Not only did Capt. Gerry Haughey of the Blue Fox help rescue his clients, he salvaged their gear, the fishing tackle — and the day's catch of halibut.
One gentleman, in his 80s, was slightly injured in the rescue when he banged his ribs getting into the larger, 56-foot Ultimate. He was treated and released at South Peninsula Hospital, said Peggy Haughey.
Haughey said when she checked on the fisherman, he told her he was fine.
"'I'm going again tomorrow, aren't I?'" she said he asked.
The Blue Fox began taking on water at the stern when an anchor line got caught in the propeller of the Bertram fiberglass boat, Haughey said. Although they don't know for sure, the Haugheys speculated the inboard-engine shaft got pulled loose, breaking the seal.
Haughey got his passengers in personal flotation devices and put out a distress call. The Ultimate was about one-eighth of a mile away, Peggy Haughey said. Their son Eric was a deckhand on the Ultimate. He ran around the boat and cut the lines of the 14 people fishing and then the anchor line. Within minutes the Ultimate pulled alongside.
Haughey said after the passengers were safe, Gerry threw fish and tackle on board the Ultimate. Finally Jack Hamilton, captain of the Ultimate, one of the Silver Fox Charters partners and the owner of the Blue Fox, insisted Haughey abandon ship. Peggy Haughey said it was about 20 minutes between when the Blue Fox first took on water and then sank.
Licensed to carry 33 passengers and with 14 on board, the Ultimate had room for the six rescued off the Blue Fox. Hamilton ended fishing for the day and returned to Homer. Haughey said one man complained about not limiting out, but that everyone else was excited by the adventure — including reporters from a Danish magazine.
Haughey hauled the Blue Fox up by truck and trailer from Florida and had just refurbished it for this season. The boat is in too deep of waters to recover, Peggy Haughey said.
"It all worked out. Even though it was a bad day, it was good because no one was injured," she said.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
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