Pineapple Found

Every experienced sailor knows that sailing on a schedule is a risky prospect, especially when the voyage covers a long distance. When family members don’t hear from their loved ones by their estimated arrival date, worry sets in. And if the boat lacks long-distance radios or satphones, there’s no way for its crew to tell shoreside contacts that they’re alive and well.

Such was the case with the ‘mysterious disappearance’ of the 38-ft catamaran Pineapple. News outlets around the world picked up the story that the boat with five Americans aboard was a few days overdue after a 1,500-mile passage from Guam to Cebu in the Philippines. We ran a short item in Friday’s ‘Lectronic, as we often do when we receive a report about overdue vessels, but why the international media became so interested was the real mystery.

Both the Philippine and U.S. Coast Guards spent several days searching for the cat with no result. On Sunday, the lone female crewmember aboard Pineapple was able to make a cell phone call to her husband with the news that the boat had sustained a damaged rudder in rough weather, so the crew used the boom to create a makeshift emergency rudder. This, of course, decreased their speed, but they reported that they were never in serious danger. Pineapple reportedly made it into port today under her own power with her delivery crew safely aboard.

After they were found, the crew’s names were released: Joe Gamec, Prandy Pratz, Steven Blanton, Chris Bell, and Corey Goldhorn — who just happens to be the son of Major General Donald J. Goldhorn, former Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard. We assume that solves the ‘mystery’ of why the international press gave the case so much attention. In any case, we’re all relieved that they arrived safely.