July 9, 2001 — Efforts to refloat the St. John built ketch, 'Breath', are currently underway in the Bahamas where she ran aground in the darkness sometime after midnight on the morning of July 4th. 'Breath' was built and captained by long-time St. John resident, Peter Muilenburg. He attributed the mishap to an unusually strong current combined with squally winds and rough seas. The northerly voyage was to have concluded this summer in Jacksonville, Florida, with a stop in the Dominican Republic.
During a recent telephone conversation from Muilenburg to good friend, fellow sailor and St. John businessman, Terry Mckoy, Muilenburg reported that he was sailing with his wife, Dorothy, father, John, and two crewmen, Miska Fuchs and Steve Baranowski when they ran aground on a reef in the southern bahamian islands. All five, he told McKoy, escaped the grounding without injury and were able to walk across the coral reef to safety. The Royal Bahamian Defense Force rescued Muilenburg and his crew after sunrise and transported them the 40 miles to Matthew Town on the island of Great Inagua. Muilenburg was calling on his St. John neighbors to help him convince the US Coast Guard to help pull 'Breath off the reef before it was too late.
McKoy says he immediately called upon St. John sailor, George Courlas and ham radio operator, George Cline for assistance. According to McKoy, "We found out that the Coast Guard is restricted by international treaties from engaging in salvage operations. We were concerned that if he didn't get a commercial salvage operator he might loose the boat," said McKoy. Courlas and Cline hustled to find the Bahamian Salvage Company of Rum Cay and to get them quickly in touch with Muilenburg. During a hasty aerial inspection it was agreed that the 20-ton gaff-rigged, 'Breath', could be successfully salvaged from her present position; resting upright on her keel and hard-aground on a remote reef.
Meanwhile, McKoy went looking for and found an anonymous loan for the $14,000 needed to cover the expected costs of patching, refloating, towing and repairing the 42-foot sailboat. He plans to repay the loan with contributions from the St. John community.
"Peter (Muilenburg) never asked for any money," said McKoy. "The loan and the fund-raising was our idea. We knew that if we put out an appeal, many people would respond."
Contributions dedicated to the 'Refloat Breathe' effort are being accumulated within the St. John Revolving Fund, according to fund administrator, Cidney Hamling. She explained that "Under these unusual circumstances, the fund's board of directors approved this method to help (McKoy,Courlas and Cline) collect contributions to repay the loan."
Checks can be made out to the 'St. John Revolving Fund', marked 'Refloat Breath' and addressed to 'Refloat Breath' c/o Connections, Box 37, St. John, VI 00831-0037.
