He shows Maury and Bobby, who get to work.

[B]

The air is now whipping through the boat because all the portholes and all the hatches are gone and you're in water up to your waist. So the drill was pump, pump, pump, pump. Now the problem was all the crap that was in the boat. Every single thing that was floating around, whether it be paper or this or that, was getting clogged in the intake. The only way to deal with that was one of us got on our hands and knees in the water and put our hand over the intake to keep the crap from getting clogged in the intake, make our hand a strainer.

[A]

The two shivering men rotate every 15 minutes. But slowly, over the next few hours, the water levels lower, giving the vessel a slightly improved stability. When all the seawater is finally cleared, the men's soaking possessions remain.

[B]

So then the next is get everything out of the boat that we don't need. Everything was soaking wet, 48 degree water, freezing cold, everything out of the boat. So we jettisoned everything. And that took another couple hours. And the purpose is, you don't want to be in there with all this wet, cold stuff.

[A]

They also hope that their discarded items might act like a sort of breadcrumb trail if a rescue vessel is looking for them. With each task, a different crewmate takes the lead. It's as though their individual qualities and backgrounds have all been building up to this moment.

[B]

All these decisions were decisions made by one or more or all of us, either individually or together, and they were all the right things to go and do next. And they came from the group. And it might be one person saying, we need to do this, and then say, yeah, you're right, we needed. Or somebody else or as a group. But it was really quite interesting as to how we came up with all the things we needed to do next and who came up with those ideas and in what order. And it was a group effort and very effective.

[A]

Now, the main challenge is how to avoid hypothermia. With no indication that anyone is coming to get them, they'll have to survive in these conditions for hours, days even. That's when Bobby the fisherman makes a suggestion. He points out that synthetic clothing and material dries quickly, whereas cotton holds onto moisture.

[B]

We were retrieving synthetics with the idea being we were going to have to take everything off that we had, take all the synthetics we could get, wringing them out as hard as we possibly could. And it was really good survival stuff, wringing out everything possible and putting those synthetics on in layers. Anything we found, socks, anything, we would wring it out, put it on in layers so that there's less water involved and your body can help warm you up and eliminate the moisture. All the cotton went, all the synthetics stayed. And Bobby was the one who was insistent upon that, and he was very right, and it was a great move.

[A]

Layered up in synthetic clothing, they clear the final sodden items out of the boat. They're about to throw their rubber mattresses over the side when one of them makes another suggestion, why not keep them?

[B]

We could cut them up and stick them in the shattered shards of windows and hatches to keep the cold air out, which we did. So we stuffed these foam rubber pieces in these ragged holes which effectively stopped the whistling of this wind from whipping through this boat. And that was effective. The other stuff we did with them was we run them out and cut them in strips that we could wrap around our mid drift section as further insulation and attempt to keep our core warm.

[A]

And with that, a waiting game begins. They've spent five exhausting hours securing the boat and getting as warm as they can. It's now morning. The gray sky lightens a little to acknowledge a new day. Mory is back in the companion way sitting on the stairs. The other two are in different parts of the boat. Each man is alone with his morbid thoughts.

[B]

The other stuff kept us busy, I mean for many hours, you know, five hours or whatever. We were busy and working and that helps generate heat as well as keep your mind off stuff and give you a purpose and have you and your functioning. The rest of it is harder because first of all you get colder quicker because you're not doing anything. And second of all, there's nothing to do but sit there and think. I thought about the poor guy who's a good friend of mine who referred me, sent me the email about this trip that I followed up on and he was a good personal friend, family friend and I thought, poor Charlie, man, he's gonna, he's gonna feel awful and never forgive himself if we don't come back from this trip. And he thinks, oh my God, if I hadn't sent him that email, he wouldn't have gone. I don't know why that popped into my head. And then of course, more seriously and importantly, the one thing that really did keep crossing my mind as I looked out on the situation and didn't know how it was going to end positively negatively or whatever, that if it ended negatively, it just became very difficult for me to accept that I wasn't going to see, I wasn't going to see my family anymore.

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[A]

It's 10am on July 26, seven hours since the wave hit. The Valiant rocks impotently in the ocean. Its sail is gone, the deck is bare and damp. Mori sits alone, wrapped in layers of synthetic clothing, bits of rubber mattress around his belly. No rescue boat has appeared.

[B]

Everybody else was in their respective places thinking about whatever it was they're thinking about. Not a lot of chit chat because there wasn't much to talk about or to do. And then I saw a plane and it was like, holy, there's a plane, guys. And so we're. That changes everything.

[A]

Mori calls to Wes and Barry. The crewmates fumble for the ditch bag. It's what you use if you have to deploy your life raft. It contains basic emergency supplies, including a handheld radio. It doesn't transmit far, but hopefully it can reach the plane circling above them. The pilot needs to see them, to hear them, to know they're down here. Eventually they hear a voice crackling through the radio.

[B]

And the plane kept asking us our location. Well, first of all, we don't know our location. We have no navigational equipment. And second of all, don't you see us? The boat was white, the ocean's white, the sail and rig are gone. So there's nothing really to see except a very little bit of white boat in the midst of white ocean. From however many feet, 500ft above or whatever. He never saw us. So we kept saying, we're right below you, right below you. He didn't see us.

[A]

The crewmates set off a flare. This time, mercifully, the pilot spots them. But it turns out this aircraft isn't about to scoop them off the deck. It's a reconnaissance plane. After the emergency signal went out, the pilot was sent to confirm the location of the boat, not rescue them.

[B]

And they also at the same time apparently contacted what appeared to be the only ship in the area. We hadn't seen anything in 1100 miles. It turns out there was a large commercial fishing vessel that was part of the Greenland Marine Science arm of the government that was on an expedition. They do this routinely. It's a 220 foot commercial fishing vessel and they were out on a three week expedition.

[A]

The pilot's voice crackles through the radio again. He informs the crewmates that he has confirmed their location and that he will pass the information on.

[B]

And I'll never forget he said something at one point in his Icelandic accent. He said, a rescue vessel will be along within the hour. And we're like, whoa, what do you mean, were we on the bus line or what? I mean what you, you know, we're at a bus stop and the bus is coming. What? What does that mean? Well, it turns out they've been steaming towards us for hours. We just didn't know it. And they weren't that far away.

[A]

The three men shiver as they await the rescue boat. As the minutes pass, the frosty air claws deeper into their bones. What if they've floated off course and can't be spotted? But finally a nebulous gray shape appears in the distance, moving closer through the waves.

[B]

Remember, it's still not a nice balmy day, you know, Remnants of the storm. The seas are a mess, still windy, and it's not very good conditions at all. But on the horizon appears this vessel, rather large, coming towards us.

[A]

They get out their handheld radio again and this time they contact the ship's captain. The imposing vessel bounces over the vicious swell.

[B]

So they were probably average 20 foot waves and he would have crushed us, so he wasn't going to come close to us, so he asked us to deploy the life raft and get in it.

[A]

It's clear in these dreadful conditions that this rescue is going to be far from easy. In fact, it could be their most dangerous trial yet. The crewmates follow the instructions from the ship's captain. They clamber inside the small yellow inflatable life raft. Then they try to move away from their abandoned ship, but the waves and currents push them back. They can't escape the wreck. The Valiant threatens to crash into them with every wave. But they can use a tiny oar to propel themselves painstakingly through the water. Slowly but surely, they approach the towering rescue boat.

[B]

Waves are tossing the thing all over the place. We eventually got close enough to the ship and by that point, of course, it's gotten bigger and bigger and bigger and now it's looming overhead and it's gigantic and terrifying to the point where we actually proposed earlier while we were talking to the captain. Do you think we maybe should wait until tomorrow? I don't know what I was thinking, but I proposed it because I was. I've read enough. And anyone who has been in this world has read enough to know oftentimes you can survive the disaster and get killed in the rescue. It's just dangerous.

[A]

The captain refuses. They're going to do this right now. Morrie's rein slicked face tilts up and he takes in the vast hull of the ship.

[B]

My fantasy was that down the side of this ship was going to come one of those elaborate rope things that cover a whole section of the boat that the soldiers climb up on and you know what I mean, that image, eh? I wonder what happened. From 35ft up at the deck, over the side comes down. A rope ladder two feet wide, made out of rope with wooden slats just dropped down the side of the boat. That was it.

[A]

Tossing waves fill the gap between the life raft and the ship. The ladder looks like it had barely hold the weight of a child. Mori reaches across the gap and grabs onto a run. But just then a wave hits the life raft, threatening to pull him into the water. He lets go of the ladder. He pauses, takes a deep breath, then reaches out again.

[B]

I'm on the ladder and I'm looking up 35ft. You don't want to really look down because it's not pretty. Picture. And I started to climb. I could not move my arms. I literally was. I don't know what happened. I was on that ladder and I guess I was just totally spent. And then I heard this sound in the distance coming from above. And the sound was sort of like. Sounded like. And remember the winds whistling and all this kind of stuff and I didn't know what it was. And I look up and all of the crew is leaning over the railing and saying, one more. They were literally willing me up.

[A]

It's painful, it's slow. But rung by rung, Morig crawls towards safety. The winds and. And the waves sway the ladder. And as he clings on, his knuckles look like they'll burst through his skin. At last, Mori reaches the top. Hands appear, pulling him onto the deck. He's made it. He crumples, exhausted, dazed, but alive. When it comes to the other two crewmates, a harness is hastily crafted to help them move up the precarious rope ladder more easily.

[B]

And of course, later, I never let them forget that. I kept telling the crew and the captain, I said, what the hell's that about? What was it? What? I didn't get a harness. What was that at? You know, messing with them and all that. So you want to be a marketer?

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Order Jack's $5 big deal breakfast meal now. The Valiant's three crewmates have all survived, but instead of heading straight to land, they're now on a government sponsored trip. Their rescuers are scientists and researchers. And so Maury, Wes and Barry find themselves entering a very different world.

[B]

They had work to do and they had places to go and they still had their mission to accomplish. So the plan became they were going to continue on with their course of zigzagging and doing their research until they got to the point of their route that would be the closest to Iceland. And then they would arrange for us to be picked up and taken off. But they weren't making a beeline for Reykjavik and nor did we expect them to. So we had a couple days of being their guest on their ship, which was the most extraordinary experience. They couldn't have been more gracious. They were helpful. They fed us, they got clothes from people, they gave us their bunks and berths and staterooms and showers and phones. And I mean, it was amazing.

[A]

The three men are then taken to meet the captain who led the rescue operation.

[B]

It was pretty significant to go up and see this man and thank this man for what he had done and the skill that he exhibited. So it was pretty significant. I asked him, I said, had you ever done this before? And he said, no. And I said, well, how did you know how to do this? Because you just executed an incredibly delicate, difficult, and we have you to thank for us being here. How did you even. He said, I just figured it out as we went along.

[A]

Two days later, the research vessel reaches the Icelandic fishing town of Grindavik. The three survivors are handed over to the Icelandic police while the boatload of scientists stand on the deck and wave goodbye. Also waiting for Moray, Wes and Bobby are the press. It turns out the country has been gripped by the drama of the three men lost at sea. There will be time to tell their entire story later. For now, they just need to get home.

[B]

So we got arranged to be housed in Reykjavik and figured the rest out on our own and I flew home. And that was the sum total of the story.

[A]

It's September 2017 in Richmond, Virginia, around two months since the rescue. Moray is safely at home and enjoying a somewhat calmer retirement, though the memories of his ordeal remain fresh. He, Wes and Barry haven't seen each other since the incident, but today they have a reunion planned.

[B]

Wes reached out and wanted to have lunch and the three of us had lunch, hadn't seen each other since and really spoken to each other since. Not because of animosity, just no particular reason to. And we had lunch together and he gave us each a gift, which was very thoughtful and we kind of hashed it over and talked about it and stuff like that. That was the only time we ever met. And I've never spoken to or met either of them since, not again. Not because we're no animosity, it's just the way it is. I don't think it's something that Wes would want to spend a whole lot of time talking about. We were safe, we were sound, All's well that ends well, and it was all good.

[A]

Today, Morris still loves the sea. He and his wife have managed to buy their own boat, even if the trips are a little more subdued these days around the mellower waters of Chesapeake Bay. Reflecting on what happened, Mori says he mainly feels lucky and thankful to his crewmates and his rescuers. His near death experience has made later life all the sweeter.

[B]

It's an experience that was pretty extraordinary on a lot of fronts and we were very, very fortunate. So luck and good fortune in conjunction with the preparation and the diligence that Wes exhibited in having everything that we needed, having been the recipient of that kind of good fortune and effort and help is pretty significant. There's a lot of people to thank and that's kind of humbling.

[A]

In the next episode, we meet zemon kingi. In March 1986, the 17 year old is whitewater rafting through the jungle of Papua New Guinea. He's having a blast until the fun abruptly stops when they hit a waterfall. Zemon's friend Andrew will be separated from the group with no idea if he's dead or alive. Zemon will join the rescue effort, setting off back down the river on a mission to find his friend before the crocodiles do. That's next time on REAL Survival Stories. Listen today without waiting a week by subscribing to Noiser Plus. Hi, I'm Tyler, founder of Cozy Earth. When you're thinking about the perfect gift.

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