GARIBALDI — When Royal Commandos Dom Mee and Tim Welford set out on a 120-day rowing trip across the Pacific Ocean in “Crackers,” a 23-foot plywood rowboat, never did they imagine the dramatic end to their 6,800-mile journey.

Prepared for the worst, they had filled the boat with every piece of equipment  they thought they would need: The boat had self-righting capabilities for high waves, 240 kg. of freeze-dried rations for the crew, a life raft, various radios and beacons, communications equipment and ocean flares, fishing gear, stove,  spare rowing blades and a solar panel for energy and tools.

The two men set out from Choshi,  Japan, on May 5, 2001, after planning their course through the treacherous waters of the Pacific, to row to San Francisco. They took turns rowing and sleeping in three-hour shifts. Little did they know their adventure would be cut short after 5,500 miles, foiled by a tuna fishing vessel, the “Judy S.”

On Sept. 17, “Crackers” was literally sliced in half by the “Judy S.,” bringing the journey to a premature end. Mee was tossed into the water and Welford was trapped under the hull. The two men were pulled aboard the “Judy S.,” but what about their boat?

The “Ken & Al,” a fishing trawler out of Garibaldi owned by Tony Vandecoevering, was on the scene, and attempted to recover “Crackers.” But the boat snapped in half while the crew of the “Ken & Al” was bringing it on board, and the aft section disappeared into the sea. Captain
Bobby Johnstone, Mikey Wheeler and Don Skerritt were on deck of the “Ken & Al” and they brought what was left of “Crackers” back to Garibaldi.

Tony and Irene Vandecoevering have been in communication with Stuart Welford in London, the father of Tim Welford, and have made plans for Welford and his wife to visit Garibaldi and make arrangements for “Crackers’ ” return to London. The Welfords are due to arrive in Seattle
on Oct. 10, coming to Garibaldi on Oct. 12. Capt. Robert Mundell, retired from the Merchant Marine, has been in charge of the welcoming plans and the goodbye-to-“Crackers” party. “Crackers’ ” final destination, up until the accident at sea, had been a museum in London. A full account of the harrowing journey and rescue operation is on the Internet at
www.pacific-odyssey.co.uk.

(C) 2001 Tillamook Headlight Herald  Reprinted by permission.