Bounty Boat adventure - one near miss, one knock-down

by Nancy Knudsen on 7 May 2010 Little more than a week after setting out to recreate Captain Bligh's voyage on an open boat, Don McIntyre and his crew of three have had a terrifying near miss with a reef at night and their first knock down. Using the GPS on board, they have now located themselves on a tiny island to dry out and recover for a couple of days.

The voyage they are attempting to recreate started in 1789 when the crew on the Bounty mutinied and Fletcher Christian cast William Bligh and 18 of his men adrift in a 23ft open boat. They then sailed over 3,700 nautical miles, in an overloaded boat, with little food or water and no charts, from Tonga to Kupang in Timor.

Less than two weeks into their journey, which they are replicating faithfully, they have struck trouble - the kind of trouble that Bounty and his men would have encountered in their seven week journey.

Here is Don's account of the knock-down:

The first wave hit the boat from the starboard side. I called for the guys to standby for wave! Then out of the blue as we were recovering from that another hit us right out of sequence. This one broke right beside us and right over us. I was watching it all in slow motion. The mast went down to water level and for a minute I thought it may go right over and we would have to put our training into practice! But no - she came up fast which was a delight to see. I called everyone to man the buckets. The aft part of the hull was full and just about awash.

While they all got to it I turned the boat downwind and within about 6 minutes most of the water was out. I was looking over my shoulder not wanting another big one!! Everything down below is tied in but still flew around. I dislocated my little toe and took a big hit to my side. Fortunately there were no other injuries, a little damage to solar panels again and water into out books onboard which is a mini disaster. We all reflected that it was a good exercise and showed the boat has what it takes. We were all very wet but at least we were not swimming.

With the seas still heavy, the wind high and the crew wet and bruised, Don had to make a decision. He takes up the story:

So again I have to concede that Bligh is a bigger man than me. So Wednesday night saw us ride through the entrance of Bligh Waters with the aid of a GPS and turn left heading to a little island called NaiGai where we dropped anchor around midnight. Everyone was relieved. I had only had a few hours sleep in the past 48 hours. We were all hungry and have not been able to catch rain water so now on 1ltr a day. I am bruised and battered but very happy about the rest of the voyage. TBB and the crew are now one!

When they woke up they discovered the island was beautiful, so their story now is very 'Robinson Crusoe' - drinking from coconuts, looking for water, fishing, lighting a fire to cook the fish - while they recover and plan their next leg which is expected to take them to Fiji.

Don McIntyre is no stranger to adventure. His previous sailing adventures have included a solo round-the-world race and multiple trips to Antarctica. Even still, he says, 'This is something I've dreamed about for 27 years.' Joining him on board are Antarctic sailor David Pryce from Australia, Hong Kong businessman David Wilkinson and 18-year-old British sailor Christopher Wilde.

Before taking off from Tonga, McIntyre received a letter from Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord of the British Royal Navy, stating, 'Your voyage, under the conditions which Bligh and his crew endured in 1789, serves to remind us that determined men can achieve extraordinary things.'

Yes, indeed.