Two 71-year-old explorers with plans to cross the Atlantic Ocean have claimed they are “totally capable guys”, despite being rescued at sea for the ninth time in six months.
The duo – American pair Bob Weise and Steve Shapiro, are currently docked in Cornwall in England following their latest rescue. They left Norway, for the US, in July.
The Guardian reports that the pair’s boat, the 40ft sailboat Nora, listed in Cornwall harbour as the men had gone ashore to buy supplies. But they had left a candle burning inside the boat, and it had set fire to clothes and cabinets. Fire-fighters were called to deal with the blaze.
Adamant the latest setback is no question of their competency, Shapiro, who says he has been sailing since he was nine, said:
“We are both fine. The boat fell over at low tide as it is a dry harbour. This caused a candle to fall over and started a fire on board that burnt some cabinets and my mate’s clothes. We were not on board at the time – we were getting some supplies at the nearby grocery store.”
“Obviously we were not happy. It appears that a candle had not been blown out properly and a little spark relit itself.”
It’s the latest in a growing litany of misadventures for the journey that has seen them run into problems off the coasts of Norway, Scotland, and Ireland.
Earlier this month they were assisted by lifeboat crews after heir engine failed off the coast of St Ives in the UK, and were also towed into port after trying to moor themselves to a fisherman's buoy.
“Nothing was dire or had anything to do with seamanship. We are totally capable guys. We’re not stupid – just brave,” Shapiro said.
“This fire is definitely not typical but a lot of the other rescues were,” Shapiro told the Telegraph.
“In some the lifeboat was close and said they insisted on coming to help us. We did not take them out of service.
“Three times were dire - two of them we were already on our way to be serviced - but they recommended we pulled over earlier than expected.
Rescue services and fisherman Grant Lorris told The Telegraph: “They don't have a clue what they're doing.”
“We’re learning about servicing the boat as we go. If your car gets a flat tyre and you call a mechanic does that make you incompetent? Is that a death-defying rescue? That’s the analogy I would use to describe our situation.
“The best part of the trip has been meeting wonderful people along the way and the worst part has been the disappointment of these minor incidents. Hopefully Nora will be ready for the Atlantic trip. It’s a long way but it’s just a straight sail.”
They plan to sail to the Canary Islands before setting sail across the Atlantic, with a planned arrival date in the US of June.
