Used sails for Haiti- Preparations to meet the Sea Flower in Haiti

by Lynn Fitzpatrick on 10 Feb 2010 The Sea Flower is one day closer and not quite halfway to its first destination along Haiti's SW peninsula.. ETA 0600 on Friday. Among the items listed on the ship’s manifest, are 5 crates containing used sails. Approximately 1,000 tons were loaded aboard before the ship's captain told us that we reached the Sea Flower's weight limit. Hats off to the SE Florida sailing community, especially John Muir at Shake a Leg Miami, for responding quickly.

As I make last minute arrangements to fly into the DR and connect with hosts for transportation to Port au Prince and then down to the SW peninsula, I continue to get tracking updates on a large shipment of sails made by Peter Rugg.

Charles Chopin is trying to coordinate efforts with the Barrington, RI Eagle Scouts and a truck rental company to collect sails from the area and transport them to Miami. Peter Brown is in contact with Charles about intercepting the truck so that his seven used sails from a Henderson 30 make the ride. There is a possibility that the truck will also make a stop in the Annapolis area on its way south. John Dodge is coordinating efforts there.

Robert Dietrich and Doug Lofland have spent over three weeks working on chartering the vessel and reaching out to the NGO’s. Robert flew from Miami to Santo Domingo this morning. Completely by coincidence, he sat next to an acquaintance of Doug’s who had room in a truck and was able to take Robert right to his final destination. The fortuitous meeting will give Robert more time to coordinate efforts and teams on the ground. A warehouse has been secured, as have tents. Contacts have been made with the NGO’s and other parties to assist in the offloading and distribution.

On Wednesday, I will follow in Robert’s path along with representatives of human rights agencies and possibly a representative of the Consul of Haiti in Miami. More than likely we will stop in Port au Prince to meet with members of the various NGO’s that have cargo in the hold of Sea Flower.

I keep receiving direct updates from an orphanage in Haiti full of traumatized children that have truly been without since prior to January 12th, groups that are sending generators and medical supplies to Haiti, media groups and others who are trying to make it easy for me to connect the dots once I’m on the ground.

Postings will probably be sporadic. Please keep checking www.haiti-life.org and www.worldregattas.com

Send your used sails to Shake a Leg Miami. It looks very promising that there will be enough organized cargo to fill the hold of another relief supply vessel. Thanks for pitching in and for your best wishes.

Watch the Sea Flower's departure on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/HaitiLifeOrg#p/u/0/nBnT2yR9TSM

www.worldregattas.com