Alan, as I write this, my wife and I are in a hotel in St.Thomas awaiting a flight back to the mainland tomorrow. We and two other couples just wrapped up an 8 day trip out of Nanny Cay, that may have never happened without this channel. The information here helped us tremendously in preparation for this epic adventure. Whatever you decide, I hope you see this… We are heartbroken with you and thank you.
@@Petepeters617that has no relevance on what caused the boat to get beached. He could have been going to church at that time and the mooring ball would have still let go. Are you saying he was drunk and ran his own boat into the rocks?
Alan, my advice is don’t make any rash decisions at this time. You are under emotional and physical duress. Don’t feel pressure to go forward or to quit. You got this with whatever you decide. dig deep in to your core, your strength and be confident you can move forward. I want to thank you for all the video’s you’ve sent in the past and if fate has you going forward, I will be there to watch more.
Alan, I was deeply saddened to see and hear about the accident with your boat. Your RU-vid channel has been more than just entertainment; it has been a source of inspiration and guidance. As a fellow captain, owning a 34-year-old, 40-foot boat, I've always admired your skills and the way you handled your vessel. My dream, is to someday upgrade to an Aquila 44 foot boat. Your loss is truly felt in the boating community. The "wandering hillbilly" will be missed, but the spirit of adventure and determination you've shown us will always remain. Your journey has taught me valuable lessons about perseverance and the love for the sea. Thank you, Alan, for all the inspiration and wisdom you've shared through your videos. I hope you find strength during this time and never give up on your passion. The sea awaits, and so do many more adventures. Best regards, Arnold
Alan, I was heartsick watching this video!! I hope you will be able to salvage your wonderful boat, and continue to treat us with your terrific videos of the BVI. God bless you and your wife.
Alan, so sorry to hear your news. I have been really enjoying all your Hillbilly Wandering. I am a huge supporter and as a fellow sailor I think you are an awesome Captain……always concerned for your crew safety and enjoyment. Please ignore the haters……waste of life and though difficult to ignore, it has to be done. Thanks for sharing…..your honesty is so refreshing. Best of luck with sorting through the issues. Keep doing what you’re doing……it brings a lot of joy to so many of us. All the best, John
Thank you “Rich Hollywood Director” - you DO NOT have to share your life with us…But you do and WE APPRECIATE IT and YOU!!! BVI Hillbilly II can’t wait!!
I was on a 50ft Beneteau about 20 years ago, moored off of Dominica, had 10 campers on board (was working for a sailing camp). Woke up at sunrise to take a leak, looked around, and there was no land anywhere. I ran up to the bow and the morning ball, with about 10 feet of line, was dangling off the bow. We were lucky, it had been an offshore breeze. I don’t remember how far we had drifted overnight, but I think it was about 6 nautical miles. Your story hit home for me, glad it turned out much better than it could have.
Me too, In Sydney Australia , imported a Hatteras from Florida USA . On a mooring Bouy on night that failed & ended up on the Beach...Poor old Hatt RIp..
Alan, Once again, I am so glad no one was hurt, and its gonna take a minute before you feel like "having a good day" again. I'm very sorry for the accident, and glad ur friends helped so much in terrible situation. I also am so sorry that there was hull damage after we thought it was not too bad originally. Those guys at Spanish Town fixed many "totaled" boats in that yard since the hurricanes, but you know insurance may want to to write it off either way. As a fellow 54 owner with a very high stakes profession, ur story about handling the boat hits home as usual makes all the sense in the world. I hope like hell you don't sell yourself short, as I saw how good you were with ur boat and how much she meant to y'all. Please let me know we can help in any way.
Wife and I are heartbroken for you guys!! We have been there and it hurts to watch good people go through this. Ropes break, anchors disappear, cleats disintegrate. Nobody was hurt and you will be back as our favorite captain in the islands. Cheers!!
Alan, this video reminds me that after all of our hard work and victories earned, there are always setbacks. Some much larger than others. Please, and as quickly as possible, remind yourself how wonderful life has been, how lucky you are for your friends, family and career, how much you enjoyed your first yacht, and begin the process of your next yacht. Step by step, detail by detail, cut down a tree at a time, and begin the hard work (the labor of love) to rebuild this incredible part of your life. We are all rooting for you, you symbolize the dreams we all have and strive for each and every day.
You are the reason we chartered last year with 3 other couples. You bring so much joy to so many people that you will never meet. Never, ever give up. This is nothing more than a bump in the road!
We are so sorry for you Alan that this has happened. You bring so much joy with what you do on RU-vid enriching our trips to the BVIs too. All the best and we look forward to see you smile again soon!
Could have happened to anyone, Alan. At the end of the day, it’s a boat. It can be replaced. No one got hurt. And you’re still a great guy with a great life. Looking forward to seeing you on the other side of this. Keep your head up!
Alan, Thank you so much for sharing. I can only believe this was a very difficult and emotional video to have made and shared. Most importantly, i am relieved that you and your crew came out of this safe and unscathed. I hope this incident does not deter you from continuing on these adventures. What you have produced and shared not only are entertaining, but are very informative. This particular video definitley demostrates your expertise and commitment to captaining. I've been watching your channel for some time and you have motivated me to pursue my dreams. All the best, Tom
Sorry for this huge loss. I agree with others that say just take your time to make any decision. We still love the channel and how you cut the videos. Excellent job on entertaining and inspiring us even when you don't have to. Making videos is hard work and cuts into your fun as well. You do it for us and we thank you.
We are devastated for you. We’ve been following your journey as we await the arrival of our Aquila. We’ve learned so much from you, both the joys & the challenges. You & your guests did an amazing job. Glad no one was injured. Hope you can find your way back - this gives you so much joy!
Been there, lived to tell about it. (The most important part.) The PTSD is real, even today. The "salvage army" is amazing, true heroes, and Simon is a blessing. You will be back boating again. It is now in your DNA. There is something most special about having "your own" boat; you know her, you know where you left your favorite visor, you know where to stash the instrument covers, you know exactly what "that beep" means, etc. Take a deep breath, count your blessings, and know that The Hillbilly will rise again. (sending you a big hug, 'cause you need one.)
Alan, I watched the video with a lump in my throat. I appreciate your honesty and grace and I understand the pain and hurt you are feeling now. Yes, boating can be dangerous and it can scare the pants off you sometimes. But, I think I have seen every video you have made for your channel and I don’t recall the small mistakes or learning moments. I remember the simple joy on your friends and family’s faces and quite frankly the pride on your face sharing something exciting and fun that you worked so hard to obtain. Don’t let this pain and hardship knock you out of this game. You deserve all the victories that you have fought for…..please don’t let a 50’ rotted line end this dream. We are all rooting for you to overcome this! Thank you so much for sharing with us and we are all wishing the very best for you! Tim in Charleston
Your channel helped my family have two of the best trips to BVI ever, uncle Al! We are so sorry for your loss, this is so heartbreaking. I hope you are able to get back out there again one way or another!
So sorry Alan. I appreciate how honestly you share your victories and your hardships. It's so human. I hope you'll be back either with The Hillbilly better than ever or something new that will allow you to share this part of your life with us. It's such a unique and special channel.
I do not care if you have funds. This is hurtful. My heart is heavy. I have travelled many miles by boat in Florida and mostly in Bahamas. Only once did I have a close call in Green Turtle Cay but crew did really well and no damage. Keep on trucking Hillbilly.
Alan, Fu.. those who question the unknowns that the sea can bring. I was in the Marines for 10 years and mother nature and underwater issues were always something that we could never control. You are a wonderful Captain, its friggin obvious. Me and all of these other viewers would love to just shake your hand, or even better, give you a huge hug knowing that you will get past this, the Hillbilly will be repaired, and life at sea will continue. It's in your blood... As Project Atticus does and the others, continue your channel with the "the rising of the Hillbilly". As a viewer, I'm bummed to hear all of this but that's nothing compared to how I feel for you and your family right now. I'm sending positive vibes your way, if that helps. Sincerely, Jack McIntyre in Philly.
Oh man, my heart is breaking for you and your family. So sorry for your loss. Thankful no one was hurt. Love watching your videos, Amazing quality and great content. Hope you’re up to continuing but no shame if you don’t. God bless.
Heartbreaking. I’ve watched your channel for years now and have much respect for you. Thankful you and your crew were/are safe and please know you’re in our thoughts and hearts ❤
So sorry to see this, Alan. Admittedly - I started following you knowing you're a fabulous director and I'm a huge fan of your work on The Voice. That said - this catastrophe is heartbreaking and wish you and your wife only the best. Your considerable skills as a captain in no way reflect this sad outcome. It's not unlike being caught in a hurricane when your boat was moored overnight and you were safely on shore. Thank-you for your candor and wishing you only the best. Thankfully no-one was injured.
I'm happy to see nobody was seriously injured foremost, but absolutely heartbroken at the same time, I've been a boater all my life and brought my kids up spending time on the upper Niagara river and lake Erie, and very soon after I moved up to a 32' well-crafted I was stricken with severe rheumatoid arthritis and had to give up on my life's pleasure. All I can say is hang in there, having your health is far more important than things that can be replaced, wishing you the best! Brian
I'm so sorry, Alan. You are about 2 years ahead of my wife and me. We take delivery of our power cat in July and your channel has provided a lot of inspiration for us as we went through the shopping and purchasing process. Literally yesterday, my wife and I were talking about anchors and mooring balls and whether I would sleep much at night. I awoke at 1 am this morning, checked the Tube to see what was going on, and my heart broke for you. Thank you so much for continuing to document this process. I know it must be incredibly painful. The sight of those waves breaking over the cockpit.... I'm so thankful you didn't just end the channel. You continue to teach those who are behind you, this time with an important tale of what can wrong on an otherwise amazing day that I am still dreaming of. Regarding the future, a quick aside: I am also part of the homebuilt aircraft crowd. I once knew a guy who spent years of his life building an absolutely gorgeous, hotrod of an aircraft. It was a high-performance work of art that he built with his own hands. It WAS him in many ways, a direct reflection of his heart and mind. Then, an oil line let go and he was forced to land in a field. The aircraft tripped in the soft soil and was destroyed. He survived, but never really recovered from the heartbreak. Don't let that be you. This is just another chapter in an amazing story. Yes, this one is sad, but it doesn't have to be the last chapter. I have faith. Give yourself time to mourn the loss but never forget the joy you and your wife experienced and shared with so many others. You did this amazing thing. It comes with trials and heartache, but also sheer joy and awesomeness! You can do it again if you so choose. Watching your channel, the smiles on your face, this is you man. Thanks again for all that you have done for us via your channel. I look forward to buying you a drink on a beach someday.
Hey Alan .. I met you and your wife at Foxy's during this trip and we were neighbors at 2 different bays. So heartbreaking to see this happen along with the medical emergency that occurred. You will rise above from this and God Bless you, your family and friends. I will look forward to your victory and bouncing back better than ever before! You are a true Captain who has inspired many and thank you for sharing ❤
Ohh we are in total shock seeing this video and how emotional you are 😢. You and your guests did an amazing job and no one was seriously hurt (sorry about the bump on your head). I can see it is still totally raw for you but I hope that each day brings a bit more clarity and perspective and in my heart I hope your baby can be repaired. In our thoughts ❤
Man, I am so sorry that you had to go through this!! I cannot even imagine the feelings you are going through. Praying for you and your boat that all is good with little to no major damage and you’re back on the water in no time.
Alan, I’m so sorry this happened. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the work you’ve put into these videos. My wife and I always look forward to each new post of yours. Thank you for bringing us along on your adventures. But more than anything, we appreciate your humility and candor. You and your wife seem like wonderful people. All the best, and we hope to hear more from you in the future. We’ll be back in the BVI this June, and we’ll certainly be thinking about you while we’re there. Thanks again for sharing your adventures with us!
Everyday we trust our own version of "mooring balls" without realizing they can and will fail at some point... Thank you for sharing... "Life is adversity after adversity..." I often have trouble accepting that, and then it kicks me in the teeth again...
I'm gutted Alan. I first saw the news about this on Travel Talk Online and couldn't believe it when I saw it was you and the Hillbilly. I'm stunned and embarrassed for those guys on TTOL who piled on with critiques and rude comments not knowing the full story. I'm so sorry this happened. I can only imagine how this must feel. I hope you can take some time to assess and that you come to the conclusion to dive back in. I know how much you love this. All the best
Our hearts break with you. Lost our full-time home/sailboat at Nanny Cay to Hurricane Irma. Words cannot express that awful feeling, and your boat is so amazing. Praying for you and all involved now. So thankful you and your crew are safe.
So sorry to hear and see what happened. Words can’t describe the pain I’m sure you felt during and after the ordeal. Positive side - no one was hurt. Take all you have learned and make the next 54’ that much better. Love your videos and always got me pumped up as I headed over to the BVI. Looking forward to your next chapter.
First I’ll offer my condolences. Having this happen to your “baby” is quite traumatic. I feel deep sorrow for you. Sorry if this sounds overly critical but it’s how I see it. A vessel that size, moored to a ball has the potential to break loose at any time and effectively be underway again very quickly. The vessel should have been manned at all times with a crew member. That crew member should be trained to man the helm station. The surface conditions at the time looked as if stress on the ball was a real concern. When you have the money to buy a boat like this you really should consider having a Captain, especially if you intend to leave it for hours at anchor.
I couldn’t imagine going thru this. I started watching your channel with a dream of one day, “this could be me”. Sorry for your loss and thank you for showing me your amazing journey.
Alan, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you go through this difficult time. Thankful everyone is safe. I, like so many others, have enjoyed your videos. Thank you for sharing. You have brought much enjoyment to your viewers. It is our turn to lift you up. Know that you are loved and not alone.
Alan, from one of your old Fort Pierce pier-mates, so sorry to hear of the Hillbilly but glad for your safety and the efforts of the team that saved the Hillbilly from further damage and from salvage. Hang in there and know many folks are cheering you on, and glad for the time we’ve spent with you. Whatever your next step is, we know you’ll do alright!
Glad you’re ok, that’s what’s really important! Boats can be fixed or replaced. People who leave their homes and do stuff, break stuff. Good on ya for getting outside and doing stuff! I wish you a speedy return to your adventures!
Alan, My wife and I are so sorry for you, your family and friends who have experienced your boat. I know they are heartsick along with the rest of your “friends” here on youtube. We have followed your channel for years now and thoroughly enjoyed each video. As one commenter said, boats can be repaired or replaced. It’s obvious from your emotional response, you know how much worse this could have been. We wish you all the best in the coming months working through the details and making the tough decisions ahead. Selfishly, we hope this doesn’t detour you from getting back out there and doing what you love. Take care and God speed.
So incredibly heartbreaking, but I am very glad you and your friends are ok! Thank you for the great videos…love yachting vicariously through your posts. May your many wonderful memories help keep you positive during the next chapter of The Wandering Hillbilly!
1) Mooring ball of unknown suitability. 2) Lee shore, with swells. 3) Vessel left unattended with unknown mooring. The whole scenario reeks of inexperience and a lack of judgement!
I'm so sad to learn of this incident. Thank you for your raw honesty and vulnerability to share this horrible experience. Sending much love and prayers. You've inspired and encouraged so many and I hope you will continue to do so.
Alan and Family, I follow your channel for several reasons, one is that I hope to one day live this lifestyle, and 2 your complete candid approach to these videos. My heart hurt watching this, no matter how much money or experience you have or don’t have, your hard work is evident and you are completely justified to enjoy your life and hard work as you see fit. People who say negative things have nothing better to do, try not to take it to heart. All that being said I hope you keep the boat life going in some way it obviously brings you your family and friends so much joy. Glad you and your family are safe and may GOD continue to bless you and guide you to the next chapter.
I am so sorry for your loss. It was heartbreaking. I hope you are able to rebound. Thank you for all the joy your videos have provided the past few years.
So sorry for this. I am a professional captain, I have never had it as my FT job, but I have been on and around boats my entire life. These things happen on a boat and they happen to the best of captains everywhere. I have countless stories I could share where we found ourselves in bad situations due to all kinds of unforeseen failures. So I am sympathetic to this happening. Thank you for sharing your content, your content helped guide us on our first BVI adventure in 2022 and we are going back in 2025, this time with 2-54’s and 8 couples, many of which agreed to join us based on the sharing of your content. Where ever and whatever you decide on from here, we wish you all the best and hope that our paths cross in BVI! We are all set for June of 2025 for our next trip! Wishing you calm seas and favorable winds ahead! 🥂🤙
man oh man, so happy you are all safe, and nothing but your pride hurt. THANK YOU so much for sharing this experience and hopefully helping others. We all learn by our misshape and if others can learn by you sharing with us the good and the bad of boathing in the BVI it is just a Blessing. I can't wait to see you back on the water, stay STRONG, and thanks again for sharing. ❤❤
Hey Alan, not your typical crowd here. I’m a 22 year old who absolutely loves your videos. This is devastating but I know you will come back with something even better. Everything happens for a reason. Sending love from Las Vegas!
Alan, I want you to know that we are standing by you during this challenging time. Your videos have been a valuable resource for all of us, aiding in planning our own adventures. We are here to support you in your next journey, and I sincerely hope that everything works out for you. You're in our thoughts and prayers always.
Alan you are such a joy to watch as you navigate the incredible waters of the BVI’s. This is just heart breaking to watch. I first found you only a month ago when I was really down and out with COVID. My husband and I had been planning a BVI visit when we got a serendipity call that he had a mass in his chest. We are still dealing with that but have so enjoyed following your adventures while we wait to get another vacation planned. You truly inspire those of us who share your passion. That means so much! I loved that you sat down on your boat to watch a church service. I was hooked! You are just so awesome to watch, so down to earth sharing your love of friends and family on your boat. I pray you will find your happiness again on the water and find peace in the fact that you are safe and healthy just facing some big challenges right now. You got this and I hope to see you out on the water again soon🙏🏻
Alan, so sorry to see this happen to you and your beautiful boat. When I first found your channel I couldn’t stop watching all of your videos and seeing how much you enjoyed boating and having your friends and family with you to enjoy the experience. You’ve always been so gracious with sharing your love for the boating life. I’m sure I’ll see you in the future with another beautiful boat making wonderful videos and inspiring people to enjoy life to the fullest. See again soon Captain!
The boat is nothing, but a tool to make wonderful memories with & can be replaced. Best part of it is you have that opportunity take it and continue to make wonderful memories as we all enjoy going on these voyages with you! Remember it’s not the destination, but the journey that makes it worthwhile and memorable. Thanks for taking the time to share this with all of us.
Bro, I've never seen some of your other videos, but your channel popped up on my feed, man, I am so sorry to hear about your beautiful boat!! Having a mooring ball break on you is unbelievable. I do wish you the best and you'll be in my thoughts. Good luck on getting through this process! I hope to see you on the water again!
I’m very sorry to hear about this. I can’t imagine the emotions you’re going through. Thank goodness you and all your guests are safe. Best wishes for whatever lies ahead, your resilience will get you through this setback.
Alan, my heart goes out to you & your wife. Glad everyone is safe! Thx to you, our gang got to experience the BVI on a pwr cat last yr & returning this spring. Your vids are a welcome escape from everyday life. Wishing u all the best moving fwd from this, and can’t wait for what’s next to come.
Very sorry to see this. But thankful no one was injured. My husband and I look forward to your videos and will miss them. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us and inspiring us to want to work up to a live aboard. Praying for you and your wife for all the decision making ahead.
Godspeed to you and your family you made it through yet another adventure and you are still alive to tell the story. We live and learn that is all F the negative comments from the ignorant people that don't know any better. onelove
Alan, you have my heart felt sympathy. I appreciate you posting what happened. A friend of mine is planning his first trip on his new 54’ Aquila of which I am joining (learning how to crew for him). Seeing this drives home the seriousness of watching each others back and supporting each other. We just finished some training with Captain Dave. I agree with several comments about not making any rash decisions while its so raw. Wishing you the best through this, stay strong.
Thank you for everything you do for boaters and BVI visitors. So glad everyone is ok and you had a team to get the boat out of there right away. Wishing you the very best possible outcome.
This has been an amazing channel to watch. As a boat owner myself I can only imagine what you are going thru. The bottom line is no one was injured and that's the main factor here. Keep your chin up Alan and can't wait to see what the future holds for you.. Hang in there!!
Sending good vibes your way! I am impressed with your level headedness during this terrible event. Your passion for boating will carry you forward through this. I believe in you. you will come back better than ever! We are all rooting for you !
Alan so sorry to see this. I’m a big fan from Spain and something similar happened to us 3 years ago in Mallorca. It was really shocking but time let you go over everything. Good luck and keep your energy high. Hope to see you soon with the boat repaired (or a new one)
Wow - that is nightmare fuel right there. Best I can tell you are waaaay more careful than most. Heartbreaking turn of events. Huge loss? Yes, but aside from stress and bumps and bruises, nobody was hurt and no other boats were involved. In due time I suspect you will rally, rebuild, and set sail again. You love it too much. Godspeed and thank you for sharing.
Alan, sorry to hear about the accident and damage to your boat. My wife and I are huge fans of your channel. A lot of folks have learned from your videos so, thanks for sharing the ups and downs. We wish you the best and hope to see you once again enjoying the place you love with friends and family.
My sincerest heartbreak goes to you and your family Alan. Your videos bring enjoyment to all of us. It’s great news you are all in good health and no injuries occurred. It’s definitely a sad day for the Wandering Hillbilly. I wish you luck through this next period and look forward to you jumping back on the horse. From downunder.
Hi Alan. We have been watching your channel for a year or so now and are just heartsick for you. Boating can be a really tough hobby at times with so many things that could (and do) go wrong on any given day. Good luck, we will keep watching your channel for updates.
Alan, I have been watching your channel for years and have always enjoyed your passion and enjoyment your videos bring to your followers. I have been a a sailor all my life and have had several mono hull boats about the same size. I too have experienced an incident such as yours off the Florida Keys, although not as bad on my last boat. I stopped sailing after that and have completely regretted it. Your channel has brought the passion back to me and as I near retirement have been thinking of getting back on the water and trying a catamaran. My message to you is to not stop your passion by making a quick decisions. As we get older we need to do the things we love, and you love the BVI’s. So as fellow Texan, I will plan to see you back on the water! Good fortune!
Alan, You inspire so many of us in ways that you are unaware of. I love your content. I appreciate your willingness to share your boating journey with us. Additionally, I appreciate the time, tools, and talent you bring to your RU-vid channel; a skilled Hollywood director taking his time and talents to share his passion with us. What more could a boater ask for?! You are the best!
You can be proud of how you handled that situation, you kept everyone safe and your boat off the rocks, hat’s off to you there. I’ve always considered a mooring ball more secure than an anchor and never heard of one failing until now. I hope your back on the water soon.
Alan, I always look forward to your posts and when I read the headline on this one, my heart dropped. It took me until today to watch and seeing your beautiful dream on the sand gave me hope. But then the reality took hold. I am so incredibly sorry to see this happen to you. Over the past many months, you have inspired so many of us. We have watched, laughed and cheered with you as if we were on the Aquila with you. After listening to you and watching for all these months, there is one thing I know. The Hillbilly will rise again. Please know that so many of us are with you, thinking of you and sending our love to you.
Heartbreaking video. You worked hard for this dream, and I hope this setback does not keep you from living your best life. I’ve learned a ton from your videos so I hope the insurance covers you and that you are back cruising the BVI this year. Good luck, take time to think about what you want, and getting a new boat based on everything you learned would be incredible. You owe us nothing but want to thank you for sharing the ups and the downs.
So sorry to see your boat like that. It's even sadder to see you like that. All I can do is wish you good luck. I hope you carry on with a new boat, watching you have fun around the BVI is very enjoyable, especially in our dark and stormy British winter. Thank you for sharing with us and my best wishes to you. May the Hillbilly rise again.
Alan, anyone that really follows you, knows how good of a captain you are. Just an unfortunate set of circumstances. And even in this terrible situation, you turned it into something for us to learn from. Thanks for sharing - not easy.
I just want to say thank you for putting in the effort to make all these videos. It is clear that this is not something that you don’t need to do. It seems to me that your only goal is to inspire people to enjoy every moment that we are gifted. I obviously don’t know what is going to happen but regardless, I hope you feel successful with your effort to inspire others to appreciate every second and I wish you all the best with your recent challenge.
So sorry to hear the news. We couldn’t imagine what you’re going through. There is always a cabin for guest if you ever want to come along and unwind. Safe travels and good luck with the next chapter.
Alan, I am so sorry and shocked to hear this, you have an amazing channel that has touched so many people and encouraged them to follow their passions. I am a lifelong sailor (70 years young) and know very well that with this passion comes challenges, risk and brief moments of terror, but I still love it and hope you continue on. I now have a 77' houseboat for our family and grandkids to enjoy. A few years ago, a storm came up and we blew into the shore. I saw this coming and was on top of it but, honestly, there's not much you can do. Fortunately, I was able to get the engines going and pull away before anything bad happened. I hope you give this time to process and find a way to continue; This was a freak accident and yet one to learn from and will make you the best captain in the BVI's.
This is a great video, thank you for posting it. So many of us have a false sense of security when we tie up to a mooring ball not thinking it could be compromised. I am one of those people, this video certainly will make me think twice, especially with an unmonitored mooring field facing the weather. It has been a month since this post, I hope this experience makes you even stronger and you continue with either a replacement boat or this one (although it does not look salvageable.). Remember there are 2 types of Sailors, those who run aground at least once and those who lie.
Alan, it is so sad to see this. My heart breaks for you also. Such a beautiful boat. And you have done so much to educate and inspire us. This is sobering. I pray for the best recovery possible.
Very sorry to hear of and witness your struggles. Very glad everyone was safe and no injuries other than the boat. Difficult choices ahead for you and your wife. I hope you make peace with the events and accept you new path coming up. Best wishes!
Hi Alan, I am heartbroken for you, but I know your will to live every moment of your life to the full will continue to drive you forward in the face of adversity. I very much enjoy following your adventures from the other side of the world, & will be with you in spirit through this tough time. All the best
Jeez, im gutted to watch this vid. Im so sorry for what's happened to you and your beautiful Hillbilly. I hate seeing any ship break, but yours is special. You let her into our lives and shared your adventures with us. I'm sure she feels like part of the family, and that also makes this accident so tragic. Thank you so much for all your honesty, throughout, and particularly at this time. Im so grateful that neither your wife nor your friends were on board. Your raw emotions are totally understandable. I'm sure you'll take time to reflect on what to do next. The thought of no Hillbilly in the future is unthinkable right now. Best wishes to you and your family xx
I am glad you and everyone else involved was safe. Everything else is replaceable or fixable. While it is very sad, adversity is part of life. It often makes us stronger. Keep moving forward! Best of luck to you and your family!
Hey you know this stuff happens. We are all on a journey. Thanks for sharing so it won’t happen again and the next so and so can have a different debacle all his own.
I feel your pain, Alan. That was a difficult episode to watch, so I can only imagine how hard it was to film… and yet you did. I’m so relieved nobody was hurt, and impressed with how your quick thinking and the crew’s swift actions kept her off the rocks. We have all learned so much from you, and look forward to your next video! This too shall pass. BTW, you should add that chip bowl to your online store!
I don't understand why people don't put out backup anchors when they're on moring balls? I know it can get complicated and get tangled up, but you'll know how long the morning ball is pretty quickly and we can set a very least. You can just throw an anchor with twice the length of the morning ball and connect it to the front with the boring ball. Then if it breaks at least something will drag on the ground
So sorry that happened. It was gut wrenching to watch, but thank you for sharing. As someone who charters throughout the Caribbean, I’ve used countless mooring balls and probably trusted them more than I should. This will make me do things differently on future trips and potentially save me from a similar fate. I wish you nothing but the best in what you choose to do with your boat and this channel. Know that I’ll continue to follow you through this journey.
Alan, my heart goes out to you. We will never make assumptions about the condition of mooring balls ever again. The boat looks pretty bad but she didn't sink and no one was injured. Hope the Hillbilly makes a comeback!
Oh man I’m so, so sorry to hear this. You are an inspiration to many, some to dream and some to plan their adventures. Please take time to reflect before making decisions on the Wondering Hilly Billy’s future and remember life’s challenges are put in front of us, for us to overcome! I know you’ll be back one way or another. Sending all our positivity for a good outcome for you and your family and seeing you back where you belong… on the water.
Your video is heartbreaking. Your boat is beautiful. I really hope that she can be saved. Apart from the salt water ingress in the engine rooms it's where the P brackets have punched up into the Hull. Props and shafts and rudders can all be replaced. I really hope she is savable. So glad everyone is safe and well. You can check, double check and triple check but it was something far outside of your control that appears to have failed. It happens but doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Wishing you the very best in this horrible situation.
WOW! I'm so sorry about your beautiful boat being so badly damaged and possibly unrepairable 😢😢😢😢 Thankfully you're okay ❤ We feel for you!! We're really hoping to meet you floating around in the BVI on The Wandering Hillbilly someday. I can well imagine it's tough to think about replacing Her right now, but the most important thing is, you, your family, and friends are safe! Hopefully you'll continue to do more boating someday, someday, soon! ❤❤ from your viewers in Canada 🇨🇦
Alan, my heart is breaking for you. I know how it feels to watch something that you have put so much of your time and effort in to get just right, then something happens to it. Material possession or not, you come to love it for what it is and represents to you and your family. I have gotten much joy and entertainment from watching your videos and following your travels. I am glad that no one was hurt, that's the most important thing and a blessing. I hope that the Hillbilly isn't a complete loss and she is able to once again take to the seas with you at her helm. I am looking forwards to finding out what the future holds and seeing the continuance of your story! God bless, keep your head up, and get the Hillbilly back in the water as soon as you can!!!!
So sad! So generous you sharing such heartbreak on the channel. Very fair information at such a tough time. Kindest thoughts for you and your wife as you work through this.
Man that sucks bigtime. Sorry to see that happen. I can totally understand that you feel emotional about it. You just feel love for a boat. We also have a boat. pretty small compared to yours 35 ft. But the situations are more or less the same. Always checking anchor. Always making sure you are secure. I hope all will end well.
Hi. I’m a new subscriber and just found your channel last week. My husband and i have been wanting to do this trip for a long time. So so sorry this happened. I just want to say thank you for all the info. And, to not lose your passion. Having this boat clearly has been a joy. Don’t write it off quite yet. ❤
A group of our friends started going to BVIs based on your videos. We are actually scheduled to go mid February for 10 days. We've enjoyed your videos and followed your advice. This was simply an unfortunate accident. No blame to be had. Can't wait to see your next adventure. Stay strong. This too shall pass.
Alan, I am so sorry this happened to you . I really enjoy watching your shows. The only thing I can say is once decisions have been made and you get this behind you. I hope you can find a way to continue to enjoy this activity. because I enjoy it as well watching your shows. Thank you for sharing all this with us.
