3 October 2008
Mexico On Thursday, Sept. 4, I found myself (and my Hudson Force 50 sailboat) trapped inside one of Mexico’s offshore “tuna farms†(floating pens), calling for help.
Unlike the skipper covered in the Aug. 8 issue article “San Diego Boater Involved in Standoff With Mexican Navy,†I found the Mexican navy personnel to be exemplary in their professionalism, when they came to render assistance. Yes, they were fully armed with automatic weapons, side arms and bulletproof vests — but they’re the navy. The guns were never pointed at me at any time: They were in their hands, across their chests.
After getting freed from the farm, I welcomed two members of the Mexican navy aboard to assist while I was being towed back to the navy base in Ensenada. After reaching the base, two other navy personnel used their personal vessel to tow me back to Cruiseport Marina. My wife was injured during the time we spent within the tuna farm, and the Mexican navy rushed her to their navy hospital and treated her.
I have nothing but respect for the Mexican navy.
Now, if only we could get the tuna fishermen to add some bright lights to the tuna farms ... One of the Mexican navy captains confided in me that he, too, had hit one of the farms, but been able to hit reverse hard enough to back out before becoming trapped.
By Kevin Cole, Owner of the sailboat S/V Honey-Do II
