Update from Cape Town

Further update on events described below ..

I talked to my dad this morning.  Newspaper story is inaccurate.  They had sustained winds in 50 knot range and gusts of 85-90 knots.  As they were approaching Cape Town they struggled to reduce sail.  They lost their power to furl headsail a few months ago and have been doing it manually.  The mechanism they use to do it manually failed on Saturday and so they had to drop headsail completely, with concurrent chaos on foredeck and Jared and their quite capable mate (whose name I just forgot) tied in and getting beaten around.  With that done, they turned to mainsail, which in theory is also auto-furling.  It jammed on way down.  And something also broke on mizzen mast.  So they were 0-3 and ended up with both mainsail and mizzensail up.

They tried to power their way into Cape Town but literally could not make constant headway on engine.  After a few hours thrashing around trying to do this the rescue squad that had taken Chessie in asked if they wanted help.  My dad, naturally, asked how much it would cost.  When told it was free, they delightedly took the tow, which apparently was quite hairy as was in dark, in storm.  Not entirely clear what his plan was had he decided the help was too expensive.  Insert your own ethnic comment here around his cheapness and stubbornness.

In any case, they have now gotten some sleep and are assessing damage.  Lots of bumps and bruises but nothing too serious to crew.  Hopefully same with boat, though lots of water sloshed around in cabin.  My mom was apparently responsible for sending Coast Guard out to help Chessie as she got a cell phone call from them and pounded on doors at marina until she found someone that could help.