Those Who Were Lost at Sea

It’s easy to report the news and quickly move on to the next thing. But when someone is involved in a tragic accident or lost at sea, families have to absorb terrible news, and then move on with their lives. Last month, the wreckage of Bob Smith’s home-built 44-ft catamaran Pantera was found in the Sea of Cortez. A body was also found, but it’s not clear if it has been identified yet.

Smith’s daughter Natalie Fairley started a Facebook group Celebración de la vida for Bob Smith and Pantera, a site in memoriam of Smith. Fairley said the group “was created to share stories and pictures of my Dad. The sailing community in Mexico is his other family and he loved you as much as he loved us. I would love you to share what my Dad meant to you.”

“[Bob] was my neighbor for many years when he was in La Paz, hanging on the hook,” wrote Billy Delmer in the Facebook group. “Bob is a good friend who was good to me, was a comfort when I needed it and told and listened to a good joke. He was free with his knowledge and helped if he could. Aloha Nui Loa my friend, wherever you are. The universe is a better place because of it.”

Neil Royer was anchored in La Paz with Bob Smith in 2011 when his dinghy was flipped in heavy wind near Pantera. “Bob came out, and put down his swim ladder for me to climb aboard. He gave me a cup of coffee, and let me calm down. Every time I saw Bob after that, he would always tell me the coffee is hot if I ever needed a cup again. And we would both laugh. He was a great guy!”

The sailing community had another tragic loss last year in Mexico. Patrick and Sandi Foree were sailing their 52-ft Irwin ketch YachtCruz off Baja when something went inexplicably wrong.

“Their yacht was never found, and we still have no idea what took place that early morning,” Eva Emelev, Sandi Foree’s daughter, wrote us. “We are thankful that both bodies were recovered. Although it’s nearly been a year, it still feels like yesterday that we received the news.” Emelev said that the Mexican authorities did not have much information about the accident. “We were not allowed to see the bodies (which were identified through photos). Their death certificates say they drowned. My mom’s body was recovered on the beach and Patrick was found at sea. We know the weather was bad; we also know it was a dangerous area. The boat vanished, the beacon was recovered near some rocks miles away from the bodies. Lots of theories were thrown around, but there’s no proof of anything. Without their boat, it will remain a mystery.

“Again, we are so thankful for the efforts btwn the US Coast Guard and Mexican Navy for searching and recovering their bodies.”

We’d like to extend our condolences to the families and friends of all of those who were lost at sea.