The teens set out on a 14-foot Sunfish on a blustery day when the National Weather Service warned small boats to stay off the water. The realized they were in trouble almost immediately and tried to swim back to shore, pulling the boat along with them.
Within hours, they were out to sea.
"We lost our tackle the second day,'' Driscoll told one of his relatives on the phone. "So we couldn't catch any fish.''
The boys' hope waned as the week wore on. They stood on their Sunfish every time they saw a boat, waving their paddles and yelling. One night they were awakened by water splashing in their faces and found a large container ship bearing down on them.
"It was like some monster building in the water,'' Driscoll said.
At one point, the teens thought they had drifted across the Atlantic Ocean and were close to Africa. Instead, they were about 111 miles north - well outside the Coast Guard's search grid - but close enough to spot one more fishing boat.
They got up and made some noise. This time, they were heard.
The boys said they don't remember much about their rescue, but recalled that as they were pulled aboard the fishing boat, their rescuers asked what they wanted to do with the Sunfish.
"We told them we didn't want to see it again,'' Long said.
Josh's father initially reported the missing boat as a Sunfish — a surfboard-like craft unlikely to have kept them out of the water for more than two days.
But now apparently it turns out to have been a JY15.
So, since the boat actually was a JY15 and not a Sunfish I believe that the boys are disqualified from winning the 2005 BLR. But, certainly they deserve an 'honorable mention.'
On that note, I am planning to arrive LBI on July 9 and stay through July 24. Dave will also be arriving July 9 but must return on the 16th. Therefore, racing will have to conclude by Friday, July 15.
Kyle will be coming with me and I am hoping Vanessa will come also.
p.s. What is wrong with the U.S. Coast Guard that they couldn't find the those boys?
Maris Stella Yacht Club and Crabbing Society
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The teens set out on a 14-foot Sunfish on a blustery day when the National Weather Service warned small boats to stay off the water. The realized they were in trouble almost immediately and tried to swim back to shore, pulling the boat along with them.
Within hours, they were out to sea.
"We lost our tackle the second day,'' Driscoll told one of his relatives on the phone. "So we couldn't catch any fish.''
The boys' hope waned as the week wore on. They stood on their Sunfish every time they saw a boat, waving their paddles and yelling. One night they were awakened by water splashing in their faces and found a large container ship bearing down on them.
"It was like some monster building in the water,'' Driscoll said.
At one point, the teens thought they had drifted across the Atlantic Ocean and were close to Africa. Instead, they were about 111 miles north - well outside the Coast Guard's search grid - but close enough to spot one more fishing boat.
They got up and made some noise. This time, they were heard.
The boys said they don't remember much about their rescue, but recalled that as they were pulled aboard the fishing boat, their rescuers asked what they wanted to do with the Sunfish.
"We told them we didn't want to see it again,'' Long said.
Josh's father initially reported the missing boat as a Sunfish — a surfboard-like craft unlikely to have kept them out of the water for more than two days.
But now apparently it turns out to have been a JY15.
So, since the boat actually was a JY15 and not a Sunfish I believe that the boys are disqualified from winning the 2005 BLR. But, certainly they deserve an 'honorable mention.'
On that note, I am planning to arrive LBI on July 9 and stay through July 24. Dave will also be arriving July 9 but must return on the 16th. Therefore, racing will have to conclude by Friday, July 15.
Kyle will be coming with me and I am hoping Vanessa will come also.
p.s. What is wrong with the U.S. Coast Guard that they couldn't find the those boys?
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