Oct 19 2009
F/V Lady Francis comes home one last time, F/V Donz Rig survives but needs repair
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The squid fleet is having a hell of a time keeping their boats afloat. About two weeks ago the Fishing Vessel Lady Francis (thought ladies spelled in Frances) ran aground in Smugglers and Sat. night, the F/V Donz Rig ran aground trying to find her way into the harbor.
The Fishing Vessel Donz Rig***** is supported by supplemental buoyancy bags and surrounded by oil booms. At least two Vessel Assist boats, a Coast Guard vessel and a few other boats accompanied the wounded lady back home to Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor.
I’ve been trying to get the CG to tell us what caused these incidents as there might be a lesson for us all to learn. Think of it – Lady F went aground on Santa Cruz Island on a no-wind night with visibility unrestricted and under a full moon. How’d that happen?
Donz Rig apparently bounced off the north jetty trying to negotiate the turn into Channel Islands Harbor, began taking water immediately and beached herself on Hollywood Beach.
Actually, I can see how that could happen, particularly to an out-of-towner.
It may take an appeal under the Freedom of Information act, but we mariners need to know the multiple causes of these accidents or we’re liable to repeat the actions ourselves.
more when I learn more
and now I’ve leaned more
****Turns out that the boat towed in Sunday was Donz Rig on her way to the shipyard. Sources in the harbor say the crew thought they were entering Ventura Harbor, spun around when they realized their mistake and clipped the north jetty, ending up aground on Hollywood Beach.
There was a small – a couple of gallons – of diesel discharged during the event.
F/V Lady Francis was reportedly towed from Smugglers to a Ventura shipyard for salvage last week. Sources say that was a particularly long ride at a max. speed of 1.8 knots.
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the lady frances capt. feel asleep on autopilot, heading for smugglers anchorage to take a nap. there was no watch alarm aboard the boat, thus making it all to easy to just take a nap. highly recommend a watch alarm be installed, alongside any autopilot install.