UPDATE:Virgin Islands Christmas Present to Haiti with Michael Beans, Yachts Sophisticated Lady and Fairwinds and the Tortola Rotary Club.

This appeal for help was sent around by Harry Birch off of Fairwinds this weekend.


"Would it be possible to get a members notice about our situation here in Haiti.
As you know we left Tortolla with a cargo of outboard engines to diliver to the Island of Isle a Vache Haiti for Micheal Beans good Samaritain foundation
My engine broke down in St Thomas and we failed to get a mechanic to solve the problem. I decided that it was very important to get the engines here together with food cloths and medicines ect. However we sailed down under wind power,and found here that the engine is siezed. We also expeiranced a severe gale one day before arrival that damaged my mainsail,that also lost my dingy .
My funds are extreemly low and Carron who came on the voyage with Ricks yacht Sophiscated Lady has lent me the cost of two air tickets back from Jamica to Tortola . I plan to sail Fairwind on down wind to Jamica thenI must lift Fairwind in Port Antonio as I also have a shaft coupling problem that needs replacing.
My situation is somewhat fraught with anxiety as to where I will raise the money for the repairs and boat yard.
I volanteered for this charity project and I appeal to all cruising charter yacht owners to help me with funds in my time of distress.
Regards to all Harry"

You can read my original posting on the story here a couple blog posts below this entry.

When you think of a salty old sea dog, you think of Harry! Harry thought he was going to get into the crewed charter business a couple of years ago and spiffed up himself and his boat for all the brokers to see. Unfortunately, Harry, or those advising him, were not honest enough with him to tell him that he and Fairwinds did not really measure up to crewed charter yacht standards, even for the budget end. When we came on the boat, he had his rum bottle firmly in hand, and his cigarette ashtray was overflowing. He said his favorite type of guests would be honeymoon couples as they would be busy and he could sit upstairs in the cockpit and drink rum! Needless to say, his crewed chartering career did not go any further then that.

I have seen various schemes from him over the last couple years, attempting to survive in the Caribbean and live the dream. None of what I said above takes away from the act of kindness that he and Sophisticated Lady did in taking their boats with donations to Haiti, and now need help themselves.

Harry is another one of those Caribbean Characters you see in every Marina throughout the Caribbean, and I hope that he and his boat are safe and sound.