With stop for gas, Bermuda adventurer lands in Newport
3:59 PM Wed, Jun 18, 2008 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Click here if you're training it to the Celts' 'rolling rally' |
Main
| Health Dept. reopens 2 swimming spots, shuts 2 more »
NEWPORT – Bobby Doe had to pay $8 per gallon of gasoline last night so he could complete a 635-mile passage from Bermuda to Aquidneck Island, alone in an 18-foot dinghy, powered by a 9.9-horsepower outboard motor. The 66-year-old Bermudian adventurer left St. George’s late Saturday afternoon aboard Huckleberry, a modified Bermuda dinghy. It was powered by the tiny four-stroke Mercury outboard. A boat builder and commercial fisherman, Doe made the passage to raise awareness and money for the Lady Cubit Compassionate Association, a charity that helps pay for medical care. The group helped him pay for care in a Boston hospital last year after he suffered a serious heart attack. Soon afterwards, he said, the charity lacked the money to help one of his friends in need of a kidney transplant. “I had to do something,” he said. Doe was also trying to prove that the dinghy he built was seaworthy, safe, and economical. He had 60 gallons of gasoline, but had planned to use only 30 gallons. From the start, however, the wind was on the boat’s bow. Crossing the Gulf Stream, the wind quartered on the bow so he could increase speed, but he faced 20-foot seas. “We were airborne at times,” he said. “You would be up in the air, then BANG! You’d think you were getting a minor concussion because your brain would rattle around.” Sometime during the voyage, one of the fuel tanks began to leak. Doe was unaware of the leak because his cockpit’s forced-air ventilation was so efficient, he couldn’t smell the gasoline. Doe reckons he lost 10 gallons. Resting in still air at the Newport Yacht Club, Huckleberry stank of gas. -- Journal outdoors writer Tom Meade He saw only two other vessels during the three-day passage, a cruise liner early on, and a fishing boat yesterday. “The fishing boat appeared providentially,” he said, “because I had run out of fuel.” The Whitewater II spotted Huckleberry drifting about 18 miles south of Point Judith around 5 p.m. yesterday, and offered assistance. “All kudos to that guy,” Doe said. “He stood by and did all the talking on the radio, because the battery in my hand-held [radio] had run out. He was in a hurry to get out fishing, but he waited until he was sure that I was all right.” Whitewater II summoned Safe/Sea, a marine assistance service, according to the Coast Guard. The company brought 5 gallons of gas and charged Doe $40. He figured he could have made the rest of the way to Newport on a gallon, but was in no position to argue. Doe fired up the little outboard, and arrived in Newport Harbor around 8:30 p.m. He plans to start steaming back to Bermuda Friday morning, ahead of the 1 p.m. start of the Newport Bermuda Race. 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
New comments
New photos
Authors
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
God please, he has more guts than me
Report Abuse
Wow
Report Abuse