Gregor McGuckin's Yellow Brick tracker onboard his abandoned Hanley Endurance Golden Globe yacht is running in stealth mode to stop others from trying to salvage the boat according to Race Headquarters. While McGuckin has returned safely to Ireland a salvage bid by American Cody Cordwainer is underway in Australia and in the latest update, Cordwainer explains that The "official" Whiskey Rescue is still in need of a salvage boat.
General Salvage Update, 13th February 2019
To All Interested Persons:
Many people and parties have been inquiring as to the current status of the WHISKEY RESCUE salvage project and I apologize for being remiss in our postings.
I arrived of course in Australia on the 16th January and have since then been walking the docks and frequenting the yacht clubs making one connection after another. About two weeks ago we finally found what we thought would be our salvage boat, a 60’ motor-sailer with a 185 HP Diesel Engine. Its owner was an experienced inshore skipper with an adventurous attitude, just the man to work with us on the salvage. Since then we have taken the boat sailing many times, learning the boat and how well we work together as crew. All seemed well until yesterday when I was giving the boat a closer inspection and I crawled into the chain locker. Daylight was visible around the cathead and chain plate and the forestay was pulling out of the deck, delaminating the fiberglass as it went.
Expected costs of readying the vessel for the voyage and fuel, food, etc were expected to total around $25,000 but the repair of such a major structural issue would increase the expenditures by approximately an additional $15,000. So while the motor-sailer will remain a backup option, the search is on once again for a salvage vessel. A strong steel-hulled ketch was volunteered but at the last minute the skipper backed out.
Today we are back on the docks hunting a boat!
It is true that finding a boat for the project is taking longer than originally hoped, but we’ll keep going until the job is done. A famous Carthaginian General once said, “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.” I shall either find a way or make one. He later proceeded to cross the Alps with around 20,000 troops and many war elephants. If Hannibal could achieve that, we’ll achieve this.
Many thanks to everyone who has donated to help Gregor get his boat back! You haven’t been forgotten and you will be entered into the drawing for the whiskey bottle when this is all water under the keel! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Cody Howdeshell
Lead Salvor, The Whiskey Rescue
