A British couple, Mike Beech (63) and his wife Helen (61), found themselves stranded in the Bahamas, after a lightning bolt struck their sailboat, the Mistral Dancer. The unfortunate destroyed the boat’s navigation equipment, leaving the couple in a race against time to repair their vessel before the onset of the hurricane season.
The couple had invested their life savings, a total of $63,000, to purchase the 38-foot Mistral Dancer in July 2018. Their dream of enjoying a peaceful retirement at sea, however, took a devastating turn on March 23rd, the Times of London reported.
The couple had anchored off a small island near George Town in the Bahamas when a sudden bolt of lightning struck the vessel’s mast, causing an “all mighty bang”, as described by Mike Beech. The lightning bolt caused extensive damage to the navigation equipment, leaving the couple stranded.
Following the incident, Mike expressed his fear and anxiety, explaining how all other vessels were rushing back to the US to escape the forthcoming hurricane and tropical storm belt, while they are left stranded in the Bahamas.
While the insurance is expected to cover most of the $45,000 repair cost, the couple is required to come up with about $7,500. This is a significant amount for Mike and Helen, who enjoy only a modest pension after careers as a truck driver and midwife, respectively.
The couple’s predicament is further compounded by the fast-approaching hurricane season. They are in a desperate race against time to repair their vessel and escape the imminent storms.
Prior to this incident, Mike and Helen had embarked on a 35-day Atlantic crossing in 2022. They had spent the past year island-hopping in the Caribbean, mooring off the small island of Crab Cay before disaster struck.
Mike recounted the terrifying moment when the lightning struck. He initially thought someone had crashed into their boat, but was soon blinded by a massive flash of white and blue light that illuminated the inside of the boat.
In an attempt to alleviate the couple’s financial burden, a friend and fellow sailor has launched a GoFundMe campaign. The campaign aims to cover the couple’s insurance excess and any extra costs, such as visa renewals and the cruising permit.
As of the report, the fundraising campaign has managed to raise approximately $4,500. Mike and Helen expressed their gratitude towards the generosity of their supporters.
Despite the unforeseen disaster, the couple remains hopeful. If they can manage to repair their vessel in time, they plan to continue their journey, with Jamaica and Colombia being the next destinations on their list.
