Sorry we haven’t updated you on this vessel lately. It’s been sort of a whirlwind journey since we reached the Marquesas. About ten or so days after our arrival in Hiva Oa we were informed that SV Aftermath arrived in Nuka Hiva safely. The captain and crew were exhausted but in good health.
We have since had email communication with the mother of one of the crew members who thanked us for our assistance with communication and said she is just glad they all survived the ordeal.
He will be staying in Nuka Hiva to repair his boat before moving on. Against the advice of several other boaters he is going to try to repair the autopilot rather than replace it. Many are concerned that the diesel fuel and oil mixture he used for hydraulic fluid when he ran out may have caused irreparable damage to the autopilot and therefore should be completely replaced.
Our friend who knows him well said John seems like a different person and he’s concerned about him trying to continue on as there are several other things that need to be repaired or replaced on board Aftermath. Having met John and spent an evening with him on board a friend’s boat we noticed that he hardly speaks of the passage and when it is brought up he just seemed distant and unwilling to discuss it. There were many in our fleet who went out of their way to assist him yet he doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge their help with even a simple, “Thank you.” It’s not like anyone did it to be acknowledged but when people are diverting course and traveling long distances out of there way to help, you really should at least acknowledge them. I guess everyone reacts differently to things like this.
Anyway, that’s what we know about SV Aftermath. Just glad they all made it to safe harbor.
Until next time,
Jilly
