Riding Out The 2nd Storm

Opunga Cove

When the second big storm came we sought shelter in the Bay of Islands. Sitting out 50 knot winds and drving rain, we listened all night to the VHF radio traffic from the rescue attempts off the New Zealand Coast. Just after dawn I heard Mike's transmission from the bridge of the commecial vessel which picked him up that "Julie didn't make it up, she is still on the boat. We're going around to make another pass and get her."

Then, later, he reported that on the next pass they didn't find Julie or Salacia, his Tayana 37 cutter, only wreckage, including mattresses and locker doors. I knew in my heart, after hearing that, that Julie Black was gone.