Story 12

The morning of the 17th.was spent preparing for the coming trip. The overall intention for that day was to head for Crinnan, but with the knowledge of the time of departure and the adverse spring tide (current) our first port of call would most likely be Puilladobhrain, to catch the favourable tide next morning. I informed/discussed our passage plan with a member of the marina staff, while paying the marina dues.
The engine was checked including the opening of sea cocks, water and oil levels, (oil contents were topped up with approx. a cupful of oil, to full). The fuel tank was approx two thirds full (app. 800 ltrs.) The main fuel filter/water separator was clear. On engine starting the cooling water flow was correct with a good discharge from the exhaust.

We departed Dunstaffnage at 10.35 am.(BST) and proceeded south under engine with the mizzen sail raised. The wind was south-westerly, force 4.
At 11.30 a further log entry was made passing the north entrance to OBAN harbour. Still under engine (1800 rpm) and on autopilot, making app. 6 kts.
At approx 12.00 noon the mizzen sail was lowered because it was flogging in the head wind.
When Bach Isle came into view, course changes were made to track towards it.At approx 12.10 a course change of 10 deg to port was made on the autopilot to go through the sound between Kerrera and Bach Isle. Shortly after this the engine rpm dropped. and returned to normal without any throttle operation.. All indications; Water temp./Oil pressure appeared normal. Some seconds later this repeated. On operating the throttle the engine died completely and refused to restart.
We immediately set to, to raise the mainsail and deployed the (roller) Yankee foresail.
We were app 3 cables from the coast of Kerrera on a heading for the middle of the sound in approx.30 metres of water.
At this time I was confident we would clear the sound to the open water south of Kerrera, sailing at around 1.8 kts.. However it rapidly became obvious that we would be close to the reef extending from the SW corner with a strong current driving us towards the rocks. At around 12.15, while the mainsail was still being raised. we hit the first reef, ‘bounced’ off, but hit a further reef which swung the boat to port, and aground.

A Mayday was immediately broadcast, to which we received an immediate response from Clyde Coastguard. The foresail was furled (with difficulty) and the mainsail stowed.

We were grounded leaning to port. A first check showed no sign that we were taking on water and we informed the CG that we were in no immediate danger.

In a short period of time a yacht ‘Blue Quest’ arrived, who we asked if they could get a tow on to us to stabilise Classic Wave and possibly pull us off. They declined due to inadequate crew. It was apparent we had grounded at low water and the tide was now making.
HW OBAN 18.26 BST 4.3 m LW 12.14 BST 0.5 m

The CG informed us that the Oban Lifeboat had been requested with an ETA of 20mins. Shortly after a fishing vessel, ‘Guiding Star’, and a motor vessel, ‘Misija’, arrived. The FV Guiding Star agreed to attempt to give us a line.
While this was taking place the Lifeboat arrived. The Lifeboat advised the Guiding Star to abandon their attempt at a tow, although we had by now got a line between us.
Classic Wave had also now started taking on water and was taking rough treatment on the rocks as the tide built with an associated increase in swell. The place of the water ingress could not be identified.

An attempt was made to assist the electric bilge pump, hand pumping the boat’s main hand bilge pump, but this proved to be impossible due to the other essential tasks requiring crew attention.

Classic Wave’s Life raft was prepared, but not deployed.

The tow line was retrieved onto Classic Wave to allow the Lifeboat to approach to put a lifeboat man on board with a high capacity diesel pump.
It took some minutes to get the pump started, primed and pumping, by which time Classic Wave was rapidly taking on water, which had now reached the Saloon floor level.
The pump made little, if any impression on the water level. The decision was made to have the Lifeboat take everyone off. A ‘grab-bag’ was filled of essential items (credit cards, passports etc.) by each crew member. However, only Bob P. managed to hold onto his, the others were lost in the speed of immediate sinking.

On the first attempt Barrie was taken off, but the combination of lifeboat wash and swell had moved Classic Wave such that she was sinking rapidly.
The Lifeboat decided to deploy their Life raft and pass it to us. By the time this was completed Classic Wave was awash, moving into deep water and the best I, plus my remaining crew, Bob P. and the Lifeboat man could do was to take to the water.
Bob P managed to reach the life raft and hang on and I followed a short time after. Neither of us managed to get into the Life raft. The lifeboat man remained adrift a away from the life raft.
The Lifeboat retrieved Bob P and myself from the side of the life raft. They then retrieved the lifeboat man from the water. Classic Wave’s life raft had fortunately inflated and surfaced beside him, giving him some support.

We were all taken to Oban Lifeboat station arriving about 14.15 and checked out by a waiting Ambulance. Only the Lifeboat man decided to go to Hospital, as he had swallowed a considerable amount of water. The Classic Wave crew were declared to be ok.

Clyde C.G. had the incident under their control throughout.

I virtually lived on Classic Wave throughout the summer/sailing season and therefore lost a vast amount of personal processions, being left with only the clothes I was wearing (very wet!)

The above is a factual account and what was provided to Navigators & General as an insurance report.

Subsequently a theory developed as to what may have caused the accident.
  It is possible that the engine failure was caused by a rope wrapping around the propeller. The line was probably floating below the surface having lost its marker buoy, but was still attached to something, a lobster pot, on the seabed. The resulting drag would have slowed the boat and could have caused it to crap sideways.
This theory now appears to be a high probability

The Oban Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, was a great support to us throughout, and of course saved us from the water when Classic Wave finally sank. On return to Oban they also gave us hot showers, and we will be for ever in debt to Micheal Robertson, Chairman of the Oban RNLI who loaned us his own clothes while we visited the shops to buy new.

During the incident a number of photographs were taken by the lifeboat crew, using mobile phones. A selection of these are featured on the site.


    Following the incident the RNLI put out a press release


    This was picked up by a number of newspapers and magazines, including the Scottish Herald, Blackpool Gazette, Practical Boat Owner and the BBC local news in Scotland.

    Initially my Insurers, Navigators& General set in motion plans for recovery or salvage, and this was placed in the hands of Murray,Cormack Associates at Oban. Immediately after the sinking the weather was bad but during a lull they instructed Puffin Divers to carry out an assessment. . It however, appears she broke up within a short time of the sinking.
  I have seen some video taken at the time and, while the pictures are indistinct, due to the state of the water, it was obvious she had suffered major damage. She has broken in two, with the deck/superstructure parted from the hull, and the masts damaged beyond repair.
   A further video, taken later in much better conditions, clearly showed the extensive damage. It was also obvious that the scavengers had started visiting her so I would guess there will be little left before long. The kelp and fish were also moving in. In time she may become a welcome home to the wild life of the area.
  On the 25th. October, I received a cheque for the full insured value of Classic Wave and its equipment. This was five weeks after the incident and in my opinion represents excellent service. Thanks to all for their efforts.
  It pays to carry full insurance and I can recommend both Navigators & General and the brokers who placed the insurance with them, Yachtmaster Insurance Services Ltd
   Unfortunately the the pump, put onboard by the Lifeboat went down with the sinking of Classic Wave, however Navigators & General came up trumps again by supplying a new pump to the Lifeboat, shortly after the pay out for my loss.

     I would like to thank everybody, some who I have never met, who have contacted me offering their sympathy.


     This is a sad end to a great boat, on which I, and I know many others, had some very enjoyable times.