Boat back in water after beaching near marina

By Matthew Nash • October 4, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ A sailboat called “Dire Straits” beached sometime between Sept. 24-25 and thanks to the help from a John Wayne Marina tenant it was returned to the middle of Sequim Bay the afternoon of Sept. 29.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ A sailboat called “Dire Straits” beached sometime between Sept. 24-25 and thanks to the help from a John Wayne Marina tenant it was returned to the middle of Sequim Bay the afternoon of Sept. 29.

After five days run aground just south of the John Wayne Marina, the “Dire Straits” sailboat is rocking the waves again in Sequim Bay.

Boat owner Patrick “Pat” Spradling Jr. said he discovered the boat was stuck on Monday, Sept. 25, near the bottom of Whitefeather Way after he left it anchored in the middle of the bay the day before. High winds were recorded in the area on Sunday, Sept. 24.

John Wayne Marina harbormaster Shale Shore said Spradling Jr. was classified as a mariner in distress, and he was contacted by the U.S. Coast Guard prior to the Department of Ecology later examining the boat and determining it not to be an environmental threat.

Boats running aground aren’t a common sight in Sequim, she said, but some marina tenants had been in touch with Spradling Jr. trying to help.

“They are some awesome citizens trying to help a fellow human,” Shore said.

Throughout the week, Spradling Jr. said sailors/boaters discussed helping him but it wasn’t until around 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, when the tide was just high enough for him to be pulled out.

Part of the keel broke off when it beached, he said, but he tried digging the boat out more to help it escape the sand.

Spradling Jr. said he’s from the Sequim-Port Angeles area, has been sailing for about 10 years, and was gifted the boat a few years ago.

In the future, Spradling Jr. said he hopes to make some boat repairs and go sailing more often as he finds it cathartic to help with his various ailments.

Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash Pat Spradling Jr.’s boat “Dire Straits” was pulled from the beach near John Wayne Marina on Sept. 29. He’s had the boat a few years, he said, and hopes to go sailing more often.

Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash Pat Spradling Jr.’s boat “Dire Straits” was pulled from the beach near John Wayne Marina on Sept. 29. He’s had the boat a few years, he said, and hopes to go sailing more often.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ A sailboat called “Dire Straits” beached sometime between Sept. 24-25 and thanks to the help from a John Wayne Marina tenant it was returned to the middle of Sequim Bay the afternoon of Sept. 29.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ A sailboat called “Dire Straits” beached sometime between Sept. 24-25 and thanks to the help from a John Wayne Marina tenant it was returned to the middle of Sequim Bay the afternoon of Sept. 29.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ When Pat Spradling Jr.’s boat ran aground sometime between Sept. 24-25, he said some of the keel broke off. The sailboat was pulled back into Sequim Bay on Sept. 29.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ When Pat Spradling Jr.’s boat ran aground sometime between Sept. 24-25, he said some of the keel broke off. The sailboat was pulled back into Sequim Bay on Sept. 29.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pat Spradling Jr.’s boat “Dire Straits” was pulled from the beach near John Wayne Marina on Sept. 29. He’s had the boat a few years, he said, and hopes to go sailing more often.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pat Spradling Jr.’s boat “Dire Straits” was pulled from the beach near John Wayne Marina on Sept. 29. He’s had the boat a few years, he said, and hopes to go sailing more often.