https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/boat-accidents-survival-stories--7194288
We focus on how people react when conditions turn against them and every decision begins to matter. As you listen with us, you can follow the choices that influence survival and understand how quickly control can be lost when something goes wrong far from shore.

We publish new episodes daily so you can return to another survival story from the water. Each episode brings you closer to the pressure of facing danger at sea and shows how preparation or quick thinking can become important when the situation changes.

A boat accident can begin in seconds, but surviving it may depend on what happens immediately afterward. Stay with us and discover which decision can become the difference when there is no easy way back to safety.]]>enHistory© 2026 OBOMEDIA Creatorshttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4ac63df57333a5ac2aea405edb022779.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/boat-accidents-survival-stories--7194288Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:01:46 +0000Creator at ObomediaCreator at Obomediacreators@obomedia.comWhat happens when a routine trip on the water suddenly becomes a fight to stay alive? Boat Accidents: Survival Stories explores real survival situations shaped by maritime accidents and the critical moments that follow when safety disappears without...
We focus on how people react when conditions turn against them and every decision begins to matter. As you listen with us, you can follow the choices that influence survival and understand how quickly control can be lost when something goes wrong far from shore.

We publish new episodes daily so you can return to another survival story from the water. Each episode brings you closer to the pressure of facing danger at sea and shows how preparation or quick thinking can become important when the situation changes.

A boat accident can begin in seconds, but surviving it may depend on what happens immediately afterward. Stay with us and discover which decision can become the difference when there is no easy way back to safety.]]>false903b1ca9-1532-5459-a310-7ecf5d36f80depisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-writes-three-words-at-sea-the-gloria-foster-survival--73079785
Fear and helplessness arrive in small, measurable failures: a tide chart flipped, a transposed digit, and a search sent thirty-one miles in the wrong direction. Day nine, Still here, GF - three words on a laminated rectangle that washed ashore before its owner did; how did a competent marine adjuster end up alone at sea for ten days?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from departure to rescue, tracing equipment, weather data, and procedural choices that shaped the outcome. Listen to understand how a sequence of ordinary mistakes and an unexpected northeast surface current determined where rescuers looked - and whether Gloria could make it back.

Date: March 9, 2009
Person: Gloria Foster
Location: Palmetto Reach, Florida
Event: Two-vessel survey operation; squall and separation
Status: Woman survived and walked to highway on day nine

- The two boats departed Palmetto Reach marina at 07:00 on March 9, 2009.
- Wind speed increased from 12 knots to 38 knots in under six minutes during the squall.
- The VHF radio returned static and the two boats were four miles apart within the hour, separation becoming permanent within the day.
- Search assets were deployed west based on the standard Gulf drift model while the actual surface current arced northeast.
- The Sand Creek was found 31 miles north-northeast of the center of the search corridor on day two.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079785Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Writes Three Words at Sea: The Gloria Foster Survival Fear and helplessness arrive in small, measurable failures: a tide chart flipped, a transposed digit, and a search sent thirty-one miles in the wrong direction. Day nine, Still here, GF -...
Fear and helplessness arrive in small, measurable failures: a tide chart flipped, a transposed digit, and a search sent thirty-one miles in the wrong direction. Day nine, Still here, GF - three words on a laminated rectangle that washed ashore before its owner did; how did a competent marine adjuster end up alone at sea for ten days?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from departure to rescue, tracing equipment, weather data, and procedural choices that shaped the outcome. Listen to understand how a sequence of ordinary mistakes and an unexpected northeast surface current determined where rescuers looked - and whether Gloria could make it back.

Date: March 9, 2009
Person: Gloria Foster
Location: Palmetto Reach, Florida
Event: Two-vessel survey operation; squall and separation
Status: Woman survived and walked to highway on day nine

- The two boats departed Palmetto Reach marina at 07:00 on March 9, 2009.
- Wind speed increased from 12 knots to 38 knots in under six minutes during the squall.
- The VHF radio returned static and the two boats were four miles apart within the hour, separation becoming permanent within the day.
- Search assets were deployed west based on the standard Gulf drift model while the actual surface current arced northeast.
- The Sand Creek was found 31 miles north-northeast of the center of the search corridor on day two.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1109falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-survived-11-days-a-mirror-no-flares-61-miles-wrong--73079783
The chill of isolation: a 28-year-old naval electrician survived eleven days at sea with a broken EPIRB, a sealed flare kit, and a military surplus mirror that still worked despite salt-crusted glass. Sixty-one nautical miles separated her from the search teams - how did she stay alive long enough to be found, and why did the gear everyone trusted fail when it mattered most?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from departure to rescue, learn what Jean Larsen carried and why routine checks didn't prevent catastrophe, and follow how a single cracked housing and a tiny mirror became central to her survival. How did methodical preparation confront unforeseeable failure on the open Gulf?

Person: Jean Larsen
Age: 28
Boat: 31-foot sloop named Halcott
Departure date: Tuesday, February 3
Distance from search teams: 61 nautical miles

- The mast fell and crushed the EPIRB housing, which cracked after the impact.
- The EPIRB had fired one position ping at 07:14 the morning it failed before a short circuit silenced it.
- The handheld VHF’s effective range without the fixed antenna was three to four miles.
- Winds reached 28 knots and swells between 1.8 and 2.4 meters on February 5.
- Jean carried a military surplus mirror bought two weeks before departure and kept it in her jacket breast pocket.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079783Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Survived 11 Days: A Mirror, No Flares, 61 Miles Wrong The chill of isolation: a 28-year-old naval electrician survived eleven days at sea with a broken EPIRB, a sealed flare kit, and a military surplus mirror that still worked despite...
The chill of isolation: a 28-year-old naval electrician survived eleven days at sea with a broken EPIRB, a sealed flare kit, and a military surplus mirror that still worked despite salt-crusted glass. Sixty-one nautical miles separated her from the search teams - how did she stay alive long enough to be found, and why did the gear everyone trusted fail when it mattered most?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from departure to rescue, learn what Jean Larsen carried and why routine checks didn't prevent catastrophe, and follow how a single cracked housing and a tiny mirror became central to her survival. How did methodical preparation confront unforeseeable failure on the open Gulf?

Person: Jean Larsen
Age: 28
Boat: 31-foot sloop named Halcott
Departure date: Tuesday, February 3
Distance from search teams: 61 nautical miles

- The mast fell and crushed the EPIRB housing, which cracked after the impact.
- The EPIRB had fired one position ping at 07:14 the morning it failed before a short circuit silenced it.
- The handheld VHF’s effective range without the fixed antenna was three to four miles.
- Winds reached 28 knots and swells between 1.8 and 2.4 meters on February 5.
- Jean carried a military surplus mirror bought two weeks before departure and kept it in her jacket breast pocket.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1157falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-survived-a-25-foot-wave-how-rachel-found-her-way-home--73079782
A woman drifted 110 miles from shore with no GPS, no radio, and one improvised plotting chart - and still made it back alive. In this episode you’ll hear how a 25-foot wave took a captain and every instrument, leaving Rachel to navigate by hand with a cam cleat, sail twine, and a laminated practice grid; how did she turn that scrap into a route home?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to rescue and lay out the tools Rachel used to navigate: the damaged Calder Rose, the missing captain, the surviving crew, and the improvised methods that guided her. What did she actually do with the chart, the cleat, and a ruler to find land?

Date: January 8, 2009
Person: Rachel Stevens
Vessel: Calder Rose, 38-foot fiberglass sloop
Distance from shore: 110 miles
Injuries: Eddie Sosa fractured left radius

- The wave struck at approximately 11:00 AM on January 8, 2009, estimated between 22 and 28 feet high.
- Frank Okafor, age 61 and the vessel owner, went overboard with the chart table, handheld VHF, ditch bag, and cockpit GPS.
- The Calder Rose had roughly 14 gallons of fresh water, 12 days of food, and about half a tank of diesel after the wave.
- A jogger found a four-inch aluminum cam cleat lashed with sail twine to a laminated plotting chart on January 19, 2009, at Kellner Cove breakwater.
- The fixed VHF antenna had sheared at the masthead and the autopilot was damaged; the engine restarted on the third try.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079782Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Survived a 25-Foot Wave - How Rachel Found Her Way Home A woman drifted 110 miles from shore with no GPS, no radio, and one improvised plotting chart - and still made it back alive. In this episode you’ll hear how a 25-foot wave took a captain...
A woman drifted 110 miles from shore with no GPS, no radio, and one improvised plotting chart - and still made it back alive. In this episode you’ll hear how a 25-foot wave took a captain and every instrument, leaving Rachel to navigate by hand with a cam cleat, sail twine, and a laminated practice grid; how did she turn that scrap into a route home?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to rescue and lay out the tools Rachel used to navigate: the damaged Calder Rose, the missing captain, the surviving crew, and the improvised methods that guided her. What did she actually do with the chart, the cleat, and a ruler to find land?

Date: January 8, 2009
Person: Rachel Stevens
Vessel: Calder Rose, 38-foot fiberglass sloop
Distance from shore: 110 miles
Injuries: Eddie Sosa fractured left radius

- The wave struck at approximately 11:00 AM on January 8, 2009, estimated between 22 and 28 feet high.
- Frank Okafor, age 61 and the vessel owner, went overboard with the chart table, handheld VHF, ditch bag, and cockpit GPS.
- The Calder Rose had roughly 14 gallons of fresh water, 12 days of food, and about half a tank of diesel after the wave.
- A jogger found a four-inch aluminum cam cleat lashed with sail twine to a laminated plotting chart on January 19, 2009, at Kellner Cove breakwater.
- The fixed VHF antenna had sheared at the masthead and the autopilot was damaged; the engine restarted on the third try.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1224falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/naked-compass-how-a-22-year-old-drifted-nine-days-and-got-home--73079780
Cold, alone, and without instruments, a 22-year-old lumber yard worker drifted nine days on a crippled 30-foot sloop after a mast snapped in a 40-knot storm - yet he arrived within miles of where physics predicted. This episode centers on concrete details: a hand compass, four gallons of water, a lost dry bag with his GPS, and the exact moment the mast broke; how did he navigate with only memory and dead reckoning notes lost to the sea?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the departure in Panacea through the storm off Cape San Blas, the loss of equipment, and the nine-day drift that ended with the boat tied to a pier - all while asking whether apprenticeship and experience can substitute for instruments when survival is on the line.

Person: Raymond Whitaker
Age: 22
Boat: Patience Inland, 30-foot sloop
Departure: Panacea, December 3
Storm peak wind: 40 knots

- He left Panacea on December 3 with a five-day float plan to Fort Myers.
- He carried four gallons of water and twenty-four cans of food on board.
- The dry bag containing a VHF radio and GPS was lost when the mast snapped on December 5.
- The mast broke after a wave rolled the boat past ninety degrees around 3:40 PM.
- At the time of the storm, his GPS position was roughly 44 miles south-southwest of Cape San Blas.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079780Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaNaked Compass: How a 22‑Year‑Old Drifted Nine Days and Got Home Cold, alone, and without instruments, a 22-year-old lumber yard worker drifted nine days on a crippled 30-foot sloop after a mast snapped in a 40-knot storm - yet he arrived within...
Cold, alone, and without instruments, a 22-year-old lumber yard worker drifted nine days on a crippled 30-foot sloop after a mast snapped in a 40-knot storm - yet he arrived within miles of where physics predicted. This episode centers on concrete details: a hand compass, four gallons of water, a lost dry bag with his GPS, and the exact moment the mast broke; how did he navigate with only memory and dead reckoning notes lost to the sea?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the departure in Panacea through the storm off Cape San Blas, the loss of equipment, and the nine-day drift that ended with the boat tied to a pier - all while asking whether apprenticeship and experience can substitute for instruments when survival is on the line.

Person: Raymond Whitaker
Age: 22
Boat: Patience Inland, 30-foot sloop
Departure: Panacea, December 3
Storm peak wind: 40 knots

- He left Panacea on December 3 with a five-day float plan to Fort Myers.
- He carried four gallons of water and twenty-four cans of food on board.
- The dry bag containing a VHF radio and GPS was lost when the mast snapped on December 5.
- The mast broke after a wave rolled the boat past ninety degrees around 3:40 PM.
- At the time of the storm, his GPS position was roughly 44 miles south-southwest of Cape San Blas.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1197falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-the-checkmarks-and-the-two-words-that-saved-seven--73079778
An orange dry-bag floated for eighteen days and traveled forty-one miles of open Atlantic before a volunteer pulled a sealed notebook smelling of diesel from a culvert - inside: seven names, five checkmarks, two dashes, and two strange words at the top that would decide survival. How did a handwritten note, a manual desalinator, and one decision four minutes before a wave destroy everything determine who lived?

In this episode, we tell what happened to the crew of the Meridian Star from collision to rescue, describing the lifeboat’s six-day drift, the failed radio, the improvised desalination, and the single moment that turned the notebook’s two words into a life-or-death rule. Which two words guided who could save themselves?

Person: Neil Price
Event: Collision between Meridian Star and bulk carrier Cordova Ridge
Date: November 7-13, 2014
Location: 41 nautical miles off Kingsport, South Carolina; survivors found 64 nautical miles from search area
Status: Seven survivors from one lifeboat after six days adrift

- The notebook had been floating for eighteen days before being recovered.
- The lifeboat drifted for six days and was spotted at 06:17 on November 13 by a shrimp boat.
- The Meridian Star lost hull integrity in nine minutes and sank bow-first in twenty-two minutes.
- Seven of nineteen crew reached the water; seven of those twelve reached the starboard lifeboat.
- The ship was struck at 02:41 on November 7 while in eight-foot seas and visibility under a quarter mile.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079778Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook, the Checkmarks, and the Two Words That Saved Seven An orange dry-bag floated for eighteen days and traveled forty-one miles of open Atlantic before a volunteer pulled a sealed notebook smelling of diesel from a culvert - inside: seven...
An orange dry-bag floated for eighteen days and traveled forty-one miles of open Atlantic before a volunteer pulled a sealed notebook smelling of diesel from a culvert - inside: seven names, five checkmarks, two dashes, and two strange words at the top that would decide survival. How did a handwritten note, a manual desalinator, and one decision four minutes before a wave destroy everything determine who lived?

In this episode, we tell what happened to the crew of the Meridian Star from collision to rescue, describing the lifeboat’s six-day drift, the failed radio, the improvised desalination, and the single moment that turned the notebook’s two words into a life-or-death rule. Which two words guided who could save themselves?

Person: Neil Price
Event: Collision between Meridian Star and bulk carrier Cordova Ridge
Date: November 7-13, 2014
Location: 41 nautical miles off Kingsport, South Carolina; survivors found 64 nautical miles from search area
Status: Seven survivors from one lifeboat after six days adrift

- The notebook had been floating for eighteen days before being recovered.
- The lifeboat drifted for six days and was spotted at 06:17 on November 13 by a shrimp boat.
- The Meridian Star lost hull integrity in nine minutes and sank bow-first in twenty-two minutes.
- Seven of nineteen crew reached the water; seven of those twelve reached the starboard lifeboat.
- The ship was struck at 02:41 on November 7 while in eight-foot seas and visibility under a quarter mile.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1029falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-bottle-on-dry-land-how-eleven-days-adrift-went-unseen--73079776
A water bottle with "RATION - DAY 6" marked on white tape turned up six miles inland in Florida, containing eight ounces of metallic condensate that traced back to a sail - a single object that linked a missed eleven-day search at sea. How could a functioning EPIRB, flares and multiple Mayday calls still leave three experienced sailors invisible to rescuers?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of equipment failures, weather, and human decisions that shaped the voyage and the eleven days that followed, and ask how a beacon broadcasting the wrong coordinates and a cracked watermaker changed everything.

Person: Denise Draper
Person: Loretta Simms
Person: Person: Chris Odum
Date: October 3, 2023
Date: October 19, 2023

- A 24-ounce water bottle with an orange handle and one dent was found on a trail post six miles from the nearest boat launch on October 19, 2023.
- The bottle contained eight ounces of flat, metallic water with gray sediment; lab identification: condensate collected from a sail.
- The Maren Kay was a 38-foot sloop co-owned and kept at Tarpon Point Marina and provisioned for three weeks.
- The boat's watermaker membrane had a hairline fracture, leaving twenty liters of water aboard - enough for an estimated eleven to twelve days if rationed.
- The EPIRB transmitted a position 61 miles north-northwest of the boat's true location for approximately four hours before its battery died.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079776Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Bottle on Dry Land: How Eleven Days Adrift Went Unseen A water bottle with "RATION - DAY 6" marked on white tape turned up six miles inland in Florida, containing eight ounces of metallic condensate that traced back to a sail - a single object...
A water bottle with "RATION - DAY 6" marked on white tape turned up six miles inland in Florida, containing eight ounces of metallic condensate that traced back to a sail - a single object that linked a missed eleven-day search at sea. How could a functioning EPIRB, flares and multiple Mayday calls still leave three experienced sailors invisible to rescuers?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of equipment failures, weather, and human decisions that shaped the voyage and the eleven days that followed, and ask how a beacon broadcasting the wrong coordinates and a cracked watermaker changed everything.

Person: Denise Draper
Person: Loretta Simms
Person: Person: Chris Odum
Date: October 3, 2023
Date: October 19, 2023

- A 24-ounce water bottle with an orange handle and one dent was found on a trail post six miles from the nearest boat launch on October 19, 2023.
- The bottle contained eight ounces of flat, metallic water with gray sediment; lab identification: condensate collected from a sail.
- The Maren Kay was a 38-foot sloop co-owned and kept at Tarpon Point Marina and provisioned for three weeks.
- The boat's watermaker membrane had a hairline fracture, leaving twenty liters of water aboard - enough for an estimated eleven to twelve days if rationed.
- The EPIRB transmitted a position 61 miles north-northwest of the boat's true location for approximately four hours before its battery died.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1212falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/yellow-watch-at-dawn-the-silent-clue-that-unearthed-a-tragedy--73079775
A single yellow plastic wristwatch, undamaged and still running but four hours and seventeen minutes slow, drifted alone four miles off Pelican Flat - no boat, no debris, no sound except the engine and birds. That wrong time and the absence of any other trace pointed to a sudden, violent event far from shore; what began as a morning trap pull would force a question no one could ignore: how far out did something go wrong, and was anyone left alive?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a routine coastal passage to a catastrophic onboard fire and its immediate aftermath, mapping the people, equipment, and failures that led to the disaster and the one small object that hinted at what had happened. What does a cheap pharmacy watch retrieved at 5:58 a.m. reveal about a night at sea that ended in flames and survival?

Date: September 9, 2011
Location: Four miles off Pelican Flat, Georgia
Vessel: Maren B, 38-foot motorsailer
People: Paul Driscoll (51), Cheryl Vickers (26), Todd Lerner (34)
Duration adrift by survivors: 40 minutes

- Watch recovered at 5:58 a.m. showing 1:43 a.m., 4 hours and 17 minutes difference
- Departure from Thunderbolt Marina at 4:00 p.m. on September 7, 2011
- At 12:17 a.m. on September 9, a port fuel-line fitting failed, igniting a fire that spread in ~90 seconds
- Vessel location by midnight September 8: approximately 31 miles southeast of Pelican Flat with 4-6 ft waves and NE winds at 18 knots with gusts
- Survivors hung to the anchor chain in the water while the Maren B burned for 40 minutes

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079775Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaYellow Watch at Dawn: The Silent Clue That Unearthed a Tragedy A single yellow plastic wristwatch, undamaged and still running but four hours and seventeen minutes slow, drifted alone four miles off Pelican Flat - no boat, no debris, no sound...
A single yellow plastic wristwatch, undamaged and still running but four hours and seventeen minutes slow, drifted alone four miles off Pelican Flat - no boat, no debris, no sound except the engine and birds. That wrong time and the absence of any other trace pointed to a sudden, violent event far from shore; what began as a morning trap pull would force a question no one could ignore: how far out did something go wrong, and was anyone left alive?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a routine coastal passage to a catastrophic onboard fire and its immediate aftermath, mapping the people, equipment, and failures that led to the disaster and the one small object that hinted at what had happened. What does a cheap pharmacy watch retrieved at 5:58 a.m. reveal about a night at sea that ended in flames and survival?

Date: September 9, 2011
Location: Four miles off Pelican Flat, Georgia
Vessel: Maren B, 38-foot motorsailer
People: Paul Driscoll (51), Cheryl Vickers (26), Todd Lerner (34)
Duration adrift by survivors: 40 minutes

- Watch recovered at 5:58 a.m. showing 1:43 a.m., 4 hours and 17 minutes difference
- Departure from Thunderbolt Marina at 4:00 p.m. on September 7, 2011
- At 12:17 a.m. on September 9, a port fuel-line fitting failed, igniting a fire that spread in ~90 seconds
- Vessel location by midnight September 8: approximately 31 miles southeast of Pelican Flat with 4-6 ft waves and NE winds at 18 knots with gusts
- Survivors hung to the anchor chain in the water while the Maren B burned for 40 minutes

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1225falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/her-notebook-was-dry-she-survived-eight-days-adrift--73079773
The pages of a notebook wrapped in silver tape were bone-dry after weeks of rain and morning humidity at an intertidal flat - impossible facts that pointed to one living person who had written a phone number and vanished. How did a marine biologist survive eight days adrift while her personal locator beacon and radio gave her no answer?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events recorded in the recovered notebook and the official timeline: a solo departure from Creston Beach Marina, a hidden turn north, a squall that hauled the mast down in eight minutes, and eight days spent trying to signal for rescue. What exactly failed, what worked, and why the search began in the wrong place?

Person: Cynthia Boyd
Date: August 7-16 (last notebook entry August 16)
Location: Pelican Flats, four miles south of Creston Beach Marina
Event: Mast loss in a line squall with 50-knot winds at 16:16 on August 9
Status: Survived eight days adrift; notebook recovered dry

- Cynthia Boyd was 48 years old and co-owned the 32-foot sloop Meridian for seven years.
- A county surveyor found the notebook in mud at Pelican Flats wrapped in silver electrical tape and inside two nested zip bags.
- The last notebook entry was dated August 16; the notebook pages remained dry despite 11 inches of rain in the prior three weeks and 90% humidity at 7 AM.
- A line squall hit at 16:16 on August 9 with 50-knot winds lasting eight minutes, during which the mast came down.
- The personal locator beacon (PLB) was struck by the falling botalón, appeared intact with no visible damage, but failed to transmit when Cynthia activated it multiple times.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079773Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHer Notebook Was Dry - She Survived Eight Days Adrift The pages of a notebook wrapped in silver tape were bone-dry after weeks of rain and morning humidity at an intertidal flat - impossible facts that pointed to one living person who had written a...
The pages of a notebook wrapped in silver tape were bone-dry after weeks of rain and morning humidity at an intertidal flat - impossible facts that pointed to one living person who had written a phone number and vanished. How did a marine biologist survive eight days adrift while her personal locator beacon and radio gave her no answer?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events recorded in the recovered notebook and the official timeline: a solo departure from Creston Beach Marina, a hidden turn north, a squall that hauled the mast down in eight minutes, and eight days spent trying to signal for rescue. What exactly failed, what worked, and why the search began in the wrong place?

Person: Cynthia Boyd
Date: August 7-16 (last notebook entry August 16)
Location: Pelican Flats, four miles south of Creston Beach Marina
Event: Mast loss in a line squall with 50-knot winds at 16:16 on August 9
Status: Survived eight days adrift; notebook recovered dry

- Cynthia Boyd was 48 years old and co-owned the 32-foot sloop Meridian for seven years.
- A county surveyor found the notebook in mud at Pelican Flats wrapped in silver electrical tape and inside two nested zip bags.
- The last notebook entry was dated August 16; the notebook pages remained dry despite 11 inches of rain in the prior three weeks and 90% humidity at 7 AM.
- A line squall hit at 16:16 on August 9 with 50-knot winds lasting eight minutes, during which the mast came down.
- The personal locator beacon (PLB) was struck by the falling botalón, appeared intact with no visible damage, but failed to transmit when Cynthia activated it multiple times.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1219falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chart-found-41-miles-from-the-sea-the-amy-crawford-survival-case--73079771
A laminated nautical star chart was pulled from a ditch forty-one nautical miles from the nearest open water with "SHE WENT THIS WAY" circled under Scorpius - and the handwriting later linked to a woman who denied writing it. How did a marine electrician end up alone on a 40-foot sailboat after a midnight man-overboard, with a corrupted MAYDAY sending rescuers to the wrong place, and a logbook filled with entries she says she doesn't remember writing?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to rescue: the offshore delivery from Morehead City, the stormy night when Marcus Webb went overboard, the emergency call that contained a corrupted longitude, the fifty-seven-minute search pattern Amy ran, and the strange handwritten evidence found later. What does the chart in the ditch and the unidentified log entries reveal about where "she went"?

Person: Amy Crawford
Person: Marcus Webb
Date: July 14-16, 2019
Location: 92 nautical miles southeast of Cape Hatteras (MAYDAY position)
Event: Man overboard at approximately 00:12 on July 16, 2019

- The Arendt departed Beaufort Inlet at 21:00 on July 14, 2019 for an offshore delivery to Annapolis.
- Marcus Webb went overboard after a wave broke across the deck just after midnight on July 16, 2019; Amy activated MOB protocol at 00:12.
- Amy searched a 57-minute man-overboard pattern, threw a lifebuoy ring she found, and transmitted a MAYDAY at 01:43 on Channel 16.
- A service bulletin four months earlier described a defect in the chartplotter emergency firmware; Marcus had not installed the update, corrupting the longitude in the distress position.
- On July 19, 2019, Nicole Wright found a laminated nautical star chart in a drainage ditch; Scorpius was circled and the words "SHE WENT THIS WAY" were written in block capitals.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079771Sun, 18 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaChart Found 41 Miles from the Sea: The Amy Crawford Survival Case A laminated nautical star chart was pulled from a ditch forty-one nautical miles from the nearest open water with "SHE WENT THIS WAY" circled under Scorpius - and the handwriting...
A laminated nautical star chart was pulled from a ditch forty-one nautical miles from the nearest open water with "SHE WENT THIS WAY" circled under Scorpius - and the handwriting later linked to a woman who denied writing it. How did a marine electrician end up alone on a 40-foot sailboat after a midnight man-overboard, with a corrupted MAYDAY sending rescuers to the wrong place, and a logbook filled with entries she says she doesn't remember writing?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to rescue: the offshore delivery from Morehead City, the stormy night when Marcus Webb went overboard, the emergency call that contained a corrupted longitude, the fifty-seven-minute search pattern Amy ran, and the strange handwritten evidence found later. What does the chart in the ditch and the unidentified log entries reveal about where "she went"?

Person: Amy Crawford
Person: Marcus Webb
Date: July 14-16, 2019
Location: 92 nautical miles southeast of Cape Hatteras (MAYDAY position)
Event: Man overboard at approximately 00:12 on July 16, 2019

- The Arendt departed Beaufort Inlet at 21:00 on July 14, 2019 for an offshore delivery to Annapolis.
- Marcus Webb went overboard after a wave broke across the deck just after midnight on July 16, 2019; Amy activated MOB protocol at 00:12.
- Amy searched a 57-minute man-overboard pattern, threw a lifebuoy ring she found, and transmitted a MAYDAY at 01:43 on Channel 16.
- A service bulletin four months earlier described a defect in the chartplotter emergency firmware; Marcus had not installed the update, corrupting the longitude in the distress position.
- On July 19, 2019, Nicole Wright found a laminated nautical star chart in a drainage ditch; Scorpius was circled and the words "SHE WENT THIS WAY" were written in block capitals.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1213falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/adrift-nine-days-how-a-missing-buoy-nearly-erased-her-story--73079770
A single partial EPIRB ping put her on a map 22 nautical miles east-southeast of Sapelo Island, and yet a laminated church bulletin from Macon, 260 miles away, was found dry in the raft - how did it survive nine days at sea and what did it mean? This episode centers on one sailor, one corroded bolt, and a missing data buoy that erased the sea’s hidden currents; can the strange facts explain how she lived through it?

In this episode, we lay out the timeline and the equipment failures that shaped Michelle Vaughn’s nine-day ordeal and the unanswered question about the paper that should have been soaked; what does the raft, the partial EPIRB signal, and the dry bulletin tell us about where she had been?

Person: Michelle Vaughn
Date: June 8, 2019 (EPIRB activation) and June 14, 2019 (discovery)
Location: Dunmore Reach, Willet Spit (life raft found)
Event: EPIRB partial signal (position fix ~22 nautical miles ESE of Sapelo Island)
Item: Laminated church bulletin dated June 1, 2019 (from Macon, Georgia)

- The life raft was found partially deflated in marsh grass at Willet Spit at 7:42 a.m, on June 14, 2019.
- The canopy interior was marked with "VAUGHN. DAY NINE." written in permanent marker.
- Michelle triggered her EPIRB at 5:47 a.m. on June 8, 2019; it transmitted a single partial position fix then went silent.
- A data buoy designated 41-GS-7 went offline on June 3, 2019, removing a key sensor from regional operational tables.
- A laminated church bulletin dated June 1, 2019 from a Macon congregation was found dry in a mesh pocket about one foot above the waterline.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079770Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaAdrift Nine Days: How a Missing Buoy Nearly Erased Her story A single partial EPIRB ping put her on a map 22 nautical miles east-southeast of Sapelo Island, and yet a laminated church bulletin from Macon, 260 miles away, was found dry in the raft -...
A single partial EPIRB ping put her on a map 22 nautical miles east-southeast of Sapelo Island, and yet a laminated church bulletin from Macon, 260 miles away, was found dry in the raft - how did it survive nine days at sea and what did it mean? This episode centers on one sailor, one corroded bolt, and a missing data buoy that erased the sea’s hidden currents; can the strange facts explain how she lived through it?

In this episode, we lay out the timeline and the equipment failures that shaped Michelle Vaughn’s nine-day ordeal and the unanswered question about the paper that should have been soaked; what does the raft, the partial EPIRB signal, and the dry bulletin tell us about where she had been?

Person: Michelle Vaughn
Date: June 8, 2019 (EPIRB activation) and June 14, 2019 (discovery)
Location: Dunmore Reach, Willet Spit (life raft found)
Event: EPIRB partial signal (position fix ~22 nautical miles ESE of Sapelo Island)
Item: Laminated church bulletin dated June 1, 2019 (from Macon, Georgia)

- The life raft was found partially deflated in marsh grass at Willet Spit at 7:42 a.m, on June 14, 2019.
- The canopy interior was marked with "VAUGHN. DAY NINE." written in permanent marker.
- Michelle triggered her EPIRB at 5:47 a.m. on June 8, 2019; it transmitted a single partial position fix then went silent.
- A data buoy designated 41-GS-7 went offline on June 3, 2019, removing a key sensor from regional operational tables.
- A laminated church bulletin dated June 1, 2019 from a Macon congregation was found dry in a mesh pocket about one foot above the waterline.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1199falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-starred-sneaker-why-a-woman-placed-a-child-s-shoe-afloat--73079768
A single white canvas sneaker, laces tucked inside and a hand-drawn blue star still bright, sat four feet above the waterline on a private dock ladder after a June squall - and it hadn’t been there long. Ninety-one people had boarded the Carver Queen three days earlier; twenty-eight never returned. Who placed that child’s shoe upright where no wave could reach, and why would a woman with no memory have done it?

In this episode, we recount the ferry crossing, the capsizing, and the rescue that followed, following the path from the Carver Queen’s routine morning to the single sneaker Sarah Quinn found on May 14. How did the star-marked shoe become the only surviving trace of a choice made in fifty-eight-degree water?

Date: May 14 (sighting)
Event: Carver Queen capsized
Location: Hargrove Strait / Dunmore Landing crossing
Person: Sherry Cox
Person: Marcus Whitfield

- 91 people boarded the Carver Queen on the Tuesday crossing before eight in the morning.
- 28 passengers did not return after the ferry capsized at approximately 7:19 a.m., four miles into the crossing.
- Water temperature that morning was 58 degrees Fahrenheit, causing rapid loss of muscle coordination.
- Marcus Whitfield, age four, wore white canvas sneakers with a blue star drawn on the left toe.
- Sarah Quinn, age 14, found the sneaker upright on a dock ladder rung around a quarter to seven on Thursday morning, three days after the capsize.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079768Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Starred Sneaker: Why a Woman Placed a Child's Shoe Afloat A single white canvas sneaker, laces tucked inside and a hand-drawn blue star still bright, sat four feet above the waterline on a private dock ladder after a June squall - and it hadn’t...
A single white canvas sneaker, laces tucked inside and a hand-drawn blue star still bright, sat four feet above the waterline on a private dock ladder after a June squall - and it hadn’t been there long. Ninety-one people had boarded the Carver Queen three days earlier; twenty-eight never returned. Who placed that child’s shoe upright where no wave could reach, and why would a woman with no memory have done it?

In this episode, we recount the ferry crossing, the capsizing, and the rescue that followed, following the path from the Carver Queen’s routine morning to the single sneaker Sarah Quinn found on May 14. How did the star-marked shoe become the only surviving trace of a choice made in fifty-eight-degree water?

Date: May 14 (sighting)
Event: Carver Queen capsized
Location: Hargrove Strait / Dunmore Landing crossing
Person: Sherry Cox
Person: Marcus Whitfield

- 91 people boarded the Carver Queen on the Tuesday crossing before eight in the morning.
- 28 passengers did not return after the ferry capsized at approximately 7:19 a.m., four miles into the crossing.
- Water temperature that morning was 58 degrees Fahrenheit, causing rapid loss of muscle coordination.
- Marcus Whitfield, age four, wore white canvas sneakers with a blue star drawn on the left toe.
- Sarah Quinn, age 14, found the sneaker upright on a dock ladder rung around a quarter to seven on Thursday morning, three days after the capsize.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1130falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-beacon-lied-how-a-solo-sailor-was-found-miles-inland--73079766
A working emergency beacon sent a position for twelve days-but that position was forty miles off, and search teams were looking in the wrong water; how did a signal meant to save someone point rescuers away from her? The lone diary that survived ends mid-sentence, and the one navigation plan that could have redirected the search sat unopened in a marina folder.

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Marie Erickson filing a float plan at Palafox Pier to her crawling ashore east of Destin after twelve days at sea, and we follow the evidence that shows the beacon transmitted while its internal position was broken. How did routine procedures and a single unread document shape the response to her disappearance?

Person: Marie Erickson
Age: 28
Vessel: Catalina 32 named Avery Sound
Float plan filed: April 1, 2017 at Palafox Pier marina
Landfall: beach east of Destin, Florida

- Marie left Pensacola Pass on April 3, 2017 and planned to return by April 9, 2017.
- The emergency beacon transmitted a signal for twelve days yet showed a position forty miles offshore.
- On April 9 the barometer aboard Avery Sound fell three millibars between noon and 6 p.m.
- At 1:30 a.m. on April 10 the upper windward shroud snapped, the mast came down, and it took four hours to cut it free.
- Marie’s navigation plan filed at the marina remained in a folder and was not consulted during the search.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079766Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:00:01 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Beacon Lied: How a Solo Sailor Was Found Miles Inland A working emergency beacon sent a position for twelve days-but that position was forty miles off, and search teams were looking in the wrong water; how did a signal meant to save someone...
A working emergency beacon sent a position for twelve days-but that position was forty miles off, and search teams were looking in the wrong water; how did a signal meant to save someone point rescuers away from her? The lone diary that survived ends mid-sentence, and the one navigation plan that could have redirected the search sat unopened in a marina folder.

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Marie Erickson filing a float plan at Palafox Pier to her crawling ashore east of Destin after twelve days at sea, and we follow the evidence that shows the beacon transmitted while its internal position was broken. How did routine procedures and a single unread document shape the response to her disappearance?

Person: Marie Erickson
Age: 28
Vessel: Catalina 32 named Avery Sound
Float plan filed: April 1, 2017 at Palafox Pier marina
Landfall: beach east of Destin, Florida

- Marie left Pensacola Pass on April 3, 2017 and planned to return by April 9, 2017.
- The emergency beacon transmitted a signal for twelve days yet showed a position forty miles offshore.
- On April 9 the barometer aboard Avery Sound fell three millibars between noon and 6 p.m.
- At 1:30 a.m. on April 10 the upper windward shroud snapped, the mast came down, and it took four hours to cut it free.
- Marie’s navigation plan filed at the marina remained in a folder and was not consulted during the search.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1146falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sealed-flare-four-miles-inland-where-did-tidewalker-vanish--73079764
A sealed Coast Guard parachute flare labeled TIDEWALKER was found lodged twelve feet high on a creosote utility pole four miles from saltwater - full, unexpired, and never fired. Four people had left Kellum Point on the 38-foot Tidewalker and the Coast Guard had searched for thirty-one hours in the wrong place; what single radio call and a logbook note reveal how that mistake happened? Where did the Tidewalker actually go?

In this episode, you will hear the timeline from departure to the last recorded voice and the entries that shifted search coordinates, following the exact inventory notes and the radio log that steered the search away from the boat's true position. How did a habitual radio shortcut and a chart folio note create a fifty-mile gap between where rescuers looked and where the boat had been?

Person: Pete Haskell
Person: Roy Tatum
Person: Karen Stein
Event: Flare found on Stannard Road utility pole
Date: March 19, 2011

- The flare was lodged in a crossbar bracket twelve feet off the ground.
- The flare's expiration date was November 2013 and it was sealed and full.
- The Tidewalker departed Kellum Point at 4:45 AM on March 15, 2011.
- A radio check at 11:47 AM on March 16, 2011 recorded Pete saying "on station, fishing well, nothing unusual."
- Roy Tatum's logbook noted on March 13 that "Pete moved the mark" to 44 miles offshore at heading 127 degrees, not the planned 31 miles at heading 112 degrees.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079764Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSealed Flare Four Miles Inland - Where Did Tidewalker Vanish? A sealed Coast Guard parachute flare labeled TIDEWALKER was found lodged twelve feet high on a creosote utility pole four miles from saltwater - full, unexpired, and never fired. Four...
A sealed Coast Guard parachute flare labeled TIDEWALKER was found lodged twelve feet high on a creosote utility pole four miles from saltwater - full, unexpired, and never fired. Four people had left Kellum Point on the 38-foot Tidewalker and the Coast Guard had searched for thirty-one hours in the wrong place; what single radio call and a logbook note reveal how that mistake happened? Where did the Tidewalker actually go?

In this episode, you will hear the timeline from departure to the last recorded voice and the entries that shifted search coordinates, following the exact inventory notes and the radio log that steered the search away from the boat's true position. How did a habitual radio shortcut and a chart folio note create a fifty-mile gap between where rescuers looked and where the boat had been?

Person: Pete Haskell
Person: Roy Tatum
Person: Karen Stein
Event: Flare found on Stannard Road utility pole
Date: March 19, 2011

- The flare was lodged in a crossbar bracket twelve feet off the ground.
- The flare's expiration date was November 2013 and it was sealed and full.
- The Tidewalker departed Kellum Point at 4:45 AM on March 15, 2011.
- A radio check at 11:47 AM on March 16, 2011 recorded Pete saying "on station, fishing well, nothing unusual."
- Roy Tatum's logbook noted on March 13 that "Pete moved the mark" to 44 miles offshore at heading 127 degrees, not the planned 31 miles at heading 112 degrees.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1104falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-watch-strapped-to-the-keel-was-still-ticking--73079762
The image of an overturned hull with a diving watch still ticking on its keel hooked the story: a twenty-two-year-old marine sciences student survived eighty-nine hours and seventeen minutes on an inverted hull in 52°F water with no food or shelter. How did a $200 Seiko, zip ties and rigid discipline keep him alive when average swim endurance at that temperature is under an hour?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of facts from the purchase and inspection of the twenty-two-foot sloop Meridian to the failed rigging, the partial Mayday, and the search efforts that initially missed him. We trace what Frank Watson had, what he didn’t, and the precise choices that answered the question of how he endured.

Person: Frank Watson
Date: January 29, 2014 (capsize) and February 9, 2014 (hull photographed)
Location: Seven miles west of Crane Shoal; Folsom Bay photograph at 6:17 AM
Equipment: Seiko dive watch rated to 200 meters, float coat, zip ties, unpaid shroud invoice dated October 14, 2013
Search: Partial Mayday logged at 11:44 AM, SAR tasked helicopter and 47-foot lifeboat; initial drift model pointed south and east

- Frank had approximately 300 hours on the water before purchasing Meridian for $4,000 on October 2013.
- The standing rigging had not been replaced in over seven years; a chandlery invoice for new shroud wire and turnbuckles was timestamped October 14, 2013 and never paid.
- At approximately 11:50 AM on January 29, 2014, the port upper shroud swaged fitting let go and the mast came down, in seas 4-6 ft with gusts up to 23 knots.
- Frank remained on top of the inverted hull for 89 hours and 17 minutes in 52°F water with no food, no shelter, and no signaling equipment on the hull.
- The Seiko dive watch, a gift from his sister, was still running when the hull was photographed on February 9, 2014 at 6:17 AM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079762Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:00:01 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe watch strapped to the keel was still ticking The image of an overturned hull with a diving watch still ticking on its keel hooked the story: a twenty-two-year-old marine sciences student survived eighty-nine hours and seventeen minutes on an...
The image of an overturned hull with a diving watch still ticking on its keel hooked the story: a twenty-two-year-old marine sciences student survived eighty-nine hours and seventeen minutes on an inverted hull in 52°F water with no food or shelter. How did a $200 Seiko, zip ties and rigid discipline keep him alive when average swim endurance at that temperature is under an hour?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of facts from the purchase and inspection of the twenty-two-foot sloop Meridian to the failed rigging, the partial Mayday, and the search efforts that initially missed him. We trace what Frank Watson had, what he didn’t, and the precise choices that answered the question of how he endured.

Person: Frank Watson
Date: January 29, 2014 (capsize) and February 9, 2014 (hull photographed)
Location: Seven miles west of Crane Shoal; Folsom Bay photograph at 6:17 AM
Equipment: Seiko dive watch rated to 200 meters, float coat, zip ties, unpaid shroud invoice dated October 14, 2013
Search: Partial Mayday logged at 11:44 AM, SAR tasked helicopter and 47-foot lifeboat; initial drift model pointed south and east

- Frank had approximately 300 hours on the water before purchasing Meridian for $4,000 on October 2013.
- The standing rigging had not been replaced in over seven years; a chandlery invoice for new shroud wire and turnbuckles was timestamped October 14, 2013 and never paid.
- At approximately 11:50 AM on January 29, 2014, the port upper shroud swaged fitting let go and the mast came down, in seas 4-6 ft with gusts up to 23 knots.
- Frank remained on top of the inverted hull for 89 hours and 17 minutes in 52°F water with no food, no shelter, and no signaling equipment on the hull.
- The Seiko dive watch, a gift from his sister, was still running when the hull was photographed on February 9, 2014 at 6:17 AM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1149falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-drifted-alone-how-a-dry-coffee-mug-started-a-sixteen-day-miracle--73079760
A single dry coffee mug on a porch stopped a meter reader cold and turned a private absence into a sixteen-day open-water survival and search. The missing vessel, a thirty-two-foot sloop named Calico Run, left Myrtle Grove Marina with 38.4 gallons of diesel and only three gallons of fresh water logged-how did that small discrepancy and a wet EPIRB alter everything, and who finally noticed the clues?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of everyday details that transformed a routine welfare check into a full-scale search: the dry mug, the unwashed diner cup, the mast failure at sea, and the silent emergency beacon. How did navigation skills, a family history of fishing, and tiny overlooked items come together to keep Sherry alive and lead rescuers to her?

Person: Sherry Bauer
Age: 38
Boat: Calico Run, 32-foot sloop
Departure Date and Time: January 2 at 6:40 AM (cleared marina at 6:45)
Duration Missing: 16 days

- Diane Perry noticed a dry chipped ceramic mug on a porch at 4412 Culver on the morning of January 14.
- Sherry left Myrtle Grove Marina on January 2 at 6:40 AM; Victor Ames saw her clear the marina at 6:45 AM.
- Diesel tanks held 38.4 gallons across two fills when Calico Run departed; a log showed an additional purchase of 3 gallons of fresh water that morning.
- At 1:34 AM on January 3, a line squall produced 22-knot winds and the forestay toggle let go, sending the mast over the starboard side and punching a hull hole at the chainplate.
- The registered 406 MHz EPIRB went into the water with the mast and stopped transmitting after the rigging dragged it overboard.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079760Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Drifted Alone: How a Dry Coffee Mug Started a Sixteen-Day Miracle A single dry coffee mug on a porch stopped a meter reader cold and turned a private absence into a sixteen-day open-water survival and search. The missing vessel, a...
A single dry coffee mug on a porch stopped a meter reader cold and turned a private absence into a sixteen-day open-water survival and search. The missing vessel, a thirty-two-foot sloop named Calico Run, left Myrtle Grove Marina with 38.4 gallons of diesel and only three gallons of fresh water logged-how did that small discrepancy and a wet EPIRB alter everything, and who finally noticed the clues?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of everyday details that transformed a routine welfare check into a full-scale search: the dry mug, the unwashed diner cup, the mast failure at sea, and the silent emergency beacon. How did navigation skills, a family history of fishing, and tiny overlooked items come together to keep Sherry alive and lead rescuers to her?

Person: Sherry Bauer
Age: 38
Boat: Calico Run, 32-foot sloop
Departure Date and Time: January 2 at 6:40 AM (cleared marina at 6:45)
Duration Missing: 16 days

- Diane Perry noticed a dry chipped ceramic mug on a porch at 4412 Culver on the morning of January 14.
- Sherry left Myrtle Grove Marina on January 2 at 6:40 AM; Victor Ames saw her clear the marina at 6:45 AM.
- Diesel tanks held 38.4 gallons across two fills when Calico Run departed; a log showed an additional purchase of 3 gallons of fresh water that morning.
- At 1:34 AM on January 3, a line squall produced 22-knot winds and the forestay toggle let go, sending the mast over the starboard side and punching a hull hole at the chainplate.
- The registered 406 MHz EPIRB went into the water with the mast and stopped transmitting after the rigging dragged it overboard.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1163falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-uncharted-current-that-took-a-42-foot-boat-and-brother--73079758
A bone-dry life ring on a sandbar pointed search teams fourteen miles away from where it should have been - and a Coast Guard coordinator found a calculation on a paper chart that "should not have been possible." This episode centers on an invisible, seasonal tidal lateral current that appears four to six times each December and had never been mapped or named - how did it pull a forty-two-foot motorsailer off course and leave one passenger missing?

In this episode, we tell what happened on the night of December 17, 2011, describe who was aboard the Candela Marie, and follow the photograph and chart calculation that changed the search. How did an uncharted underwater current and a failed VHF antenna combine to turn a routine twelve-mile crossing into a disappearance?

Person: Lori Sullivan
Person: Derek Pollard
Person: Person: Nathan Pollard
Date: December 17, 2011
Vessel: Candela Marie (42-foot motorsailer)

- Departure logged at 4:47 PM from Port Serrano for a routine twelve-mile crossing expected by 6:30 PM.
- Life ring from the Candela Marie was found dry on a sandbar thirty-six hours after the vessel vanished.
- Lori Sullivan had completed more than forty trips on the exact route and kept a laminated tide table on the binnacle.
- The seasonal tidal lateral current occurs four to six times each December and was documented by a University of Miami survey two years after the incident.
- The primary VHF radio antenna had been reported loose twice previously and was not repaired before the crossing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079758Sun, 11 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Uncharted Current That Took a 42-Foot Boat and Brother A bone-dry life ring on a sandbar pointed search teams fourteen miles away from where it should have been - and a Coast Guard coordinator found a calculation on a paper chart that "should...
A bone-dry life ring on a sandbar pointed search teams fourteen miles away from where it should have been - and a Coast Guard coordinator found a calculation on a paper chart that "should not have been possible." This episode centers on an invisible, seasonal tidal lateral current that appears four to six times each December and had never been mapped or named - how did it pull a forty-two-foot motorsailer off course and leave one passenger missing?

In this episode, we tell what happened on the night of December 17, 2011, describe who was aboard the Candela Marie, and follow the photograph and chart calculation that changed the search. How did an uncharted underwater current and a failed VHF antenna combine to turn a routine twelve-mile crossing into a disappearance?

Person: Lori Sullivan
Person: Derek Pollard
Person: Person: Nathan Pollard
Date: December 17, 2011
Vessel: Candela Marie (42-foot motorsailer)

- Departure logged at 4:47 PM from Port Serrano for a routine twelve-mile crossing expected by 6:30 PM.
- Life ring from the Candela Marie was found dry on a sandbar thirty-six hours after the vessel vanished.
- Lori Sullivan had completed more than forty trips on the exact route and kept a laminated tide table on the binnacle.
- The seasonal tidal lateral current occurs four to six times each December and was documented by a University of Miami survey two years after the incident.
- The primary VHF radio antenna had been reported loose twice previously and was not repaired before the crossing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1221falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-on-the-bluff-how-a-raft-journal-arrived-first--73079756
Fear and bewilderment: a notebook written at sea appears intact, spine-down, in a notch fifteen feet above the high-tide line on a bluff - sixty-three miles from the raft where its author, Eugene Slater, drifted ten days earlier. How did a journal described in the raft as being placed on that exact post arrive before the event it records?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Slater leaving Pryor Inlet Marina to the moment the notebook was found, laying out the movements, preparations, and failures that led to the Calder Rose sinking - and the specific unexplained detail that defies the timeline. What can account for a raft journal describing an act that appears to have happened before it was written?

Person: Eugene Slater
Date: November 2-14, 2019
Location: Eastport, Maine (notebook found on bluff)
Event: Calder Rose sinking and ten-day drift
Status: Notebook found intact on bluff

- The notebook was wedged in a notch fifteen feet above the high-tide line on a coastal bluff in Eastport, Maine.
- Eugene Slater was sixty-three miles offshore when the same notebook arrived on the bluff.
- Slater had been adrift on a life raft for ten days when the notebook was found.
- On November 2, 2019 at 06:47, Slater cast off from slip fourteen at Pryor Inlet Marina headed for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
- Slater activated the EPIRB at approximately 22:15 and abandoned the Calder Rose by about 22:15-22:15 the night the hull began taking water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079756Sat, 10 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook on the Bluff: How a Raft Journal Arrived First Fear and bewilderment: a notebook written at sea appears intact, spine-down, in a notch fifteen feet above the high-tide line on a bluff - sixty-three miles from the raft where its author,...
Fear and bewilderment: a notebook written at sea appears intact, spine-down, in a notch fifteen feet above the high-tide line on a bluff - sixty-three miles from the raft where its author, Eugene Slater, drifted ten days earlier. How did a journal described in the raft as being placed on that exact post arrive before the event it records?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Slater leaving Pryor Inlet Marina to the moment the notebook was found, laying out the movements, preparations, and failures that led to the Calder Rose sinking - and the specific unexplained detail that defies the timeline. What can account for a raft journal describing an act that appears to have happened before it was written?

Person: Eugene Slater
Date: November 2-14, 2019
Location: Eastport, Maine (notebook found on bluff)
Event: Calder Rose sinking and ten-day drift
Status: Notebook found intact on bluff

- The notebook was wedged in a notch fifteen feet above the high-tide line on a coastal bluff in Eastport, Maine.
- Eugene Slater was sixty-three miles offshore when the same notebook arrived on the bluff.
- Slater had been adrift on a life raft for ten days when the notebook was found.
- On November 2, 2019 at 06:47, Slater cast off from slip fourteen at Pryor Inlet Marina headed for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
- Slater activated the EPIRB at approximately 22:15 and abandoned the Calder Rose by about 22:15-22:15 the night the hull began taking water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1166falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-spoke-to-sharks-the-voice-washed-440-nautical-miles-away--73079753
A waterproof audio recorder washed ashore containing a man's voice that had traveled roughly 440 nautical miles - calm, mid-sentence, talking to sharks. How did a voice cross the Gulf of Mexico long before the man who made it was found, and what did those recordings reveal about the final days he spent at sea?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the day a fisherman pulled a catfish trap and found the recorder to the solo voyage that began from Pensacola Pass on October 4, 2019. We follow the voyage, the capsize in the early hours of October 8, the survival days recorded in audio logs, and the mystery of where search efforts were focused.

Person: Clifford Zimmerman
Date: October 4-10, 2019
Location: Gulf of Mexico; last GPS position 24°50′N, 87°12′W
Vessel: 26-foot sloop named Vera Faye
Item recovered: Olympus waterproof audio recorder

- The recorder was found in the shallows near Coosa Pass on the morning of October 22, 2019.
- Clifford left Pensacola Pass at 06:15 on October 4 with the recorder running and wind NNW at 12 knots.
- The last automatic GPS from the Vera Faye was logged at 24°50′N, 87°12′W just before 02:00 on October 8.
- The Vera Faye capsized at approximately 03:30 on October 8; 47 seconds of audio capture the capsize event.
- Clifford reached his life raft after about 20 minutes in the water and listed his emergency kit at 06:48: a portable VHF radio, flares in a dry bag, 0.5 liter of water, and two protein bars.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079753Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Spoke to Sharks: The Voice Washed 440 Nautical Miles Away A waterproof audio recorder washed ashore containing a man's voice that had traveled roughly 440 nautical miles - calm, mid-sentence, talking to sharks. How did a voice cross the Gulf of...
A waterproof audio recorder washed ashore containing a man's voice that had traveled roughly 440 nautical miles - calm, mid-sentence, talking to sharks. How did a voice cross the Gulf of Mexico long before the man who made it was found, and what did those recordings reveal about the final days he spent at sea?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the day a fisherman pulled a catfish trap and found the recorder to the solo voyage that began from Pensacola Pass on October 4, 2019. We follow the voyage, the capsize in the early hours of October 8, the survival days recorded in audio logs, and the mystery of where search efforts were focused.

Person: Clifford Zimmerman
Date: October 4-10, 2019
Location: Gulf of Mexico; last GPS position 24°50′N, 87°12′W
Vessel: 26-foot sloop named Vera Faye
Item recovered: Olympus waterproof audio recorder

- The recorder was found in the shallows near Coosa Pass on the morning of October 22, 2019.
- Clifford left Pensacola Pass at 06:15 on October 4 with the recorder running and wind NNW at 12 knots.
- The last automatic GPS from the Vera Faye was logged at 24°50′N, 87°12′W just before 02:00 on October 8.
- The Vera Faye capsized at approximately 03:30 on October 8; 47 seconds of audio capture the capsize event.
- Clifford reached his life raft after about 20 minutes in the water and listed his emergency kit at 06:48: a portable VHF radio, flares in a dry bag, 0.5 liter of water, and two protein bars.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1372falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/one-dry-suit-three-souls-who-survived-calvert-ridge-s-night--73079751
A single yellow dry suit washed ashore forty miles from a sinking that left three people in fifty-one-degree water - where doctrine says an unprotected adult lasts ninety minutes. Who wore the suit, who didn’t, and how did one garment decide the fate of three lives?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the knockdown off the Outer Banks to the nine-day search and the rescue that nearly failed, focusing on decisions made on board and in the water - what happened between the squall at 23:40 and the discovery of the dry suit?

Date: September 7-18, 2019
Location: Carteret Sound / Newport River / Outer Banks
Vessel: Calvert Ridge, 42-foot sloop, 1981 design
People: Sandra Burke (32), Chris Navarro (41), Jen Alcott (28)
Water temperature: 51 degrees Fahrenheit

- The squall struck at 23:40 on September 7, with 38-knot gusts from the northwest that developed in under four minutes.
- Calvert Ridge sank on September 7, 2019; a dry suit was found on September 18, 2019, wrapped around a dock piling.
- The dry suit discovered was yellow, Kokatat, size medium; its interior was dry and algae had begun growing over the sleeve cuff.
- There were three people aboard; the dry suit in the forward compartment was a medium (the only crew member who fit medium was Sandra Burke).
- Sandra spent about 40 minutes in the water after the knockdown, pulled Jen into a life raft around 01:00 on September 8, and intentionally released the dry suit over the side as a drift signal.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079751Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaOne Dry Suit, Three Souls: Who Survived Calvert Ridge's Night? A single yellow dry suit washed ashore forty miles from a sinking that left three people in fifty-one-degree water - where doctrine says an unprotected adult lasts ninety minutes. Who...
A single yellow dry suit washed ashore forty miles from a sinking that left three people in fifty-one-degree water - where doctrine says an unprotected adult lasts ninety minutes. Who wore the suit, who didn’t, and how did one garment decide the fate of three lives?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the knockdown off the Outer Banks to the nine-day search and the rescue that nearly failed, focusing on decisions made on board and in the water - what happened between the squall at 23:40 and the discovery of the dry suit?

Date: September 7-18, 2019
Location: Carteret Sound / Newport River / Outer Banks
Vessel: Calvert Ridge, 42-foot sloop, 1981 design
People: Sandra Burke (32), Chris Navarro (41), Jen Alcott (28)
Water temperature: 51 degrees Fahrenheit

- The squall struck at 23:40 on September 7, with 38-knot gusts from the northwest that developed in under four minutes.
- Calvert Ridge sank on September 7, 2019; a dry suit was found on September 18, 2019, wrapped around a dock piling.
- The dry suit discovered was yellow, Kokatat, size medium; its interior was dry and algae had begun growing over the sleeve cuff.
- There were three people aboard; the dry suit in the forward compartment was a medium (the only crew member who fit medium was Sandra Burke).
- Sandra spent about 40 minutes in the water after the knockdown, pulled Jen into a life raft around 01:00 on September 8, and intentionally released the dry suit over the side as a drift signal.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1206falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-impossible-sneaker-how-a-child-s-shoe-tracked-a-ghost-boat--73079750
A bleached size four canvas sneaker, laces double-knotted, was found pinned to buoy number seven at Kellerman Marina - yet the nearest GPS ping from the missing Marguerite Ann placed that vessel 72 nautical miles away. How did a child's shoe from a Beaufort passage end up on a local channel buoy, and what buried piece of evidence finally bridged that impossible distance?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a routine coastal departure on August 7, 2017 through a violent weather event and a three-week investigation that centered on one logbook entry. We trace who was aboard, what equipment they had, and why the sneaker became the focal point in a case that left one rescued, one dead, and one missing; what did the recovered evidence ultimately reveal?

Person: Lisa Stevens
Person: Paul Gentry
Person: Sharon Waite
Date: August 7-8, 2017
Location: Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke (Kellerman Marina buoy #7 referenced)

- The sneaker was a child's canvas shoe, size four, with laces tied in a double knot.
- The sneaker was discovered pinned to the flat cap of channel buoy number seven at Kellerman Marina.
- The nearest GPS ping from the missing vessel placed the boat 72 nautical miles away from that buoy.
- The Marguerite Ann departed Beaufort Inlet at 9:40 on the morning of August 7, 2017 and capsized at 1:17 AM on August 8.
- The boat was a 1974 Colin Archer ketch, 38 feet in length, with its mast snapped at the partners after the capsize.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079750Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Impossible Sneaker: How a Child's Shoe Tracked a Ghost Boat A bleached size four canvas sneaker, laces double-knotted, was found pinned to buoy number seven at Kellerman Marina - yet the nearest GPS ping from the missing Marguerite Ann placed...
A bleached size four canvas sneaker, laces double-knotted, was found pinned to buoy number seven at Kellerman Marina - yet the nearest GPS ping from the missing Marguerite Ann placed that vessel 72 nautical miles away. How did a child's shoe from a Beaufort passage end up on a local channel buoy, and what buried piece of evidence finally bridged that impossible distance?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a routine coastal departure on August 7, 2017 through a violent weather event and a three-week investigation that centered on one logbook entry. We trace who was aboard, what equipment they had, and why the sneaker became the focal point in a case that left one rescued, one dead, and one missing; what did the recovered evidence ultimately reveal?

Person: Lisa Stevens
Person: Paul Gentry
Person: Sharon Waite
Date: August 7-8, 2017
Location: Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke (Kellerman Marina buoy #7 referenced)

- The sneaker was a child's canvas shoe, size four, with laces tied in a double knot.
- The sneaker was discovered pinned to the flat cap of channel buoy number seven at Kellerman Marina.
- The nearest GPS ping from the missing vessel placed the boat 72 nautical miles away from that buoy.
- The Marguerite Ann departed Beaufort Inlet at 9:40 on the morning of August 7, 2017 and capsized at 1:17 AM on August 8.
- The boat was a 1974 Colin Archer ketch, 38 feet in length, with its mast snapped at the partners after the capsize.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1291falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-wrong-beacon-how-a-shoe-saved-a-lost-sailor--73079748
A wrong registration in a federal database sent a real distress signal to the wrong place, while a size seven running shoe and an orange marine radio washed ashore in a Georgia salt marsh-both dry and both out of place. How did a misplaced beacon, a shoe found by a wildlife photographer, and a dockmaster's forum post add up to finding a woman who spent seventy-three hours alone on a sinking boat?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the moment a distress signal arrived at the Rescue Coordination Center in Miami to the discovery of two strange objects on July 14, 2019, and ask how a single database entry and an obscure forum post changed the search's outcome.

Person: Paula Russo
Event: EPIRB activation at 03:47 on July 9, 2019
Location: Atlantic Ocean (off Dunmore Marina route)
Date: July 6-14, 2019
Object: size seven running shoe and orange handheld marine radio

- Distress signal received at the Rescue Coordination Center in Miami at 03:47 on July 9, 2019.
- The registered ship corresponding to the beacon was actually dry in its slip 140 miles away.
- Paula Russo survived seventy-three hours alone after her mast fell and fractured a keel-hull fitting letting water in.
- Two objects-an orange handheld VHF radio and a size seven running shoe with a dry interior-were found in a salt marsh before 06:00 on July 14, 2019.
- Paula had run the marina perimeter every morning for eleven years and left Dunmore Marina on July 6, 2019 to deliver the 42-foot sloop Caspian Arc on a roughly 600-mile trip.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079748Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Wrong Beacon: How a Shoe Saved a Lost Sailor A wrong registration in a federal database sent a real distress signal to the wrong place, while a size seven running shoe and an orange marine radio washed ashore in a Georgia salt marsh-both dry...
A wrong registration in a federal database sent a real distress signal to the wrong place, while a size seven running shoe and an orange marine radio washed ashore in a Georgia salt marsh-both dry and both out of place. How did a misplaced beacon, a shoe found by a wildlife photographer, and a dockmaster's forum post add up to finding a woman who spent seventy-three hours alone on a sinking boat?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the moment a distress signal arrived at the Rescue Coordination Center in Miami to the discovery of two strange objects on July 14, 2019, and ask how a single database entry and an obscure forum post changed the search's outcome.

Person: Paula Russo
Event: EPIRB activation at 03:47 on July 9, 2019
Location: Atlantic Ocean (off Dunmore Marina route)
Date: July 6-14, 2019
Object: size seven running shoe and orange handheld marine radio

- Distress signal received at the Rescue Coordination Center in Miami at 03:47 on July 9, 2019.
- The registered ship corresponding to the beacon was actually dry in its slip 140 miles away.
- Paula Russo survived seventy-three hours alone after her mast fell and fractured a keel-hull fitting letting water in.
- Two objects-an orange handheld VHF radio and a size seven running shoe with a dry interior-were found in a salt marsh before 06:00 on July 14, 2019.
- Paula had run the marina perimeter every morning for eleven years and left Dunmore Marina on July 6, 2019 to deliver the 42-foot sloop Caspian Arc on a roughly 600-mile trip.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1185falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/at-six-in-the-morning-on-june-fourteenth--73079746
Beneath a cartoon-orange inflatable and a freezer bag on a piling, a teenager found a spiral notebook that had been declared lost at sea - and its author had been presumed dead. The notebook survived six days in fifty-one-degree water, a hatch cover that should have sunk kept a woman afloat, and the official search never once covered the area where she drifted; how did Frances Griffin stay alive long enough to be seen six miles offshore?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Frances Griffin leaving Kellam Cove at 12:40 p.m. on June 4, 2009 to the discovery of the notebook on June 14, and we lay out the physical and procedural facts that make her survival and the notebook's survival baffling. What combination of small decisions and ocean physics explain how Frances lived through a capsize that should have ended her voyage?

Person: Frances Griffin
Date: June 4, 2009 (departure) - June 14, 2009 (notebook found)
Location: Kellam Cove; drifted roughly six miles offshore when spotted, hull found ~14 miles out
Status: Survived; found waving six miles offshore after capsize
Occupation: Marine technician; rebuilt a 22-foot sloop named Aldgate

- Frances Griffin was 28 years old and had worked at the Kellam Cove Chandlery since age 22.
- She cast off the Aldgate at approximately 12:40 p.m. on June 4, 2009; her slip was found empty that morning.
- The Aldgate sank and was later located about fourteen miles offshore on the bottom of the sea.
- Frances lay on a fiberglass-over-plywood hatch cover in 51°F water and remained afloat for six days, despite calculations that it should have sunk within an hour.
- The official search, running eleven days with a highest-likelihood zone 22 miles offshore south-southwest, never encompassed the area where Frances actually drifted because a subsurface eddy moved her north and east starting June 6.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079746Mon, 05 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaAt six in the morning on June fourteenth Beneath a cartoon-orange inflatable and a freezer bag on a piling, a teenager found a spiral notebook that had been declared lost at sea - and its author had been presumed dead. The notebook survived six...
Beneath a cartoon-orange inflatable and a freezer bag on a piling, a teenager found a spiral notebook that had been declared lost at sea - and its author had been presumed dead. The notebook survived six days in fifty-one-degree water, a hatch cover that should have sunk kept a woman afloat, and the official search never once covered the area where she drifted; how did Frances Griffin stay alive long enough to be seen six miles offshore?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Frances Griffin leaving Kellam Cove at 12:40 p.m. on June 4, 2009 to the discovery of the notebook on June 14, and we lay out the physical and procedural facts that make her survival and the notebook's survival baffling. What combination of small decisions and ocean physics explain how Frances lived through a capsize that should have ended her voyage?

Person: Frances Griffin
Date: June 4, 2009 (departure) - June 14, 2009 (notebook found)
Location: Kellam Cove; drifted roughly six miles offshore when spotted, hull found ~14 miles out
Status: Survived; found waving six miles offshore after capsize
Occupation: Marine technician; rebuilt a 22-foot sloop named Aldgate

- Frances Griffin was 28 years old and had worked at the Kellam Cove Chandlery since age 22.
- She cast off the Aldgate at approximately 12:40 p.m. on June 4, 2009; her slip was found empty that morning.
- The Aldgate sank and was later located about fourteen miles offshore on the bottom of the sea.
- Frances lay on a fiberglass-over-plywood hatch cover in 51°F water and remained afloat for six days, despite calculations that it should have sunk within an hour.
- The official search, running eleven days with a highest-likelihood zone 22 miles offshore south-southwest, never encompassed the area where Frances actually drifted because a subsurface eddy moved her north and east starting June 6.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1336falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/drifted-sixty-miles-wrong-the-woman-who-came-home-alone--73079744
A thirty-eight-foot sailboat was found drifting eleven miles offshore with no one visible on deck, after a search had been looking sixty miles away; a GPS track, a laminared tide chart found forty feet from the nearest navigable water, and a radio call all point to a collision between chance and exhaustion - what actually happened that left one person missing and one woman alone on the vessel?

In this episode, we follow the documented timeline and technical details aboard the Harrow Wind: the preparations, the weather change, the equipment failures, and the single moment when one crewman went forward and never returned - how did routine procedures and one bent gudgeon transform a planned passage into a nineteen-day drift?

Person: Rachel Schmidt
Person: Jeff Okafor
Event: Departure from Cypremort Point Marina at 06:14 on May 7, 2011
Location: Eleven miles offshore of Intracoastal City, Louisiana
Status: Vessel found drifting with one person aboard; crewmember missing

- The Harrow Wind is a Pearson thirty-eight-footer owned by Rachel Schmidt for eleven years.
- Rachel was fifty-four years old in spring 2011 and had logged two previous passages to the Yucatan Channel.
- The voyage cleared the marina at 06:14 on May 7, 2011 with a filed float plan.
- At 20:00 on May 8 the barometer dropped fast; by 23:30 a wave shuddered the hull and a gudgeon was bent.
- On the night of May 8, with winds over 50 knots and seas 8-10 feet, Jeff clipped his harness, went forward to deploy the CQR anchor, called once, and was gone; the GPS chartplotter continued recording.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079744Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaDrifted Sixty Miles Wrong: The Woman Who Came Home Alone A thirty-eight-foot sailboat was found drifting eleven miles offshore with no one visible on deck, after a search had been looking sixty miles away; a GPS track, a laminared tide chart found...
A thirty-eight-foot sailboat was found drifting eleven miles offshore with no one visible on deck, after a search had been looking sixty miles away; a GPS track, a laminared tide chart found forty feet from the nearest navigable water, and a radio call all point to a collision between chance and exhaustion - what actually happened that left one person missing and one woman alone on the vessel?

In this episode, we follow the documented timeline and technical details aboard the Harrow Wind: the preparations, the weather change, the equipment failures, and the single moment when one crewman went forward and never returned - how did routine procedures and one bent gudgeon transform a planned passage into a nineteen-day drift?

Person: Rachel Schmidt
Person: Jeff Okafor
Event: Departure from Cypremort Point Marina at 06:14 on May 7, 2011
Location: Eleven miles offshore of Intracoastal City, Louisiana
Status: Vessel found drifting with one person aboard; crewmember missing

- The Harrow Wind is a Pearson thirty-eight-footer owned by Rachel Schmidt for eleven years.
- Rachel was fifty-four years old in spring 2011 and had logged two previous passages to the Yucatan Channel.
- The voyage cleared the marina at 06:14 on May 7, 2011 with a filed float plan.
- At 20:00 on May 8 the barometer dropped fast; by 23:30 a wave shuddered the hull and a gudgeon was bent.
- On the night of May 8, with winds over 50 knots and seas 8-10 feet, Jeff clipped his harness, went forward to deploy the CQR anchor, called once, and was gone; the GPS chartplotter continued recording.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1209falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alone-at-dawn-the-boat-that-came-back-without-its-passenger--73079743
A small sport fisher returned to port with its engine running, navigation lights on, and a single yellow poker chip taped to the chart plotter - but no one at the helm. Debra Carlson photographed the unmanned vessel moving through Pelican Narrows at 6:47 AM on April 11, 2019; what happened to the lone passenger remains the central mystery: how did a thirty-two-foot boat lose its person and keep going?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from when Lauren Boyd left Broad Creek Marina on April 9 to the Coast Guard boarding on April 11, reconstructing the scene aboard the Marisela Faye and the last known actions before she went overboard. What combination of small details - a plate with chicken wings, a taped yellow poker chip, an empty life ring bracket - led to a vessel found underway with nobody steering?

Person: Lauren Boyd
Date: April 9-11, 2019
Location: Broad Creek Marina / Pelican Narrows / Brickyard Point
Vessel: Marisela Faye, 32-foot sport fisher
Observer: Debra Carlson, photo at 6:47 AM April 11, 2019

- Lauren left Broad Creek Marina at approximately 3:30 PM on April 9, 2019 and was alone aboard.
- The boarding team arrived at 7:22 AM on April 11, 2019 and found the engine running with autopilot set to heading 212 degrees.
- On the stern table were four chicken wings, a cup of coleslaw, and a heel of white bread on a paper plate; a red plastic cup sat upright in a cup holder.
- The Type IV life ring bracket on the transom was empty and the boarding ladder hung down into the water.
- A single yellow poker chip from a clay set was taped to the frame of the chart plotter.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079743Sat, 03 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaAlone at Dawn: The Boat That Came Back Without Its Passenger A small sport fisher returned to port with its engine running, navigation lights on, and a single yellow poker chip taped to the chart plotter - but no one at the helm. Debra Carlson...
A small sport fisher returned to port with its engine running, navigation lights on, and a single yellow poker chip taped to the chart plotter - but no one at the helm. Debra Carlson photographed the unmanned vessel moving through Pelican Narrows at 6:47 AM on April 11, 2019; what happened to the lone passenger remains the central mystery: how did a thirty-two-foot boat lose its person and keep going?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from when Lauren Boyd left Broad Creek Marina on April 9 to the Coast Guard boarding on April 11, reconstructing the scene aboard the Marisela Faye and the last known actions before she went overboard. What combination of small details - a plate with chicken wings, a taped yellow poker chip, an empty life ring bracket - led to a vessel found underway with nobody steering?

Person: Lauren Boyd
Date: April 9-11, 2019
Location: Broad Creek Marina / Pelican Narrows / Brickyard Point
Vessel: Marisela Faye, 32-foot sport fisher
Observer: Debra Carlson, photo at 6:47 AM April 11, 2019

- Lauren left Broad Creek Marina at approximately 3:30 PM on April 9, 2019 and was alone aboard.
- The boarding team arrived at 7:22 AM on April 11, 2019 and found the engine running with autopilot set to heading 212 degrees.
- On the stern table were four chicken wings, a cup of coleslaw, and a heel of white bread on a paper plate; a red plastic cup sat upright in a cup holder.
- The Type IV life ring bracket on the transom was empty and the boarding ladder hung down into the water.
- A single yellow poker chip from a clay set was taped to the frame of the chart plotter.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1221falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/found-dry-at-sea-the-raft-log-that-proved-the-search-wrong--73079741
The sea returned a yellow child's rain boot and, improbably, a crisp logbook that had been at sea for nine days-surviving a forty-one-knot squall and an abandon-ship entry written while a helicopter still searched overhead. How did a waterproof pouch stay on a survivor long enough to record the exact abandon-ship time, and why did that record show the search had been looking in the wrong square of ocean?

In this episode, we follow the concrete entries Linda Hall wrote into her logbook, the timeline of two boats and four people, and the decisions by search coordinators that kept rescuers circling the original coordinates. What the logbook recorded about times, wind, and drift forces listeners to ask whether protocol or assumption determined where rescuers looked.

Person: Linda Hall
Person: Frank Ullery
Event: Abandon-ship time 15:43 on March 6
Location: Debris found in original search box; raft found ~18 miles northwest
Status: Logbook dry and legible after nine days at sea

- Linda Hall kept her logbook in a waterproof pouch on a lanyard around her neck and wrote the abandon-ship entry at 15:43.
- The squall that damaged Pilar Rose produced sustained forty-one-knot winds and lasted over two hours.
- Frank Ullery was in the water for eleven minutes and was hypothermic when pulled back aboard.
- A partial satellite ping with a GPS coordinate reached the Coast Guard at 17:22, prompting a search box and immediate launch within forty minutes.
- A commercial fishing vessel, Vera Jean, reported an orange object just after 02:00 on March 8 roughly eighteen miles northwest of the original search area.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079741Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaFound Dry at Sea: The Raft Log That Proved the Search Wrong The sea returned a yellow child's rain boot and, improbably, a crisp logbook that had been at sea for nine days-surviving a forty-one-knot squall and an abandon-ship entry written while a...
The sea returned a yellow child's rain boot and, improbably, a crisp logbook that had been at sea for nine days-surviving a forty-one-knot squall and an abandon-ship entry written while a helicopter still searched overhead. How did a waterproof pouch stay on a survivor long enough to record the exact abandon-ship time, and why did that record show the search had been looking in the wrong square of ocean?

In this episode, we follow the concrete entries Linda Hall wrote into her logbook, the timeline of two boats and four people, and the decisions by search coordinators that kept rescuers circling the original coordinates. What the logbook recorded about times, wind, and drift forces listeners to ask whether protocol or assumption determined where rescuers looked.

Person: Linda Hall
Person: Frank Ullery
Event: Abandon-ship time 15:43 on March 6
Location: Debris found in original search box; raft found ~18 miles northwest
Status: Logbook dry and legible after nine days at sea

- Linda Hall kept her logbook in a waterproof pouch on a lanyard around her neck and wrote the abandon-ship entry at 15:43.
- The squall that damaged Pilar Rose produced sustained forty-one-knot winds and lasted over two hours.
- Frank Ullery was in the water for eleven minutes and was hypothermic when pulled back aboard.
- A partial satellite ping with a GPS coordinate reached the Coast Guard at 17:22, prompting a search box and immediate launch within forty minutes.
- A commercial fishing vessel, Vera Jean, reported an orange object just after 02:00 on March 8 roughly eighteen miles northwest of the original search area.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1139falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rescue-pilot-spots-a-flash-the-patricia-allen-survival-case--73079739
A spotless signal mirror tucked in a neoprene case contrasted with a corroded flare kit and a radio that would never transmit - evidence that someone at sea had been maintaining one crucial piece of gear every night. The missing EPIRB bracket, a beacon that transmitted a corrupted position for eleven minutes, and ten recorded aircraft flyovers without a single fired flare raise one central question: how did a retired science teacher survive ten days adrift while help searched ninety miles away?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from Patricia Allen’s departure on February 9 through the dismasting on February 11 and the subsequent search days, following the recorded log entries, equipment condition, and rescue coordination timeline to probe what really happened during those ten days at sea.

Person: Patricia Allen
Vessel: Vela Buena, 31-foot sloop
Date: February 9-21 (events centered around dismasting on February 11)
Location: Approximately 60 miles south-southwest of the Dry Tortugas
Rescue Coordination: Miami sector, search opened February 15 based on EPIRB data

- EPIRB activated as it sank and transmitted for 11 minutes, but its position data was corrupted by approximately 90 miles.
- Fourteen aircraft passed over the Vela Buena in eighteen days while Patricia recorded ten sightings in four days and did not fire any flares.
- The flare kit remained in original sealed packaging, swollen with moisture and never opened or used.
- Patricia noted the missing EPIRB bracket on February 16, five days after the dismasting; the bracket was sheared clean.
- The signal mirror recovered from the chart table was spotless and dry, unlike the corroded flare kit and seized VHF radio.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079739Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaRescue Pilot Spots a Flash: The Patricia Allen Survival Case A spotless signal mirror tucked in a neoprene case contrasted with a corroded flare kit and a radio that would never transmit - evidence that someone at sea had been maintaining one...
A spotless signal mirror tucked in a neoprene case contrasted with a corroded flare kit and a radio that would never transmit - evidence that someone at sea had been maintaining one crucial piece of gear every night. The missing EPIRB bracket, a beacon that transmitted a corrupted position for eleven minutes, and ten recorded aircraft flyovers without a single fired flare raise one central question: how did a retired science teacher survive ten days adrift while help searched ninety miles away?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from Patricia Allen’s departure on February 9 through the dismasting on February 11 and the subsequent search days, following the recorded log entries, equipment condition, and rescue coordination timeline to probe what really happened during those ten days at sea.

Person: Patricia Allen
Vessel: Vela Buena, 31-foot sloop
Date: February 9-21 (events centered around dismasting on February 11)
Location: Approximately 60 miles south-southwest of the Dry Tortugas
Rescue Coordination: Miami sector, search opened February 15 based on EPIRB data

- EPIRB activated as it sank and transmitted for 11 minutes, but its position data was corrupted by approximately 90 miles.
- Fourteen aircraft passed over the Vela Buena in eighteen days while Patricia recorded ten sightings in four days and did not fire any flares.
- The flare kit remained in original sealed packaging, swollen with moisture and never opened or used.
- Patricia noted the missing EPIRB bracket on February 16, five days after the dismasting; the bracket was sheared clean.
- The signal mirror recovered from the chart table was spotless and dry, unlike the corroded flare kit and seized VHF radio.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1162falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/roadside-logbook-bowling-ball-and-the-man-who-vanished-at-sea--73079737
A yellow logbook sat upright against a mile marker two miles from the nearest water after a five-day Gulf voyage - dry, deliberate, and belonging to a missing yacht captain. How did a meticulously kept logbook from a forty-two-foot ketch end up on a roadside while the boat and its owner were still unaccounted for at sea?

In this episode, we lay out the timeline from January 8 to January 19 and recount the entries, the shifting weather, and the decisions that followed the storm; can a single cramped pencil entry and a lone surviving bowling ball hold the answer?

Person: Dale Mercer
Person: Emily Williams
Person: Chris Mercer
Date: Departure January 8
Location: Carrabelle, Florida

- The Serafina Luz departed Carrabelle on January 8 at 09:40 with northeast winds at 12 knots and seas 1-2 feet.
- Dale Mercer’s last handwriting entry was on January 11 at 06:30 noting seas 10-12 feet, wind 28 knots, steering 195, "all well."
- A later pencil entry, signed "E. W." and dated about 14:15 on January 11, recorded "Wave came over. Dale gone. Charts gone. Cockpit destroyed. Engine dead. Chris injured."
- Emily navigated north by binnacle compass and wristwatch after the GPS cracked and failed by January 12; latitude read 24°51′N before failing.
- A yellow, dry logbook from the Serafina Luz was found propped against a mile marker on Curlew Road in Wakulla County on January 19, two miles from the nearest water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079737Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaRoadside Logbook, Bowling Ball and the Man Who Vanished at Sea A yellow logbook sat upright against a mile marker two miles from the nearest water after a five-day Gulf voyage - dry, deliberate, and belonging to a missing yacht captain. How did a...
A yellow logbook sat upright against a mile marker two miles from the nearest water after a five-day Gulf voyage - dry, deliberate, and belonging to a missing yacht captain. How did a meticulously kept logbook from a forty-two-foot ketch end up on a roadside while the boat and its owner were still unaccounted for at sea?

In this episode, we lay out the timeline from January 8 to January 19 and recount the entries, the shifting weather, and the decisions that followed the storm; can a single cramped pencil entry and a lone surviving bowling ball hold the answer?

Person: Dale Mercer
Person: Emily Williams
Person: Chris Mercer
Date: Departure January 8
Location: Carrabelle, Florida

- The Serafina Luz departed Carrabelle on January 8 at 09:40 with northeast winds at 12 knots and seas 1-2 feet.
- Dale Mercer’s last handwriting entry was on January 11 at 06:30 noting seas 10-12 feet, wind 28 knots, steering 195, "all well."
- A later pencil entry, signed "E. W." and dated about 14:15 on January 11, recorded "Wave came over. Dale gone. Charts gone. Cockpit destroyed. Engine dead. Chris injured."
- Emily navigated north by binnacle compass and wristwatch after the GPS cracked and failed by January 12; latitude read 24°51′N before failing.
- A yellow, dry logbook from the Serafina Luz was found propped against a mile marker on Curlew Road in Wakulla County on January 19, two miles from the nearest water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1139falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-the-dog-and-eleven-days-adrift--73079734
A stray dog found a dry spiral notebook wedged in roots at the waterline nine miles from where a woman was clinging to life after eleven days at sea - and that notebook contained rationed water logs, daily dead-reckoning entries, and a handwritten account of how she survived without radio, flares, or instruments. How did a one-dollar notebook and a bailing bucket become the only record keeping her alive?

In this episode, we follow the day-by-day entries and the sequence of small mistakes and deliberate actions that defined Lisa Farrell’s survival and the search that eventually found her. What do her log entries reveal about navigation, resource management, and the margin between preparation and disaster?

Person: Lisa Farrell
Date: November 22-December 3 (eleven days adrift)
Location: nine miles southwest from where the notebook was found; nineteen nautical miles southwest of Cape Clifton when the waterspout hit
Vessel: Heron's Watch, ten-meter sloop
Finder: Scout (pointer mix dog) at 7:15 on December 3

- Lisa filed a float plan with destination Apalachicola, roughly 170 nautical miles, and an estimated return of November 28.
- The navigation plan emergency contact number ended in a "3" in Lisa's handwriting but should have ended in "4", delaying search efforts by five days.
- A waterspout struck on the evening of November 23, nineteen nautical miles southwest of Cape Clifton, capsizing the Heron's Watch.
- Lisa recorded daily entries beginning "Day One" and used dead reckoning to estimate position, later found to be 19 kilometers off.
- She collected approximately 1.5 liters of rainwater during a storm and caught a small amberjack on Day One using a hook fashioned from repair-kit wire.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079734Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook, the Dog, and Eleven Days Adrift A stray dog found a dry spiral notebook wedged in roots at the waterline nine miles from where a woman was clinging to life after eleven days at sea - and that notebook contained rationed water logs,...
A stray dog found a dry spiral notebook wedged in roots at the waterline nine miles from where a woman was clinging to life after eleven days at sea - and that notebook contained rationed water logs, daily dead-reckoning entries, and a handwritten account of how she survived without radio, flares, or instruments. How did a one-dollar notebook and a bailing bucket become the only record keeping her alive?

In this episode, we follow the day-by-day entries and the sequence of small mistakes and deliberate actions that defined Lisa Farrell’s survival and the search that eventually found her. What do her log entries reveal about navigation, resource management, and the margin between preparation and disaster?

Person: Lisa Farrell
Date: November 22-December 3 (eleven days adrift)
Location: nine miles southwest from where the notebook was found; nineteen nautical miles southwest of Cape Clifton when the waterspout hit
Vessel: Heron's Watch, ten-meter sloop
Finder: Scout (pointer mix dog) at 7:15 on December 3

- Lisa filed a float plan with destination Apalachicola, roughly 170 nautical miles, and an estimated return of November 28.
- The navigation plan emergency contact number ended in a "3" in Lisa's handwriting but should have ended in "4", delaying search efforts by five days.
- A waterspout struck on the evening of November 23, nineteen nautical miles southwest of Cape Clifton, capsizing the Heron's Watch.
- Lisa recorded daily entries beginning "Day One" and used dead reckoning to estimate position, later found to be 19 kilometers off.
- She collected approximately 1.5 liters of rainwater during a storm and caught a small amberjack on Day One using a hook fashioned from repair-kit wire.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>936falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/survivor-seals-a-note-before-her-ship-burns-the-aldine-star-ordeal--73079733
Adrenaline and desperation shaped a tiny, dry sheet of paper that drifted into George Duncan’s crab trap and carried seven names-and a life-saving clue-through a Gulf that had already lost a ship. The note listed five people labeled "swimmer" and two labeled "no"; could a single sealed message point the Coast Guard to survivors lost for eleven days?

In this episode, you will hear how a collision, a frozen GPS, and a misplaced reported position sent searchers to the wrong place while seven people clung to a life raft, and how one second officer’s actions on day three changed everything. What exactly did the note reveal, and how did it redirect a search that had been going in circles?

Person: Jennifer Brooks
Person: Raymond Acosta
Person: Patrick Weir
Event: Collision with Meridian Bay on November 8
Duration: Aldine Star sank one hour and eleven minutes after impact

- The zip-lock bag with a folded dry sheet was found at 8:40 AM on November 19 by George Duncan.
- The sheet listed seven names, with the words "swimmer" next to five names and "no" next to two.
- The Aldine Star was struck at 10:40 PM and sank at 11:51 PM on the night of November 8.
- The Meridian Bay’s primary GPS froze 18 minutes before the collision, causing a positional error of 14 nautical miles in the reported wreck location.
- The Coast Guard search based on the incorrect reported position continued in the wrong area for eleven days before the note redirected efforts.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079733Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSurvivor Seals a Note Before Her Ship Burns: The Aldine Star Ordeal Adrenaline and desperation shaped a tiny, dry sheet of paper that drifted into George Duncan’s crab trap and carried seven names-and a life-saving clue-through a Gulf that had...
Adrenaline and desperation shaped a tiny, dry sheet of paper that drifted into George Duncan’s crab trap and carried seven names-and a life-saving clue-through a Gulf that had already lost a ship. The note listed five people labeled "swimmer" and two labeled "no"; could a single sealed message point the Coast Guard to survivors lost for eleven days?

In this episode, you will hear how a collision, a frozen GPS, and a misplaced reported position sent searchers to the wrong place while seven people clung to a life raft, and how one second officer’s actions on day three changed everything. What exactly did the note reveal, and how did it redirect a search that had been going in circles?

Person: Jennifer Brooks
Person: Raymond Acosta
Person: Patrick Weir
Event: Collision with Meridian Bay on November 8
Duration: Aldine Star sank one hour and eleven minutes after impact

- The zip-lock bag with a folded dry sheet was found at 8:40 AM on November 19 by George Duncan.
- The sheet listed seven names, with the words "swimmer" next to five names and "no" next to two.
- The Aldine Star was struck at 10:40 PM and sank at 11:51 PM on the night of November 8.
- The Meridian Bay’s primary GPS froze 18 minutes before the collision, causing a positional error of 14 nautical miles in the reported wreck location.
- The Coast Guard search based on the incorrect reported position continued in the wrong area for eleven days before the note redirected efforts.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1206falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fog-water-a-tumbler-and-the-sailors-it-couldn-t-save--73079731
Fog water collected from a drifter sail filled a child's plastic tumbler with roughly forty milliliters of faintly salty liquid - discovered five months after two people made it two hundred miles from shore. How did a sealed cup of condensation travel intact across mud and months to reveal the last traces of a voyage that ended with a sinking, a hospital bed, and a missing crewmember?

In this episode, we tell what happened to the Jeanneau forty-one sloop Ardent Season from the failure of its watermaker less than twenty-four hours out of Key West to the storm that pushed it southwest and the makeshift fog collection that followed. What choices and small salvations changed everything aboard, and where did they lead when the hull began to flood?

Person: April Hamilton
Person: Douglas Crane
Event: Watermaker failure less than 24 hours after departure
Date: October 9-15, 2023
Location: Gulf of Mexico, route from Key West toward Isla Mujeres

- April Hamilton was fifty-three years old when she left Key West on October 9, 2023.
- The Ardent Season carried roughly twenty gallons of fresh water after the watermaker failed.
- The watermaker failed just after midnight on October 10, 2023, less than twenty-four hours out of Key West.
- A drifter sail produced fog water collected in a plastic tumbler that held roughly forty milliliters when found.
- Norman Norris found the sealed tumbler half-buried in mud south of Everglades City on March 4, 2024.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079731Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaFog Water, a Tumbler, and the Sailors It Couldn't Save Fog water collected from a drifter sail filled a child's plastic tumbler with roughly forty milliliters of faintly salty liquid - discovered five months after two people made it two hundred...
Fog water collected from a drifter sail filled a child's plastic tumbler with roughly forty milliliters of faintly salty liquid - discovered five months after two people made it two hundred miles from shore. How did a sealed cup of condensation travel intact across mud and months to reveal the last traces of a voyage that ended with a sinking, a hospital bed, and a missing crewmember?

In this episode, we tell what happened to the Jeanneau forty-one sloop Ardent Season from the failure of its watermaker less than twenty-four hours out of Key West to the storm that pushed it southwest and the makeshift fog collection that followed. What choices and small salvations changed everything aboard, and where did they lead when the hull began to flood?

Person: April Hamilton
Person: Douglas Crane
Event: Watermaker failure less than 24 hours after departure
Date: October 9-15, 2023
Location: Gulf of Mexico, route from Key West toward Isla Mujeres

- April Hamilton was fifty-three years old when she left Key West on October 9, 2023.
- The Ardent Season carried roughly twenty gallons of fresh water after the watermaker failed.
- The watermaker failed just after midnight on October 10, 2023, less than twenty-four hours out of Key West.
- A drifter sail produced fog water collected in a plastic tumbler that held roughly forty milliliters when found.
- Norman Norris found the sealed tumbler half-buried in mud south of Everglades City on March 4, 2024.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1135falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/twelve-days-at-sea-the-paint-tin-that-told-a-rescue-story--73079728
A small tin of watercolor paints, eight colors and a single brush, sat dry and undamaged in the cockpit of a sailboat found seven miles inland-yet the woman who owned that boat had been floating in open water for nearly three days before anyone looked the right way. Why did a paint tin, never mentioned in the official rescue report, become the thread linking a midnight fire, a captain’s near-miss decision, and a brother who did not survive?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the Callie Mae’s departure on September 2, 2019 to the fire on September 13, and the rescue that followed, tracing how routines and small objects revealed what happened and who was involved. What does the paint tin tell us about the choices made during those twelve days?

Person: Sherry Thorpe, age 44 in summer 2019
Person: Ted Thorpe, age 37
Vessel: Callie Mae, 38-foot sloop
Date: Departure September 2, 2019; fire at 11:37 PM on September 13, 2019
Location: Palmetto Reach Municipal Marina (departure); sailboat found seven miles inland in a drainage ditch

- Sherry had lived aboard the Callie Mae for four years after leaving interior design work in 2015.
- She wrote a ritual letter on day twelve of every offshore passage; the September 12 letter to Ted was written one day before the fire.
- The watercolor tin contained eight colors and a single brush held by an elastic band and looked placed that morning according to the septic worker who found it.
- Sherry ate breakfast every Thursday at the Spoonbill diner and always left a $5 tip folded once under her plate.
- The mast of the Callie Mae was cracked clean against a culvert wall when the boat was found in the drainage ditch.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079728Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaTwelve Days at Sea: The Paint Tin That Told a Rescue Story A small tin of watercolor paints, eight colors and a single brush, sat dry and undamaged in the cockpit of a sailboat found seven miles inland-yet the woman who owned that boat had been...
A small tin of watercolor paints, eight colors and a single brush, sat dry and undamaged in the cockpit of a sailboat found seven miles inland-yet the woman who owned that boat had been floating in open water for nearly three days before anyone looked the right way. Why did a paint tin, never mentioned in the official rescue report, become the thread linking a midnight fire, a captain’s near-miss decision, and a brother who did not survive?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the Callie Mae’s departure on September 2, 2019 to the fire on September 13, and the rescue that followed, tracing how routines and small objects revealed what happened and who was involved. What does the paint tin tell us about the choices made during those twelve days?

Person: Sherry Thorpe, age 44 in summer 2019
Person: Ted Thorpe, age 37
Vessel: Callie Mae, 38-foot sloop
Date: Departure September 2, 2019; fire at 11:37 PM on September 13, 2019
Location: Palmetto Reach Municipal Marina (departure); sailboat found seven miles inland in a drainage ditch

- Sherry had lived aboard the Callie Mae for four years after leaving interior design work in 2015.
- She wrote a ritual letter on day twelve of every offshore passage; the September 12 letter to Ted was written one day before the fire.
- The watercolor tin contained eight colors and a single brush held by an elastic band and looked placed that morning according to the septic worker who found it.
- Sherry ate breakfast every Thursday at the Spoonbill diner and always left a $5 tip folded once under her plate.
- The mast of the Callie Mae was cracked clean against a culvert wall when the boat was found in the drainage ditch.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1183falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-beacon-lied-how-one-stuck-buoy-sent-rescuers-away--73079727
A single stuck ocean buoy sent rescuers chasing the wrong water while Judith Edwards drifted northwest alone in a life raft - the beacon transmitted for six days from a point three miles from Rebecca Shoals, but she was nineteen miles in the other direction. How did a device meant to guide search teams end up locking them into the exact wrong spot?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the night Judith activated her EPIRB through the six-day search, showing how the buoy’s fixed transmission and the resulting drift models moved the search grid south as Judith drifted northwest. Why did every aircraft look where she wasn’t?

Person: Judith Edwards
Age: 29
Vessel: 31-foot sloop Crestline
Event: EPIRB activated at 23:51 on August 8, 2019
Duration: Beacon transmitted for six days

- The EPIRB began transmitting from the northern edge of Rebecca Shoals on the night of August 8, 2019.
- Judith activated the EPIRB at 23:51 the night the squall hit and the boat became disabled.
- The stuck buoy had been on the seafloor since August 5 and was located three miles from Rebecca Shoals.
- Search assets used the buoy-fed drift model and searched progressively further south while Judith drifted northwest.
- The true location that would have found Judith was nineteen miles in the opposite direction of where most aircraft were searching.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079727Fri, 25 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Beacon Lied: How One Stuck Buoy Sent Rescuers Away A single stuck ocean buoy sent rescuers chasing the wrong water while Judith Edwards drifted northwest alone in a life raft - the beacon transmitted for six days from a point three miles from...
A single stuck ocean buoy sent rescuers chasing the wrong water while Judith Edwards drifted northwest alone in a life raft - the beacon transmitted for six days from a point three miles from Rebecca Shoals, but she was nineteen miles in the other direction. How did a device meant to guide search teams end up locking them into the exact wrong spot?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the night Judith activated her EPIRB through the six-day search, showing how the buoy’s fixed transmission and the resulting drift models moved the search grid south as Judith drifted northwest. Why did every aircraft look where she wasn’t?

Person: Judith Edwards
Age: 29
Vessel: 31-foot sloop Crestline
Event: EPIRB activated at 23:51 on August 8, 2019
Duration: Beacon transmitted for six days

- The EPIRB began transmitting from the northern edge of Rebecca Shoals on the night of August 8, 2019.
- Judith activated the EPIRB at 23:51 the night the squall hit and the boat became disabled.
- The stuck buoy had been on the seafloor since August 5 and was located three miles from Rebecca Shoals.
- Search assets used the buoy-fed drift model and searched progressively further south while Judith drifted northwest.
- The true location that would have found Judith was nineteen miles in the opposite direction of where most aircraft were searching.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1090falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/compass-on-the-dock-woman-adrift-how-one-photo-saved-her--73079726
A young girl found a brass compass sitting perfectly upright on a dock at 5:00 AM and photographed it - a single image that later proved pivotal in saving a woman lost at sea. Four miles separated the search from the real location because a chartplotter had been logging an impossible position; how did a compass photo from Slip Fourteen point rescuers to the truth?

In this episode, we follow the chain of events from a morning flashlight sweep to a thirty-one-hour ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico, showing how small choices and a single photograph intersected with failed hardware and a mislocated emergency beacon - and what finally answered the open question of where Amanda Ramsey actually was.

Person: Sharon Reynolds
Person: Amanda Ramsey
Date: July 5, 2019
Location: Slip Fourteen, Pelican Flats
Event: Woman adrift in the Gulf for 31 hours

- At 5:00 AM on July 5, 2019, 14-year-old Sharon Reynolds photographed a brass compass upright on a dock box lid at Slip Fourteen.
- Amanda Ramsey had been floating in the Gulf of Mexico for 31 hours when the compass photograph became relevant.
- The emergency beacon Amanda activated transmitted a position that was incorrect, leading searchers to look four miles northwest of her actual location.
- The Maren Claire left Pelican Flats at 7:00 AM on July 3 and by the afternoon of July 4 was roughly 60 miles south of the Florida Panhandle.
- A wave and gusts recorded at 51 knots caused Amanda’s aftermarket harness buckle to fail within four minutes, throwing her overboard and prompting her to trigger the beacon within 30 seconds.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079726Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaCompass on the Dock, Woman Adrift: How One Photo Saved Her A young girl found a brass compass sitting perfectly upright on a dock at 5:00 AM and photographed it - a single image that later proved pivotal in saving a woman lost at sea. Four miles...
A young girl found a brass compass sitting perfectly upright on a dock at 5:00 AM and photographed it - a single image that later proved pivotal in saving a woman lost at sea. Four miles separated the search from the real location because a chartplotter had been logging an impossible position; how did a compass photo from Slip Fourteen point rescuers to the truth?

In this episode, we follow the chain of events from a morning flashlight sweep to a thirty-one-hour ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico, showing how small choices and a single photograph intersected with failed hardware and a mislocated emergency beacon - and what finally answered the open question of where Amanda Ramsey actually was.

Person: Sharon Reynolds
Person: Amanda Ramsey
Date: July 5, 2019
Location: Slip Fourteen, Pelican Flats
Event: Woman adrift in the Gulf for 31 hours

- At 5:00 AM on July 5, 2019, 14-year-old Sharon Reynolds photographed a brass compass upright on a dock box lid at Slip Fourteen.
- Amanda Ramsey had been floating in the Gulf of Mexico for 31 hours when the compass photograph became relevant.
- The emergency beacon Amanda activated transmitted a position that was incorrect, leading searchers to look four miles northwest of her actual location.
- The Maren Claire left Pelican Flats at 7:00 AM on July 3 and by the afternoon of July 4 was roughly 60 miles south of the Florida Panhandle.
- A wave and gusts recorded at 51 knots caused Amanda’s aftermarket harness buckle to fail within four minutes, throwing her overboard and prompting her to trigger the beacon within 30 seconds.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1156falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sealed-canister-the-missing-men-and-the-drift-of-truth--73079725
The image of an intact orange canister labeled PERSEVERANCE II, found seven feet above the waterline while two crewmembers were missing, creates a chill: a lifesaving device untouched in gravel while a man drifted below. How did a sealed Switlik canister and a survivor's raft from the same wreck end up on divergent courses that misled rescuers?

In this episode, you will hear the facts of the voyage, the storm, and the search as told from the scene - from the filed float plan at Dunmore Harbor to the discovery on a county causeway - and consider how objects and currents can tell conflicting stories. Which drift really mapped the fate of PERSEVERANCE II?

Person: Frank Hollis
Person: Warren Slade
Person: Person: Julie Berry
Location: Pelican Flats Causeway
Event: Switlik canister found sealed seven feet above the waterline

- The orange canister labeled "PERSEVERANCE II" was found seven feet above the waterline in loose gravel on Pelican Flats Causeway.
- The canister's factory seal was intact and its inspection sticker showed March 2010 as current.
- PERSEVERANCE II left Dunmore Harbor three days before the canister was found and was bound for Navarre Cay.
- Three people had been aboard: Frank Hollis (age 67), Warren Slade, and Julie Berry (age 22); two were lost and one survived on a secondary inflatable.
- The survivor, Julie Berry, suffered a dislocated right shoulder from a swung boom and deployed the backup inflatable from the lazarette locker with one functional arm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079725Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Sealed Canister, The Missing Men, and the Drift of Truth The image of an intact orange canister labeled PERSEVERANCE II, found seven feet above the waterline while two crewmembers were missing, creates a chill: a lifesaving device untouched in...
The image of an intact orange canister labeled PERSEVERANCE II, found seven feet above the waterline while two crewmembers were missing, creates a chill: a lifesaving device untouched in gravel while a man drifted below. How did a sealed Switlik canister and a survivor's raft from the same wreck end up on divergent courses that misled rescuers?

In this episode, you will hear the facts of the voyage, the storm, and the search as told from the scene - from the filed float plan at Dunmore Harbor to the discovery on a county causeway - and consider how objects and currents can tell conflicting stories. Which drift really mapped the fate of PERSEVERANCE II?

Person: Frank Hollis
Person: Warren Slade
Person: Person: Julie Berry
Location: Pelican Flats Causeway
Event: Switlik canister found sealed seven feet above the waterline

- The orange canister labeled "PERSEVERANCE II" was found seven feet above the waterline in loose gravel on Pelican Flats Causeway.
- The canister's factory seal was intact and its inspection sticker showed March 2010 as current.
- PERSEVERANCE II left Dunmore Harbor three days before the canister was found and was bound for Navarre Cay.
- Three people had been aboard: Frank Hollis (age 67), Warren Slade, and Julie Berry (age 22); two were lost and one survived on a secondary inflatable.
- The survivor, Julie Berry, suffered a dislocated right shoulder from a swung boom and deployed the backup inflatable from the lazarette locker with one functional arm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-right-shoe-how-one-sneaker-revealed-a-ferry-s-last-minutes--73079724
A single child's right sneaker was found upright on a transformer fifteen miles from where the Marguerite Soleil capsized, and that shoe would travel farther than anyone could explain - tracing it helped confirm what rescue teams already suspected but could not yet prove. How did one shoe, a storm front, and less than forty seconds between upright and inverted change everything?

In this episode, we follow the timeline, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence surrounding the Marguerite Soleil ferry capsize to show how a small object linked distant scenes and clarified the vessel's final minutes. What does that lone sneaker reveal about who survived, who didn’t, and how the capsize unfolded?

Date: May 14, 2019
Event: Marguerite Soleil capsize
Location: Terrebonne Bay / Pointe aux Pins crossing
Person: Cooper Finley
Status: Five people missing / five never came home

- The ferry left Pointe aux Pins at 4:50 PM and the National Weather Service advisory took effect at 5:00 PM.
- By 5:12 PM the storm front was three miles from shore; by 5:20 PM it struck the ferry broadside.
- The Marguerite Soleil carried 26 people on board though it was licensed for 22 passengers and 4 crew.
- The vessel went from upright to inverted in less than 40 seconds.
- Cooper Finley, age 7, was found floating in Terrebonne Bay holding a horseshoe ring with only his right shoe on.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079724Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Right Shoe: How One Sneaker Revealed a Ferry's Last Minutes A single child's right sneaker was found upright on a transformer fifteen miles from where the Marguerite Soleil capsized, and that shoe would travel farther than anyone could explain...
A single child's right sneaker was found upright on a transformer fifteen miles from where the Marguerite Soleil capsized, and that shoe would travel farther than anyone could explain - tracing it helped confirm what rescue teams already suspected but could not yet prove. How did one shoe, a storm front, and less than forty seconds between upright and inverted change everything?

In this episode, we follow the timeline, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence surrounding the Marguerite Soleil ferry capsize to show how a small object linked distant scenes and clarified the vessel's final minutes. What does that lone sneaker reveal about who survived, who didn’t, and how the capsize unfolded?

Date: May 14, 2019
Event: Marguerite Soleil capsize
Location: Terrebonne Bay / Pointe aux Pins crossing
Person: Cooper Finley
Status: Five people missing / five never came home

- The ferry left Pointe aux Pins at 4:50 PM and the National Weather Service advisory took effect at 5:00 PM.
- By 5:12 PM the storm front was three miles from shore; by 5:20 PM it struck the ferry broadside.
- The Marguerite Soleil carried 26 people on board though it was licensed for 22 passengers and 4 crew.
- The vessel went from upright to inverted in less than 40 seconds.
- Cooper Finley, age 7, was found floating in Terrebonne Bay holding a horseshoe ring with only his right shoe on.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1222falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-that-crossed-240-miles-his-last-line-wasn-t-a-farewell--73079723
A sixty-two-year-old retired civil engineer survived forty-one days alone on the Gulf after his 1987 Morgan Out Island was knocked down by a gust that jumped from 12 to 50 knots in under four minutes, and a spiral-bound notebook traveled roughly 240 miles of open water to wash ashore standing upright with a pen clipped to its cover. Who wrote the last single-sentence entry and why did that sentence - not a distress call or a goodbye - take days to reach the person it was meant for?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to rescue: the meticulous six-year planning, the sudden squall that destroyed the rig, the eleven-hour effort to cut away the mast, the improvised repairs, and the notebook’s odd arrival on Pelican Flat Road - and we ask what that final line reveals about those forty-one days.

Person: Douglas Owens
Age: 62
Vessel: 1987 Morgan Out Island 41
Departure date: March 7
Beach discovery time: 3:40 AM on April 19

- The wind jumped from 12 knots to 50 knots in less than four minutes at 3:40 AM on April 7.
- Douglas spent eleven hours cutting the mast free with a hacksaw and bolt cutters while alone in a partially flooded cockpit.
- The boat carried 22 gallons of diesel when Douglas ran the engine northeast for eight hours after the knock-down.
- The journal traveled roughly 240 miles across the Gulf to wash up on Manatee Key.
- The last normal journal entry was dated April 6; the final single-sentence entry was written after 41 days alone at sea.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079723Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook That Crossed 240 Miles - His Last Line Wasn't a Farewell A sixty-two-year-old retired civil engineer survived forty-one days alone on the Gulf after his 1987 Morgan Out Island was knocked down by a gust that jumped from 12 to 50 knots...
A sixty-two-year-old retired civil engineer survived forty-one days alone on the Gulf after his 1987 Morgan Out Island was knocked down by a gust that jumped from 12 to 50 knots in under four minutes, and a spiral-bound notebook traveled roughly 240 miles of open water to wash ashore standing upright with a pen clipped to its cover. Who wrote the last single-sentence entry and why did that sentence - not a distress call or a goodbye - take days to reach the person it was meant for?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to rescue: the meticulous six-year planning, the sudden squall that destroyed the rig, the eleven-hour effort to cut away the mast, the improvised repairs, and the notebook’s odd arrival on Pelican Flat Road - and we ask what that final line reveals about those forty-one days.

Person: Douglas Owens
Age: 62
Vessel: 1987 Morgan Out Island 41
Departure date: March 7
Beach discovery time: 3:40 AM on April 19

- The wind jumped from 12 knots to 50 knots in less than four minutes at 3:40 AM on April 7.
- Douglas spent eleven hours cutting the mast free with a hacksaw and bolt cutters while alone in a partially flooded cockpit.
- The boat carried 22 gallons of diesel when Douglas ran the engine northeast for eight hours after the knock-down.
- The journal traveled roughly 240 miles across the Gulf to wash up on Manatee Key.
- The last normal journal entry was dated April 6; the final single-sentence entry was written after 41 days alone at sea.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1159falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sealed-from-inside-the-sinking-of-the-edna-claire--73079721
A fully deployed six-person life raft was found 400 yards from the nearest water with its zipper fastened from the inside - and no vehicle, no trailer, no tire marks. The raft led investigators through seven days of searching the wrong patch of Atlantic and back to a decision made eleven months earlier that would prove decisive; how did a raft built for open-ocean survival end up in a gravel lot inland?

In this episode, we tell what happened on the Edna Claire from departure to disappearance, who was on board, and how a missing update to a float plan helped steer a week-long search into the wrong area - could one undocumented raft and one unreported course change explain everything?

Person: Pete Alderman
Person: Marie Morgan
Person: Vic Pruitt
Person: Nate Bowman
Event: Radio transmission "Taking water" at 19:48 on March 13

- A six-person offshore-rated life raft was found fully deployed 400 yards from the nearest water with the zipper fastened from the inside.
- Pete Alderman purchased the orange, offshore-rated raft eleven months before loading it aboard the Edna Claire the night before departure.
- The Coast Guard documentation for the Edna Claire listed a four-person raft, not the six-person unit Alderman had bought.
- The Edna Claire departed Harwick Marina on the morning of March 11 and went silent after a radio transmission at 19:48 on March 13.
- The vessel's filed float plan listed a destination about 112 miles southeast, but Alderman altered course toward the Ledge (roughly 97 miles east-northeast) after a 05:00 March 11 call, without updating the float plan.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079721Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSealed From Inside: The Sinking of the Edna Claire A fully deployed six-person life raft was found 400 yards from the nearest water with its zipper fastened from the inside - and no vehicle, no trailer, no tire marks. The raft led investigators...
A fully deployed six-person life raft was found 400 yards from the nearest water with its zipper fastened from the inside - and no vehicle, no trailer, no tire marks. The raft led investigators through seven days of searching the wrong patch of Atlantic and back to a decision made eleven months earlier that would prove decisive; how did a raft built for open-ocean survival end up in a gravel lot inland?

In this episode, we tell what happened on the Edna Claire from departure to disappearance, who was on board, and how a missing update to a float plan helped steer a week-long search into the wrong area - could one undocumented raft and one unreported course change explain everything?

Person: Pete Alderman
Person: Marie Morgan
Person: Vic Pruitt
Person: Nate Bowman
Event: Radio transmission "Taking water" at 19:48 on March 13

- A six-person offshore-rated life raft was found fully deployed 400 yards from the nearest water with the zipper fastened from the inside.
- Pete Alderman purchased the orange, offshore-rated raft eleven months before loading it aboard the Edna Claire the night before departure.
- The Coast Guard documentation for the Edna Claire listed a four-person raft, not the six-person unit Alderman had bought.
- The Edna Claire departed Harwick Marina on the morning of March 11 and went silent after a radio transmission at 19:48 on March 13.
- The vessel's filed float plan listed a destination about 112 miles southeast, but Alderman altered course toward the Ledge (roughly 97 miles east-northeast) after a 05:00 March 11 call, without updating the float plan.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1265falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hours-clinging-to-a-capsized-sloop-the-vera-lea-mystery--73079720
The watch that redirected a search was ticking in sand seventy miles from where anyone expected-four days after Alice Erickson disappeared and while the search teams were looking in the wrong place. A forty-two-foot sloop capsized in gusts over thirty knots and fourteen-foot seas, an EPIRB that never fired, and a single ten-dollar watch with a serial number left a question: how did she survive ninety-seven hours alone on the Atlantic and where did the boat go in that time?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Alice’s departure to the capsize and the early search, tracing the equipment failures, the timeline of her last log entry, and the discovery that shifted the search area. How did a successful cut free of the mast lead to a hull re-righting, a lost EPIRB, and an impossible survival window?

Person: Alice Erickson
Age: 48
Vessel: Vera Lea, 42-foot Pearson sloop (built 1981)
Departure: February 14, 2019 at 5:50 AM from Fernandina Beach
Last AIS: February 14, 2019 at 11:47 PM ~30 nautical miles NE of St. Augustine

- The capsize occurred at 2:47 AM after winds shifted to northwest with gusts above 30 knots and swells up to 14 feet.
- Alice worked for 40 minutes with bolt cutters in 35-knot wind to free the mast; the last stay parted at 3:05 AM.
- At 3:10 AM she wrote in the waterproof log: "if it makes it, I didn't."
- At 3:29 AM, 19 minutes after that entry, Alice found the hull and clambered aboard by wedging into a chainplate recess.
- A Casio watch with a mustard-yellow silicone band, still ticking, was found on the shore of Tillman Cove at 7:40 AM on February 19, 2019, about 70 miles north of the last AIS position.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079720Sat, 19 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHours Clinging to a Capsized Sloop: The Vera Lea Mystery The watch that redirected a search was ticking in sand seventy miles from where anyone expected-four days after Alice Erickson disappeared and while the search teams were looking in the wrong...
The watch that redirected a search was ticking in sand seventy miles from where anyone expected-four days after Alice Erickson disappeared and while the search teams were looking in the wrong place. A forty-two-foot sloop capsized in gusts over thirty knots and fourteen-foot seas, an EPIRB that never fired, and a single ten-dollar watch with a serial number left a question: how did she survive ninety-seven hours alone on the Atlantic and where did the boat go in that time?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Alice’s departure to the capsize and the early search, tracing the equipment failures, the timeline of her last log entry, and the discovery that shifted the search area. How did a successful cut free of the mast lead to a hull re-righting, a lost EPIRB, and an impossible survival window?

Person: Alice Erickson
Age: 48
Vessel: Vera Lea, 42-foot Pearson sloop (built 1981)
Departure: February 14, 2019 at 5:50 AM from Fernandina Beach
Last AIS: February 14, 2019 at 11:47 PM ~30 nautical miles NE of St. Augustine

- The capsize occurred at 2:47 AM after winds shifted to northwest with gusts above 30 knots and swells up to 14 feet.
- Alice worked for 40 minutes with bolt cutters in 35-knot wind to free the mast; the last stay parted at 3:05 AM.
- At 3:10 AM she wrote in the waterproof log: "if it makes it, I didn't."
- At 3:29 AM, 19 minutes after that entry, Alice found the hull and clambered aboard by wedging into a chainplate recess.
- A Casio watch with a mustard-yellow silicone band, still ticking, was found on the shore of Tillman Cove at 7:40 AM on February 19, 2019, about 70 miles north of the last AIS position.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1075falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bone-dry-note-in-a-child-s-vest-her-last-lunch-and-goodbye--73079719
A three-by-five index card, bone dry, was found inside a child’s life vest that had spent seventeen days at sea, yet the card had not absorbed a single drop of water. The four blue ballpoint lines read like a breakfast order and a farewell: "Thursday. Booth four. Large black, no sugar. Tell Mom I tried." How did a dry card survive seventeen days on the Atlantic and carry the last words Diane Keller chose to leave behind?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Diane Keller’s routine Thursday at Patsy’s Table to the offshore passage that ended with a dismasted sloop and a disabled radio - and the single, preserved note that washed ashore weeks later. What moments and choices between her morning coffee and the mast’s fall explain the card she wrote and the decisions she made at sea?

Person: Diane Keller
Age: 32
Vessel: 38-foot fiberglass cutter renamed Willowmere
Days at sea before the vest was found: 17
Date of journal entry with Patsy’s ritual: January 4

- Diane wrote the four-line card on January 14 while alone on a disabled sailboat drifting in the Atlantic.
- The Willowmere’s mast had been down for eight days when she wrote the card.
- Diane signed out from Winslow Marina at 1:17 p.m. before an offshore passage she told the dockmaster might last three weeks.
- On January 6 at 2:00 a.m. the wind reached 38 knots and the mast fell, tethered to the hull by rigging.
- Diane activated the EPIRB at 4:20 a.m., sending her coordinates to Coast Guard Sector Charleston.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079719Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaBone-Dry Note in a Child's Vest: Her Last Lunch and Goodbye A three-by-five index card, bone dry, was found inside a child’s life vest that had spent seventeen days at sea, yet the card had not absorbed a single drop of water. The four blue...
A three-by-five index card, bone dry, was found inside a child’s life vest that had spent seventeen days at sea, yet the card had not absorbed a single drop of water. The four blue ballpoint lines read like a breakfast order and a farewell: "Thursday. Booth four. Large black, no sugar. Tell Mom I tried." How did a dry card survive seventeen days on the Atlantic and carry the last words Diane Keller chose to leave behind?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Diane Keller’s routine Thursday at Patsy’s Table to the offshore passage that ended with a dismasted sloop and a disabled radio - and the single, preserved note that washed ashore weeks later. What moments and choices between her morning coffee and the mast’s fall explain the card she wrote and the decisions she made at sea?

Person: Diane Keller
Age: 32
Vessel: 38-foot fiberglass cutter renamed Willowmere
Days at sea before the vest was found: 17
Date of journal entry with Patsy’s ritual: January 4

- Diane wrote the four-line card on January 14 while alone on a disabled sailboat drifting in the Atlantic.
- The Willowmere’s mast had been down for eight days when she wrote the card.
- Diane signed out from Winslow Marina at 1:17 p.m. before an offshore passage she told the dockmaster might last three weeks.
- On January 6 at 2:00 a.m. the wind reached 38 knots and the mast fell, tethered to the hull by rigging.
- Diane activated the EPIRB at 4:20 a.m., sending her coordinates to Coast Guard Sector Charleston.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1245falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/twelve-miles-of-night-how-patience-cay-swallowed-a-boat-and-three-souls--73079718
A compass washed ashore where the charts say nothing ever lands, a brass lid engraved with initials and a marine license number - and the current that should have carried debris south did something no map predicts. Patience Cay swallowed an entire vessel and its three people inside twelve miles of water; how did a life raft end up without its tether and a shoe and foam appear in a straight line on the eastern bar?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Alder Island Marina departure through the unusual northward heading, the last log entry “current wrong. holding position.” and the discovery of scattered evidence on Patience Cay, asking whether human decisions in four fatal minutes can explain where the Eudora Bess finally went.

Person: Alice Carlson
Person: Tom Ibarra
Person: Debra Winn
Event: Sinking between 22:00 and 24:00 on December 17, 2011
Location: Eastern bar of Patience Cay

- A military surplus brass-lidded compass was found face-up on the eastern bar on the morning of December 19, 2011.
- The compass lid was engraved with a set of initials and a four-digit marine license number.
- A palm-sized section of orange flotation foam was found nine feet from the compass, and a size eight blue canvas shoe nine feet beyond that.
- Alice Carlson logged departure from Alder Island Marina at 18:47 on December 17, 2011, and made a final log entry at 20:41 stating “current wrong. holding position.”
- The life raft canister recovered on December 22 lacked its retaining tether, indicating it was manually deployed while the Eudora Bess was still afloat.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079718Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaTwelve Miles of Night: How Patience Cay Swallowed a Boat and Three Souls A compass washed ashore where the charts say nothing ever lands, a brass lid engraved with initials and a marine license number - and the current that should have carried...
A compass washed ashore where the charts say nothing ever lands, a brass lid engraved with initials and a marine license number - and the current that should have carried debris south did something no map predicts. Patience Cay swallowed an entire vessel and its three people inside twelve miles of water; how did a life raft end up without its tether and a shoe and foam appear in a straight line on the eastern bar?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Alder Island Marina departure through the unusual northward heading, the last log entry “current wrong. holding position.” and the discovery of scattered evidence on Patience Cay, asking whether human decisions in four fatal minutes can explain where the Eudora Bess finally went.

Person: Alice Carlson
Person: Tom Ibarra
Person: Debra Winn
Event: Sinking between 22:00 and 24:00 on December 17, 2011
Location: Eastern bar of Patience Cay

- A military surplus brass-lidded compass was found face-up on the eastern bar on the morning of December 19, 2011.
- The compass lid was engraved with a set of initials and a four-digit marine license number.
- A palm-sized section of orange flotation foam was found nine feet from the compass, and a size eight blue canvas shoe nine feet beyond that.
- Alice Carlson logged departure from Alder Island Marina at 18:47 on December 17, 2011, and made a final log entry at 20:41 stating “current wrong. holding position.”
- The life raft canister recovered on December 22 lacked its retaining tether, indicating it was manually deployed while the Eudora Bess was still afloat.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1183falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bone-dry-logbook-in-a-salt-encrusted-boat-upright-lifeboat-in-cordgrass-surveyor-sets-down-her-rod--73079717
Salt-stiff pages, a five-gallon jug nearly empty, and a lifeboat found upright in cordgrass sixty nautical miles from where it should have been - yet the logbook had never been wet. The discovery on November 19, 2011, raises a single unnerving question: how could a boat that clearly had been at sea leave a dry logbook behind, and who was keeping time while the Margaux sank?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from departure to discovery, laying out the key actions, measurements, and habits that shape the mystery and asking whether the smallest details explain the largest absence.

Date: November 19, 2011
Location: Winslow Inlet, Georgia (spoil island)
Person: Karen Mitchell
Event: lifeboat found upright with dry logbook
Distance: 60 nautical miles from intended location

- At 7:42 AM on November 19, 2011, Karen Mitchell set down her survey rod and found an upright lifeboat in cordgrass with an orange and white hull.
- The logbook on the center thwart appeared bone-dry despite salt film on the fiberglass and brine smell from the bilge.
- The last logbook entry was dated November 9, indicating someone had been on the boat for at least ten days.
- The Margaux went under at 1:43 PM on November 8 after Glenn cut the shrouds and the mast punched through the hull.
- The lifeboat was connected to the Margaux by an eleven-foot painter, while the flare locker was sixteen feet aft, leaving a five-foot gap Glenn noted during the rescue.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079717Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at Obomediabone-dry logbook in a salt-encrusted boat. Upright lifeboat in cordgrass. Surveyor sets down her rod Salt-stiff pages, a five-gallon jug nearly empty, and a lifeboat found upright in cordgrass sixty nautical miles from where it should have been -...
Salt-stiff pages, a five-gallon jug nearly empty, and a lifeboat found upright in cordgrass sixty nautical miles from where it should have been - yet the logbook had never been wet. The discovery on November 19, 2011, raises a single unnerving question: how could a boat that clearly had been at sea leave a dry logbook behind, and who was keeping time while the Margaux sank?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from departure to discovery, laying out the key actions, measurements, and habits that shape the mystery and asking whether the smallest details explain the largest absence.

Date: November 19, 2011
Location: Winslow Inlet, Georgia (spoil island)
Person: Karen Mitchell
Event: lifeboat found upright with dry logbook
Distance: 60 nautical miles from intended location

- At 7:42 AM on November 19, 2011, Karen Mitchell set down her survey rod and found an upright lifeboat in cordgrass with an orange and white hull.
- The logbook on the center thwart appeared bone-dry despite salt film on the fiberglass and brine smell from the bilge.
- The last logbook entry was dated November 9, indicating someone had been on the boat for at least ten days.
- The Margaux went under at 1:43 PM on November 8 after Glenn cut the shrouds and the mast punched through the hull.
- The lifeboat was connected to the Margaux by an eleven-foot painter, while the flare locker was sixteen feet aft, leaving a five-foot gap Glenn noted during the rescue.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1059falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/left-to-the-bight-her-recorder-thirty-one-days-and-one-impossible-signal--73079714
Salt-crusted and balanced on a cedar post forty feet from the water, a yellow Olympus recorder held eight seconds of open ocean followed by four words: "We're in trouble." The device documented thirty-one days adrift and a woman who had already made it to shore fourteen days before anyone found the recorder - so why did every system tasked with finding her head the wrong way? What single anomalous data point sent the search in the opposite direction?

In this episode, you will hear the recorded voice of a twenty-eight-year-old delivery captain and follow the sequence of events from her last confirmed AIS ping to the discovery of the recorder, as the search moved away from where she was actually drifting. Can reconciling one improbable AIS fix with drift physics explain how the search missed her?

Person: Gina O'Brien
Date: September 21-October 2014
Location: Beaufort Inlet; last confirmed AIS at 33°N, 76°W; recorder found on Crane Cove Road near Albemarle Sound
Event: Amelia Strand transponder silence and anomalous AIS ping on September 24-25, 2014
Finder: Randy Riley

- The recorder sat upright on a cedar post forty feet from the water's edge when found on November 9, 2014.
- The first audible content was eight seconds of sea noise, then a steady low voice saying "We're in trouble."
- Gina's weekly 5:15 AM call to her mother had been uninterrupted for six years; the last call before departure was on September 18, 2014.
- The Amelia Strand's last confirmed AIS position was at 33°N, 76°W at 23:52 on September 24, 2014, roughly 90 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras.
- A container ship logged a partial AIS ping at 03:14 on September 25 placing the vessel about 60 miles northeast of its 23:52 position, a distance a 44-foot ketch could not physically make in 3.5 hours.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079714Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaLeft to the Bight: Her Recorder, Thirty-One Days, and One Impossible Signal Salt-crusted and balanced on a cedar post forty feet from the water, a yellow Olympus recorder held eight seconds of open ocean followed by four words: "We're in trouble."...
Salt-crusted and balanced on a cedar post forty feet from the water, a yellow Olympus recorder held eight seconds of open ocean followed by four words: "We're in trouble." The device documented thirty-one days adrift and a woman who had already made it to shore fourteen days before anyone found the recorder - so why did every system tasked with finding her head the wrong way? What single anomalous data point sent the search in the opposite direction?

In this episode, you will hear the recorded voice of a twenty-eight-year-old delivery captain and follow the sequence of events from her last confirmed AIS ping to the discovery of the recorder, as the search moved away from where she was actually drifting. Can reconciling one improbable AIS fix with drift physics explain how the search missed her?

Person: Gina O'Brien
Date: September 21-October 2014
Location: Beaufort Inlet; last confirmed AIS at 33°N, 76°W; recorder found on Crane Cove Road near Albemarle Sound
Event: Amelia Strand transponder silence and anomalous AIS ping on September 24-25, 2014
Finder: Randy Riley

- The recorder sat upright on a cedar post forty feet from the water's edge when found on November 9, 2014.
- The first audible content was eight seconds of sea noise, then a steady low voice saying "We're in trouble."
- Gina's weekly 5:15 AM call to her mother had been uninterrupted for six years; the last call before departure was on September 18, 2014.
- The Amelia Strand's last confirmed AIS position was at 33°N, 76°W at 23:52 on September 24, 2014, roughly 90 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras.
- A container ship logged a partial AIS ping at 03:14 on September 25 placing the vessel about 60 miles northeast of its 23:52 position, a distance a 44-foot ketch could not physically make in 3.5 hours.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1138falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nineteen-miles-offshore-the-orange-glove-that-shouldn-t-have-been-there--73079713
A single orange, nitrile-coated garden glove knotted with paracord and filled with soil washed ashore nineteen miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico - found with no boat nearby and no footprints in the sand. That glove had been carried by a current that also swept a life raft, two inflatable vests, and three people who survived after a thirty-one hour search; how did a two-knot error in a drift model, a loose VHF antenna, and a swapped dry suit conspire to turn reasonable choices into a near-fatal chain of events?

In this episode, we follow the record from a mangrove at Pelican Reach back to the moments aboard the Heron Point that preceded the emergency. You’ll hear how the voyage began, what failed at sea, and the single decisions that shifted responsibility and survival - and whether the glove, the antenna note, and the dry suit can finally answer what really happened.

Person: Kimberly Dalton
Person: Roger Attwood
Person: Person: Marcus Lind
Date: Departure September 13
Location: Pelican Reach (glove found), Gulf of Mexico (nineteen miles offshore)

- The glove found by Frank Norris at 07:52 on September 19 was an orange, nitrile-coated, size medium garden glove knotted with paracord and filled with dark soil.
- The Heron Point departed Bayside Marina at 04:00 on September 13 bound for the Dry Tortugas, roughly ninety miles offshore.
- Cody Marsh noted a loose VHF antenna in the carbon copy receipt at Pelican Reach on September 14 at 15:17, recorded as "VHF ch. 16 - antenna loose - checked by owner."
- A seacock fitting in the forward cabin failed in the early hours of September 15, allowing water in and leaving eight inches of water on the cabin sole when discovered.
- The search that recovered a life raft, two inflatable vests, and three survivors took thirty-one hours and was affected by a two-knot error in the drift model.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079713Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaNineteen Miles Offshore: The Orange Glove That Shouldn't Have Been There A single orange, nitrile-coated garden glove knotted with paracord and filled with soil washed ashore nineteen miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico - found with no boat nearby...
A single orange, nitrile-coated garden glove knotted with paracord and filled with soil washed ashore nineteen miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico - found with no boat nearby and no footprints in the sand. That glove had been carried by a current that also swept a life raft, two inflatable vests, and three people who survived after a thirty-one hour search; how did a two-knot error in a drift model, a loose VHF antenna, and a swapped dry suit conspire to turn reasonable choices into a near-fatal chain of events?

In this episode, we follow the record from a mangrove at Pelican Reach back to the moments aboard the Heron Point that preceded the emergency. You’ll hear how the voyage began, what failed at sea, and the single decisions that shifted responsibility and survival - and whether the glove, the antenna note, and the dry suit can finally answer what really happened.

Person: Kimberly Dalton
Person: Roger Attwood
Person: Person: Marcus Lind
Date: Departure September 13
Location: Pelican Reach (glove found), Gulf of Mexico (nineteen miles offshore)

- The glove found by Frank Norris at 07:52 on September 19 was an orange, nitrile-coated, size medium garden glove knotted with paracord and filled with dark soil.
- The Heron Point departed Bayside Marina at 04:00 on September 13 bound for the Dry Tortugas, roughly ninety miles offshore.
- Cody Marsh noted a loose VHF antenna in the carbon copy receipt at Pelican Reach on September 14 at 15:17, recorded as "VHF ch. 16 - antenna loose - checked by owner."
- A seacock fitting in the forward cabin failed in the early hours of September 15, allowing water in and leaving eight inches of water on the cabin sole when discovered.
- The search that recovered a life raft, two inflatable vests, and three survivors took thirty-one hours and was affected by a two-knot error in the drift model.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1271falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shoe-on-buoy-31-a-boy-vanished-between-tides--73079712
A single size-four white canvas shoe hung on a galvanized nail of Buoy 31 twelve miles off the Florida Panhandle - photographed on August 19, 2011, with no child, no boat, and no clear explanation. The shoe was linked to a five-year-old boy missing since July 27, and that small object would spark a connection the Coast Guard had not yet made; how did a child vanish between tides and leave only a sneaker behind?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the night Marcus Russo disappeared aboard the 38-foot ketch Esparanza to the discovery of the shoe on Buoy 31, laying out the timeline, the people involved, and the ocean conditions that followed; could the photo and a teenager's recognition piece together what the search teams missed?

Person: Marcus Russo
Date: Missing since July 27, 2011
Location: Buoy 31 photographed August 19, 2011
Vessel: Esparanza, 38-foot wooden ketch built in 1973
Search: Eleven-day search across 420 square miles

- The shoe found on Buoy 31 was a child's white canvas sneaker, size four.
- Buoy 31 was anchored twelve miles off the Florida Panhandle when photographed.
- Marcus Russo was five years old when he went missing on the night of July 27, 2011.
- The Esparanza sank stern-first at 11:40 PM on July 27 after the forestay failed during a squall.
- Sustained winds reached 42 knots with gusts up to 58 and seas of 8-10 feet during the storm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079712Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Shoe on Buoy 31: A Boy Vanished Between Tides A single size-four white canvas shoe hung on a galvanized nail of Buoy 31 twelve miles off the Florida Panhandle - photographed on August 19, 2011, with no child, no boat, and no clear explanation....
A single size-four white canvas shoe hung on a galvanized nail of Buoy 31 twelve miles off the Florida Panhandle - photographed on August 19, 2011, with no child, no boat, and no clear explanation. The shoe was linked to a five-year-old boy missing since July 27, and that small object would spark a connection the Coast Guard had not yet made; how did a child vanish between tides and leave only a sneaker behind?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the night Marcus Russo disappeared aboard the 38-foot ketch Esparanza to the discovery of the shoe on Buoy 31, laying out the timeline, the people involved, and the ocean conditions that followed; could the photo and a teenager's recognition piece together what the search teams missed?

Person: Marcus Russo
Date: Missing since July 27, 2011
Location: Buoy 31 photographed August 19, 2011
Vessel: Esparanza, 38-foot wooden ketch built in 1973
Search: Eleven-day search across 420 square miles

- The shoe found on Buoy 31 was a child's white canvas sneaker, size four.
- Buoy 31 was anchored twelve miles off the Florida Panhandle when photographed.
- Marcus Russo was five years old when he went missing on the night of July 27, 2011.
- The Esparanza sank stern-first at 11:40 PM on July 27 after the forestay failed during a squall.
- Sustained winds reached 42 knots with gusts up to 58 and seas of 8-10 feet during the storm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/salted-gps-orange-dye-how-compass-key-vanished-from-its-slip--73079711
A GPS with a salt crust and an orange survival-dye stain was found in a roadside drainage ditch, yet the sailboat it belonged to had been logged safely at its slip for six days; how did a device that had been broadcasting a distress marker end up in a parking lot while its crew fought for four days in the Gulf? What sequence of small, reasonable decisions turned a routine delivery into a near-miss rescue?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from departure through the storm to the misrouted distress alert, tracing the equipment, registration details, and actions aboard the Compass Key to understand how search efforts missed the survivors. What failed in the chain between a working EPIRB and a routed rescue, and how did a powered GPS end up salted and dyed far from the boat?

Date: July 9, 2019
Person: Gloria Jones
Person: Marcus Webb
Vessel: Compass Key
Event: EPIRB registered to a different vessel (Ida Marie)

- The yellow GPS was found in a roadside drainage ditch at Pelican Flats boat ramp with a blinking low-battery icon and a crust of salt on its screen.
- The GPS screen crust contained a faint orange residue consistent with survival dye marker.
- The Compass Key left the sea buoy at the mouth of the Manatee River on July 9, 2019 at 07:00.
- The squall line hit the Compass Key on the night of July 11, producing winds of 52 knots and seas 8 to 10 feet.
- The EPIRB on the Compass Key was secondhand, registered by owner Doug Peterman, but its unit ID was processed in the database linked to a different vessel named Ida Marie.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079711Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSalted GPS, Orange Dye: How Compass Key Vanished From Its Slip A GPS with a salt crust and an orange survival-dye stain was found in a roadside drainage ditch, yet the sailboat it belonged to had been logged safely at its slip for six days; how did...
A GPS with a salt crust and an orange survival-dye stain was found in a roadside drainage ditch, yet the sailboat it belonged to had been logged safely at its slip for six days; how did a device that had been broadcasting a distress marker end up in a parking lot while its crew fought for four days in the Gulf? What sequence of small, reasonable decisions turned a routine delivery into a near-miss rescue?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from departure through the storm to the misrouted distress alert, tracing the equipment, registration details, and actions aboard the Compass Key to understand how search efforts missed the survivors. What failed in the chain between a working EPIRB and a routed rescue, and how did a powered GPS end up salted and dyed far from the boat?

Date: July 9, 2019
Person: Gloria Jones
Person: Marcus Webb
Vessel: Compass Key
Event: EPIRB registered to a different vessel (Ida Marie)

- The yellow GPS was found in a roadside drainage ditch at Pelican Flats boat ramp with a blinking low-battery icon and a crust of salt on its screen.
- The GPS screen crust contained a faint orange residue consistent with survival dye marker.
- The Compass Key left the sea buoy at the mouth of the Manatee River on July 9, 2019 at 07:00.
- The squall line hit the Compass Key on the night of July 11, producing winds of 52 knots and seas 8 to 10 feet.
- The EPIRB on the Compass Key was secondhand, registered by owner Doug Peterman, but its unit ID was processed in the database linked to a different vessel named Ida Marie.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1166falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-drifted-hatch-how-a-lost-panel-led-rescuers-back-to-her--73079709
Salt-crusted fiberglass washed ashore at Kathleen Larsen’s home harbor with her name written inside, carried by the current that had been pushing her the wrong way for days - and the search software had never accounted for that current. How did one four-foot hatch cover, a miscalculated model, and a folded Mylar blanket become the thread that connected a suspended search back to a woman clinging to life?

In this episode, we follow the eight-day sequence from Kathleen’s midnight emergency to the moment a utility technician found the hatch panel at Harrow Bay. You’ll hear what failed, what held, and why that taped strip of marker writing became the crucial clue that led rescuers back.

Person: Kathleen Larsen
Date: June 10, 2019 (sinking event); June 17, 2019 (panel found)
Location: Harrow Bay
Vessel: Carrow (sailboat)
Item found: Fiberglass hatch cover, ~4 feet long, name written inside

- Kathleen activated her personal EPIRB at 00:12 on June 10, 2019 and the signal was received and logged.
- The forestay failed during a midnight storm with 40-knot gusts, causing the mast to fall and the boat to roll less than 90 seconds later.
- The hatch cover measured approximately 4 feet by 2.5 feet and had a teak grab ring and two stainless steel dogs.
- The hatch panel arrived at Harrow Bay on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, 2019, photographed by power line technician Sarah Barnes.
- Kathleen had twelve minutes before cold incapacitation would begin after entering 53-degree water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079709Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Drifted Hatch: How a Lost Panel Led Rescuers Back to Her Salt-crusted fiberglass washed ashore at Kathleen Larsen’s home harbor with her name written inside, carried by the current that had been pushing her the wrong way for days - and the...
Salt-crusted fiberglass washed ashore at Kathleen Larsen’s home harbor with her name written inside, carried by the current that had been pushing her the wrong way for days - and the search software had never accounted for that current. How did one four-foot hatch cover, a miscalculated model, and a folded Mylar blanket become the thread that connected a suspended search back to a woman clinging to life?

In this episode, we follow the eight-day sequence from Kathleen’s midnight emergency to the moment a utility technician found the hatch panel at Harrow Bay. You’ll hear what failed, what held, and why that taped strip of marker writing became the crucial clue that led rescuers back.

Person: Kathleen Larsen
Date: June 10, 2019 (sinking event); June 17, 2019 (panel found)
Location: Harrow Bay
Vessel: Carrow (sailboat)
Item found: Fiberglass hatch cover, ~4 feet long, name written inside

- Kathleen activated her personal EPIRB at 00:12 on June 10, 2019 and the signal was received and logged.
- The forestay failed during a midnight storm with 40-knot gusts, causing the mast to fall and the boat to roll less than 90 seconds later.
- The hatch cover measured approximately 4 feet by 2.5 feet and had a teak grab ring and two stainless steel dogs.
- The hatch panel arrived at Harrow Bay on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, 2019, photographed by power line technician Sarah Barnes.
- Kathleen had twelve minutes before cold incapacitation would begin after entering 53-degree water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1194falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-menu-that-should-have-sunk-a-message-for-the-sea--73079707
A laminated diner menu meant to sink instead washed ashore nine miles later, bone dry, with a brass shackle that slipped free and the name Linda Allen written on the back; how did a weighted message for the sea end up on a breakwater while its writer was already in a hospital bed? This episode centers on that impossible object and the narrow exits it left open to a small crew in a storm.

In this episode, we tell how a routine Gulf passage became a fight for survival, tracing the Calder Blue’s departure from Harker’s Point, the unexpected deepening low that stalled over their track, and the menu that carried a deliberate, failed plan to leave a legible trace. What choices and failures turned a seventy-something crossing into eight days of consequence?

Date: May 4-13 (events from departure May 4; menu found May 13)
Location: Harker's Point and nine miles offshore
Vessel: Calder Blue
Person: Linda Allen
Status: Three survivors; Linda hospitalized

- The menu was found at 6:40 a.m. on May 13 wedged against the base of a piling and was bone dry despite nine miles of open water.
- Linda Allen wrote “Linda Allen, vessel Calder Blue, departed Harker's Point May fourth” on the back of the menu and weighted it with a brass shackle to sink.
- The Calder Blue departed Harker's Point on the morning of May 4 with four aboard: Linda Allen (26), Ed Novak (64), Carl Novak (29), and Pete Duvall (31).
- The crew deployed a parachute drogue just after 2:00 a.m. on May 6 when seas were running 15 feet from the beam; the drogue bought them eleven minutes before a swivel fitting failed.
- When the swivel failed the Calder Blue broached past 90 degrees, the electrical panel and radio took seawater and went dark, and Ed Novak went over the lifelines.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079707Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Menu That Should Have Sunk: A Message for the Sea A laminated diner menu meant to sink instead washed ashore nine miles later, bone dry, with a brass shackle that slipped free and the name Linda Allen written on the back; how did a weighted...
A laminated diner menu meant to sink instead washed ashore nine miles later, bone dry, with a brass shackle that slipped free and the name Linda Allen written on the back; how did a weighted message for the sea end up on a breakwater while its writer was already in a hospital bed? This episode centers on that impossible object and the narrow exits it left open to a small crew in a storm.

In this episode, we tell how a routine Gulf passage became a fight for survival, tracing the Calder Blue’s departure from Harker’s Point, the unexpected deepening low that stalled over their track, and the menu that carried a deliberate, failed plan to leave a legible trace. What choices and failures turned a seventy-something crossing into eight days of consequence?

Date: May 4-13 (events from departure May 4; menu found May 13)
Location: Harker's Point and nine miles offshore
Vessel: Calder Blue
Person: Linda Allen
Status: Three survivors; Linda hospitalized

- The menu was found at 6:40 a.m. on May 13 wedged against the base of a piling and was bone dry despite nine miles of open water.
- Linda Allen wrote “Linda Allen, vessel Calder Blue, departed Harker's Point May fourth” on the back of the menu and weighted it with a brass shackle to sink.
- The Calder Blue departed Harker's Point on the morning of May 4 with four aboard: Linda Allen (26), Ed Novak (64), Carl Novak (29), and Pete Duvall (31).
- The crew deployed a parachute drogue just after 2:00 a.m. on May 6 when seas were running 15 feet from the beam; the drogue bought them eleven minutes before a swivel fitting failed.
- When the swivel failed the Calder Blue broached past 90 degrees, the electrical panel and radio took seawater and went dark, and Ed Novak went over the lifelines.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1200falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-survived-how-a-drifting-sloop-nearly-buried-her-alive--73079705
Heat, tide and an engine that never stopped turned a day trip into a life-or-death drift: a thirty-two-foot sloop was found 63 nautical miles offshore with its engine running and a half-eaten bowl of chili on the table - how did the owner end up submerged in a marsh tracking a helicopter by wristwatch, and how close did every small choice come to killing her?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of facts from a marina checkout at 07:14 on April 8, 2014 to a discovery the next morning that left searchers puzzling over running engines, bent life-ring pins, and a warm bowl of chili; what really unfolded between grounding on a sandbar at low tide and the sloop’s unexpected offshore drift?

Person: Shannon Watson
Date: April 8-9, 2014
Location: South Brunswick River marina to 63 nautical miles offshore
Vessel: 32-foot sloop Caravel Moon
Fuel: 41 gallons topped prior Saturday

- The sloop left the marina at 07:14 on April 8, 2014 with a full diesel tank of 41 gallons.
- Around 13:40 the sloop grounded on a sandbar two feet shallower than the two-season-old chart indicated.
- Watson entered the water wearing her personal flotation device and grabbed a life ring whose bracket pin was later found bent.
- At approximately 15:00 the tide turned, lifting the boat off the sandbar while its engine was still running and carrying it eastward.
- A passerby reported the unmanned sloop the morning of April 9; Coast Guard teams found the vessel 63 nautical miles offshore with a half-eaten bowl of chili and a companionway hatch open.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079705Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Survived - How a Drifting Sloop Nearly Buried Her Alive Heat, tide and an engine that never stopped turned a day trip into a life-or-death drift: a thirty-two-foot sloop was found 63 nautical miles offshore with its engine running and a...
Heat, tide and an engine that never stopped turned a day trip into a life-or-death drift: a thirty-two-foot sloop was found 63 nautical miles offshore with its engine running and a half-eaten bowl of chili on the table - how did the owner end up submerged in a marsh tracking a helicopter by wristwatch, and how close did every small choice come to killing her?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of facts from a marina checkout at 07:14 on April 8, 2014 to a discovery the next morning that left searchers puzzling over running engines, bent life-ring pins, and a warm bowl of chili; what really unfolded between grounding on a sandbar at low tide and the sloop’s unexpected offshore drift?

Person: Shannon Watson
Date: April 8-9, 2014
Location: South Brunswick River marina to 63 nautical miles offshore
Vessel: 32-foot sloop Caravel Moon
Fuel: 41 gallons topped prior Saturday

- The sloop left the marina at 07:14 on April 8, 2014 with a full diesel tank of 41 gallons.
- Around 13:40 the sloop grounded on a sandbar two feet shallower than the two-season-old chart indicated.
- Watson entered the water wearing her personal flotation device and grabbed a life ring whose bracket pin was later found bent.
- At approximately 15:00 the tide turned, lifting the boat off the sandbar while its engine was still running and carrying it eastward.
- A passerby reported the unmanned sloop the morning of April 9; Coast Guard teams found the vessel 63 nautical miles offshore with a half-eaten bowl of chili and a companionway hatch open.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1221falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-in-the-church-lot-how-the-gulf-betrayed-four-men--73079704
Saltwater, diesel, and a man’s handwriting washed ashore eleven days after two boats vanished in a race - but the notebook was found sixty miles from where that name should have been, and it smelled like the Gulf itself. Four men went missing after a squall; the Coast Guard searched four nautical miles away because a GPS datum was wrong - how could a single unchecked number turn a routine race into ten days adrift?

In this episode, you will hear the unfolding details of what happened from departure to discovery, the weather changes, the search decisions, and the notes left behind on a life raft - all pointing to one unanswered administrative error that redirected the search. Did an overlooked GPS setting doom the search before it began?

Date: March 19, 2014
Location: Palmetto Avenue, Sarasota
Event: Whitmore Cup race, March 7-8, 2014
People: John Meyer, Hank Serrano, Phil Garner, Trevor Garner
Error: GPS datum set incorrectly, shifting positions four nautical miles southeast

- A waterlogged notebook was found leaning against a van tire in a church parking lot on Palmetto Avenue on March 19, 2014.
- The notebook’s inside cover was labeled John Meyer and showed handwriting still legible after eleven days at sea.
- Two boats went missing from the Whitmore Cup race on March 8, 2014; eleven boats had departed at 5:50 a.m, on March 7.
- By 1:15 p.m. on March 8 the National Weather Service had upgraded conditions to a small-craft warning with winds at the Venice Inlet buoy reading 38 knots, gusting to 44.
- The chase boat’s GPS unit was set to the wrong coordinate datum, causing every transmitted position to be four nautical miles southeast of the boats’ actual location.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079704Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook in the Church Lot: How the Gulf Betrayed Four Men Saltwater, diesel, and a man’s handwriting washed ashore eleven days after two boats vanished in a race - but the notebook was found sixty miles from where that name should have been,...
Saltwater, diesel, and a man’s handwriting washed ashore eleven days after two boats vanished in a race - but the notebook was found sixty miles from where that name should have been, and it smelled like the Gulf itself. Four men went missing after a squall; the Coast Guard searched four nautical miles away because a GPS datum was wrong - how could a single unchecked number turn a routine race into ten days adrift?

In this episode, you will hear the unfolding details of what happened from departure to discovery, the weather changes, the search decisions, and the notes left behind on a life raft - all pointing to one unanswered administrative error that redirected the search. Did an overlooked GPS setting doom the search before it began?

Date: March 19, 2014
Location: Palmetto Avenue, Sarasota
Event: Whitmore Cup race, March 7-8, 2014
People: John Meyer, Hank Serrano, Phil Garner, Trevor Garner
Error: GPS datum set incorrectly, shifting positions four nautical miles southeast

- A waterlogged notebook was found leaning against a van tire in a church parking lot on Palmetto Avenue on March 19, 2014.
- The notebook’s inside cover was labeled John Meyer and showed handwriting still legible after eleven days at sea.
- Two boats went missing from the Whitmore Cup race on March 8, 2014; eleven boats had departed at 5:50 a.m, on March 7.
- By 1:15 p.m. on March 8 the National Weather Service had upgraded conditions to a small-craft warning with winds at the Venice Inlet buoy reading 38 knots, gusting to 44.
- The chase boat’s GPS unit was set to the wrong coordinate datum, causing every transmitted position to be four nautical miles southeast of the boats’ actual location.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1072falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mirror-aimed-at-nothing-the-survival-of-susan-henderson--73079703
The hull of a capsized sloop held a four-inch signal mirror that was dry on the outside and wet on the inside, untouched for six days after its owner was airlifted away. Susan Henderson, a 51-year-old marine surveyor, survived a sudden February 2014 storm forty miles offshore with six liters of water, a corroded flare kit, and that mirror-so how did ordinary gear and methodical choices keep her alive when nearly everything failed?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Susan’s departure on February 4, 2014 to the capsize at 2:40 a.m. on February 5 and the six days that followed, detailing what supplies she had, what failed, and the actions she took to stay alive. How did training, routine, and a few small items determine whether she lived or died?

Person: Susan Henderson
Date: February 4-5, 2014
Location: Forty nautical miles offshore from Saint Simons Sound toward Fernandina Beach, Georgia/Florida
Age: 51
Boat: Tartan 31 sloop named Palomar

- Susan rationed six liters of water to 400 milliliters per day using a container cap marked with a fingernail.
- The storm produced sustained winds of 32 knots with gusts to 44 knots before the capsize.
- The handheld VHF radio battery lasted four minutes after water intrusion in the lazarette.
- The flare kit failed after 20 attempts across the first day due to a corroded striker wheel; every cartridge remained unfired.
- The signal mirror, roughly four inches square, was dry on the outside and wet on the inside and went unused for six days after Susan’s airlift.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079703Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaMirror Aimed at Nothing: The Survival of Susan Henderson The hull of a capsized sloop held a four-inch signal mirror that was dry on the outside and wet on the inside, untouched for six days after its owner was airlifted away. Susan Henderson, a...
The hull of a capsized sloop held a four-inch signal mirror that was dry on the outside and wet on the inside, untouched for six days after its owner was airlifted away. Susan Henderson, a 51-year-old marine surveyor, survived a sudden February 2014 storm forty miles offshore with six liters of water, a corroded flare kit, and that mirror-so how did ordinary gear and methodical choices keep her alive when nearly everything failed?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Susan’s departure on February 4, 2014 to the capsize at 2:40 a.m. on February 5 and the six days that followed, detailing what supplies she had, what failed, and the actions she took to stay alive. How did training, routine, and a few small items determine whether she lived or died?

Person: Susan Henderson
Date: February 4-5, 2014
Location: Forty nautical miles offshore from Saint Simons Sound toward Fernandina Beach, Georgia/Florida
Age: 51
Boat: Tartan 31 sloop named Palomar

- Susan rationed six liters of water to 400 milliliters per day using a container cap marked with a fingernail.
- The storm produced sustained winds of 32 knots with gusts to 44 knots before the capsize.
- The handheld VHF radio battery lasted four minutes after water intrusion in the lazarette.
- The flare kit failed after 20 attempts across the first day due to a corroded striker wheel; every cartridge remained unfired.
- The signal mirror, roughly four inches square, was dry on the outside and wet on the inside and went unused for six days after Susan’s airlift.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1081falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-birthday-card-tied-to-a-life-ring-11-days-adrift--73079702
A laminated birthday card, still sealed and dry after eleven days in the Gulf, washed ashore tied to a life ring - and it was threaded from the inside, a deliberate act done after someone watched a man die; how did that card become the world’s first clue to a drifting vessel 61 miles from the search? Searchers had been looking in the wrong place while two survivors drifted with no compass, no chart plotter, and a beacon giving coordinates 18 miles off - what led them to survive, and how did a card become their voice?

In this episode, we follow the Callie Mae’s voyage from Palmetto on January 7 and trace the sequence of failures, decisions, and survival skills that unfolded after a wave struck on January 9. We describe who was aboard, what failed on the vessel, and the improvised navigation and actions that kept two people alive - could a middle-school science lesson and a laminated birthday card really be the keys to their rescue?

Person: Nicole Stewart
Person: Marcus Webb
Person: Robert Fenn
Date: January 7-19, 2017
Location: Gulf of Mexico, 61 miles south of where searchers looked

- The Callie Mae was a 42-foot sloop that left dock fourteen on January 7 bound for Isla Mujeres, roughly 500 miles away.
- Between 18 and 22-foot wave struck the boat in the early hours of January 9; impact lasted approximately four seconds.
- The wave staved in two portholes, flooded the salon, shattered the compass housing, and disabled the chart plotter and paper charts.
- The EPIRB transmitted coordinates that were 18 miles off target while the vessel drifted 61 miles from the search area.
- The laminated birthday card had been written in October, sealed in plastic, and remained dry inside after eleven days adrift.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079702Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Birthday Card Tied to a Life Ring: 11 Days Adrift A laminated birthday card, still sealed and dry after eleven days in the Gulf, washed ashore tied to a life ring - and it was threaded from the inside, a deliberate act done after someone...
A laminated birthday card, still sealed and dry after eleven days in the Gulf, washed ashore tied to a life ring - and it was threaded from the inside, a deliberate act done after someone watched a man die; how did that card become the world’s first clue to a drifting vessel 61 miles from the search? Searchers had been looking in the wrong place while two survivors drifted with no compass, no chart plotter, and a beacon giving coordinates 18 miles off - what led them to survive, and how did a card become their voice?

In this episode, we follow the Callie Mae’s voyage from Palmetto on January 7 and trace the sequence of failures, decisions, and survival skills that unfolded after a wave struck on January 9. We describe who was aboard, what failed on the vessel, and the improvised navigation and actions that kept two people alive - could a middle-school science lesson and a laminated birthday card really be the keys to their rescue?

Person: Nicole Stewart
Person: Marcus Webb
Person: Robert Fenn
Date: January 7-19, 2017
Location: Gulf of Mexico, 61 miles south of where searchers looked

- The Callie Mae was a 42-foot sloop that left dock fourteen on January 7 bound for Isla Mujeres, roughly 500 miles away.
- Between 18 and 22-foot wave struck the boat in the early hours of January 9; impact lasted approximately four seconds.
- The wave staved in two portholes, flooded the salon, shattered the compass housing, and disabled the chart plotter and paper charts.
- The EPIRB transmitted coordinates that were 18 miles off target while the vessel drifted 61 miles from the search area.
- The laminated birthday card had been written in October, sealed in plastic, and remained dry inside after eleven days adrift.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1167falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nine-days-adrift-surviving-a-raft-a-lost-notebook-one-death--73079701
She left Marathon at 4:50 AM on December 11, 2019, checked the forecast twice and still ran into a different storm with 12-16 foot swells - her mast came down and the Delmar sank, leaving her with only a ditch bag and a life raft. A notebook later found on a sandbar contained 46 tally marks and two handwritings; why did that notebook end up there, and what did those marks record during the nine days that followed?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the Delmar’s departure through the EPIRB signal at 11:47 PM and the expanding search area, the missing drogue line and the drift that carried her seven miles beyond the search datum, and the later discovery of the dollar-store spiral notebook on a sandbar - what did each of these facts mean for the search and for what happened next?

Person: Tracy Burke
Date: December 11-22, 2019
Location: Departed Marathon; search datum ~58 nautical miles ESE of Islamorada; notebook found on sandbar south of Pinder Reach
Event: Stern fitting failure, mast collapse, Delmar sank, life raft deployed, EPIRB activated at 23:47
Object: Spiral-bound green cardboard notebook with 46 tally marks and two handwriting styles

- Departure time from Marathon: 4:50 AM on December 11, 2019
- EPIRB activation received by Miami regional coordination center at 11:47 PM on December 12, 2019
- Search datum established approximately 58 nautical miles east-southeast of Islamorada
- Drift: by dawn on December 13 she was seven miles south of the designated search datum due to a cut drogue line
- Notebook found by county surveyor Ross Stevens on December 22 on a sandbar that appears about four hours a day at low tide, containing 46 tally marks with the last group incomplete

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079701Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaNine Days Adrift: Surviving a Raft, a Lost Notebook, One Death She left Marathon at 4:50 AM on December 11, 2019, checked the forecast twice and still ran into a different storm with 12-16 foot swells - her mast came down and the Delmar sank,...
She left Marathon at 4:50 AM on December 11, 2019, checked the forecast twice and still ran into a different storm with 12-16 foot swells - her mast came down and the Delmar sank, leaving her with only a ditch bag and a life raft. A notebook later found on a sandbar contained 46 tally marks and two handwritings; why did that notebook end up there, and what did those marks record during the nine days that followed?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the Delmar’s departure through the EPIRB signal at 11:47 PM and the expanding search area, the missing drogue line and the drift that carried her seven miles beyond the search datum, and the later discovery of the dollar-store spiral notebook on a sandbar - what did each of these facts mean for the search and for what happened next?

Person: Tracy Burke
Date: December 11-22, 2019
Location: Departed Marathon; search datum ~58 nautical miles ESE of Islamorada; notebook found on sandbar south of Pinder Reach
Event: Stern fitting failure, mast collapse, Delmar sank, life raft deployed, EPIRB activated at 23:47
Object: Spiral-bound green cardboard notebook with 46 tally marks and two handwriting styles

- Departure time from Marathon: 4:50 AM on December 11, 2019
- EPIRB activation received by Miami regional coordination center at 11:47 PM on December 12, 2019
- Search datum established approximately 58 nautical miles east-southeast of Islamorada
- Drift: by dawn on December 13 she was seven miles south of the designated search datum due to a cut drogue line
- Notebook found by county surveyor Ross Stevens on December 22 on a sandbar that appears about four hours a day at low tide, containing 46 tally marks with the last group incomplete

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1549falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-paper-in-the-lifeboat-how-one-note-redirected-rescue--73079700
The Gulf can turn routine into survival in hours: a sun-bleached lifeboat found at Pelican Flats contained a single dry yellow sheet after eleven days afloat with six survivors and one dead - and that paper measured 11.5 by 27 centimeters with eight names and three blue-ink circles. How did a single wrong coordinate send rescuers eighteen nautical miles away and almost cost lives?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from the collision on November 8 to the lifeboat found on November 19, learn who was aboard Lifeboat One and what happened during those eleven days, and follow how a dry piece of paper factored into the official inquiry and the late unraveling of the search error.

Person: Darlene McCarthy
Date: November 19, 2011
Location: Pelican Flats Marina, Corpus Christi
Event: Collision between MV Brauer Star and MV Sula Drift on November 8
Status: Lifeboat found with six survivors and one deceased after eleven days

- The yellow paper recovered measured 11.5 by 27 centimeters and contained eight names in two columns with three circles drawn in blue ink.
- The Brauer Star sank in forty-one minutes after striking the Sula Drift at 22:17 on November 8.
- The rescue coordination center searched a grid eighteen nautical miles away from where the survivors were actually drifting.
- Lifeboat One held seven named occupants: Dawn Wallace, James Pell, Marcus Webb, Dennis Farrow, Rey Buenaventura, Oleg Marchenko, and Fernando Delgado.
- The lifeboat drifted in the Gulf of Mexico for eleven days before being discovered by a contract worker pumping a holding tank.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079700Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Paper in the Lifeboat: How One Note Redirected Rescue The Gulf can turn routine into survival in hours: a sun-bleached lifeboat found at Pelican Flats contained a single dry yellow sheet after eleven days afloat with six survivors and one...
The Gulf can turn routine into survival in hours: a sun-bleached lifeboat found at Pelican Flats contained a single dry yellow sheet after eleven days afloat with six survivors and one dead - and that paper measured 11.5 by 27 centimeters with eight names and three blue-ink circles. How did a single wrong coordinate send rescuers eighteen nautical miles away and almost cost lives?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from the collision on November 8 to the lifeboat found on November 19, learn who was aboard Lifeboat One and what happened during those eleven days, and follow how a dry piece of paper factored into the official inquiry and the late unraveling of the search error.

Person: Darlene McCarthy
Date: November 19, 2011
Location: Pelican Flats Marina, Corpus Christi
Event: Collision between MV Brauer Star and MV Sula Drift on November 8
Status: Lifeboat found with six survivors and one deceased after eleven days

- The yellow paper recovered measured 11.5 by 27 centimeters and contained eight names in two columns with three circles drawn in blue ink.
- The Brauer Star sank in forty-one minutes after striking the Sula Drift at 22:17 on November 8.
- The rescue coordination center searched a grid eighteen nautical miles away from where the survivors were actually drifting.
- Lifeboat One held seven named occupants: Dawn Wallace, James Pell, Marcus Webb, Dennis Farrow, Rey Buenaventura, Oleg Marchenko, and Fernando Delgado.
- The lifeboat drifted in the Gulf of Mexico for eleven days before being discovered by a contract worker pumping a holding tank.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dry-log-lost-beacon-how-three-vanished-between-tides--73079699
There is a dry logbook on a capsized raft and a man found alive eight feet away in mud - but the raft's pages record seventeen days at sea and stop on October 8, two days before the last companion died. How did paper stay dry in a tidal basin with water stains six feet high, and what does the log really tell us about three people lost between tides?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the October 2 departure of the 40-foot sailboat Maren's Light through the missed Tuesday shift that triggered a missing-persons report, the search launched on October 6, and the unexpected discoveries in a tidal mangrove basin that raised new questions about drift, rescue, and survival. What errors in the search plan and what small natural shifts changed everything?

Date: October 19, 2011
Event: Kayaker David Schultz finds orange canister and dry logbook on collapsed raft
Person: Donald Fitzgerald, age 23, found alive in mud
Vessel: Maren's Light, 40-foot sailboat, sank in ~200 feet of water
Search start: October 6, initial drift model predicted southwest drift from 38-knot southwest winds

- The logbook documents seventeen days on the open water and ends on October 8 in careful handwriting.
- The waterline stain on the mangrove roots runs six feet up the bark at the tidal basin where the raft was found.
- Maren's Light sank in approximately two hundred feet of water with its EPIRB still mounted below deck.
- The search launched on October 6 used a drift model based on a southwest wind of thirty-eight knots and searched toward the Dry Log from the east.
- A secondary wind shift from the northeast lasting about eighteen hours at 2-3 knots pushed the raft in a direction not predicted by the initial model.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079699Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaDry Log, Lost Beacon: How Three Vanished Between Tides There is a dry logbook on a capsized raft and a man found alive eight feet away in mud - but the raft's pages record seventeen days at sea and stop on October 8, two days before the last...
There is a dry logbook on a capsized raft and a man found alive eight feet away in mud - but the raft's pages record seventeen days at sea and stop on October 8, two days before the last companion died. How did paper stay dry in a tidal basin with water stains six feet high, and what does the log really tell us about three people lost between tides?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the October 2 departure of the 40-foot sailboat Maren's Light through the missed Tuesday shift that triggered a missing-persons report, the search launched on October 6, and the unexpected discoveries in a tidal mangrove basin that raised new questions about drift, rescue, and survival. What errors in the search plan and what small natural shifts changed everything?

Date: October 19, 2011
Event: Kayaker David Schultz finds orange canister and dry logbook on collapsed raft
Person: Donald Fitzgerald, age 23, found alive in mud
Vessel: Maren's Light, 40-foot sailboat, sank in ~200 feet of water
Search start: October 6, initial drift model predicted southwest drift from 38-knot southwest winds

- The logbook documents seventeen days on the open water and ends on October 8 in careful handwriting.
- The waterline stain on the mangrove roots runs six feet up the bark at the tidal basin where the raft was found.
- Maren's Light sank in approximately two hundred feet of water with its EPIRB still mounted below deck.
- The search launched on October 6 used a drift model based on a southwest wind of thirty-eight knots and searched toward the Dry Log from the east.
- A secondary wind shift from the northeast lasting about eighteen hours at 2-3 knots pushed the raft in a direction not predicted by the initial model.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1056falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-tartan-notebook-how-a-dry-last-page-broke-all-the-rules--73079698
The last page of a notebook that spent twelve days in salt water stayed dry and legible, a single impossible fact that refuses to let the Tidal Clause fire be tidy. That green tartan notebook washed ashore on Moorfield Key thirteen days after a bridge-deck blaze, holding an intact entry written during a night adrift - but who wrote that final line, and how did the ink survive salt, sun and surf?

In this episode, we tell what the incident report and the recovered notebook reveal about the night the forty-two-foot catamaran burned and two people survived against long odds. We follow the timeline from departure at six forty-five PM through the sudden squall at eleven fifty-eight PM, and ask how a chain of small failures - a partially discharged fire suppression system and a fractured life-raft CO2 cartridge - nearly became catastrophic.

Person: Tammy O'Connor
Person: Ed Pryor
Event: Fire on the Tidal Clause
Date: September 1, 2011 (departure) - September 14, 2011 (notebook found)
Location: Moorfield Key, lower Florida Keys

- Notebook spent twelve days in salt water and washed ashore on Moorfield Key thirteen days after the fire.
- The Tidal Clause is a forty-two-foot catamaran that burned to its bridgedeck on the night of September 1, 2011.
- The boat departed Moorfield Key Marina at 6:45 PM for a roughly fifty nautical mile crossing to Stock Island.
- At 11:58 PM the wind shifted forty degrees in under sixty seconds, producing fifty-knot gusts and eight-foot seas.
- A CO2 cartridge in the life raft had a hairline fracture and the engine-room fire suppression had partially discharged three months earlier.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079698Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Green Tartan Notebook: How a Dry Last Page Broke All the Rules The last page of a notebook that spent twelve days in salt water stayed dry and legible, a single impossible fact that refuses to let the Tidal Clause fire be tidy. That green...
The last page of a notebook that spent twelve days in salt water stayed dry and legible, a single impossible fact that refuses to let the Tidal Clause fire be tidy. That green tartan notebook washed ashore on Moorfield Key thirteen days after a bridge-deck blaze, holding an intact entry written during a night adrift - but who wrote that final line, and how did the ink survive salt, sun and surf?

In this episode, we tell what the incident report and the recovered notebook reveal about the night the forty-two-foot catamaran burned and two people survived against long odds. We follow the timeline from departure at six forty-five PM through the sudden squall at eleven fifty-eight PM, and ask how a chain of small failures - a partially discharged fire suppression system and a fractured life-raft CO2 cartridge - nearly became catastrophic.

Person: Tammy O'Connor
Person: Ed Pryor
Event: Fire on the Tidal Clause
Date: September 1, 2011 (departure) - September 14, 2011 (notebook found)
Location: Moorfield Key, lower Florida Keys

- Notebook spent twelve days in salt water and washed ashore on Moorfield Key thirteen days after the fire.
- The Tidal Clause is a forty-two-foot catamaran that burned to its bridgedeck on the night of September 1, 2011.
- The boat departed Moorfield Key Marina at 6:45 PM for a roughly fifty nautical mile crossing to Stock Island.
- At 11:58 PM the wind shifted forty degrees in under sixty seconds, producing fifty-knot gusts and eight-foot seas.
- A CO2 cartridge in the life raft had a hairline fracture and the engine-room fire suppression had partially discharged three months earlier.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1317falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-fired-a-flare-the-gulf-kept-floating-her-name--73079696
The Gulf can carry a single flare canister 230 miles from where it was fired - and one woman’s name was written on it. A spent flare marked "BELL / S/V CORMORANT / GULF OF MEXICO" washed up in Pelican Reach, Louisiana, while the person who fired it had already been rescued; how did a signal meant to call for help end up where no waterway connects to the sea?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a solo Gulf crossing and a sudden knockdown to the single EPIRB transmission that went silent, tracing the precise actions and small decisions that shaped the outcome. How did drift, a cracked beacon, and calm, procedural thinking combine to send a name floating across two hundred and thirty miles of Gulf?

Person: Tracy Bell
Date: August 7-9, 2023
Location: Gulf of Mexico / Pelican Reach, Louisiana
Event: Single EPIRB transmission then silence
Status: Survivor rescued; flare canister recovered 230 miles from firing point

- At 06:14 on August 19, 2023, a grader operator found a spent flare canister floating against a concrete retention pond lip in Pelican Reach.
- The canister was stenciled "BELL. S/V CORMORANT. GULF OF MEXICO."
- Tracy Bell launched from Biloxi on August 7, 2023 at 04:50 for a planned solo Gulf crossing to the Dry Tortugas.
- At 21:47 on August 9, a wave capsized the 34-foot S/V Cormorant; the boat righted after Tracy cut away the standing rigging, but the engine died after 11 minutes.
- The EPIRB transmitted a single fix at 11:22 and reached the Rescue Coordination Center at 11:31 at approximately 25°14′N, 88°52′W, then went silent due to a cracked housing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079696Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Fired a Flare - The Gulf Kept Floating Her Name The Gulf can carry a single flare canister 230 miles from where it was fired - and one woman’s name was written on it. A spent flare marked "BELL / S/V CORMORANT / GULF OF MEXICO" washed up in...
The Gulf can carry a single flare canister 230 miles from where it was fired - and one woman’s name was written on it. A spent flare marked "BELL / S/V CORMORANT / GULF OF MEXICO" washed up in Pelican Reach, Louisiana, while the person who fired it had already been rescued; how did a signal meant to call for help end up where no waterway connects to the sea?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a solo Gulf crossing and a sudden knockdown to the single EPIRB transmission that went silent, tracing the precise actions and small decisions that shaped the outcome. How did drift, a cracked beacon, and calm, procedural thinking combine to send a name floating across two hundred and thirty miles of Gulf?

Person: Tracy Bell
Date: August 7-9, 2023
Location: Gulf of Mexico / Pelican Reach, Louisiana
Event: Single EPIRB transmission then silence
Status: Survivor rescued; flare canister recovered 230 miles from firing point

- At 06:14 on August 19, 2023, a grader operator found a spent flare canister floating against a concrete retention pond lip in Pelican Reach.
- The canister was stenciled "BELL. S/V CORMORANT. GULF OF MEXICO."
- Tracy Bell launched from Biloxi on August 7, 2023 at 04:50 for a planned solo Gulf crossing to the Dry Tortugas.
- At 21:47 on August 9, a wave capsized the 34-foot S/V Cormorant; the boat righted after Tracy cut away the standing rigging, but the engine died after 11 minutes.
- The EPIRB transmitted a single fix at 11:22 and reached the Rescue Coordination Center at 11:31 at approximately 25°14′N, 88°52′W, then went silent due to a cracked housing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1278falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/he-fell-out-of-the-boat-at-night-how-lloyd-stayed-alive-33-hours--73079695
The dryness of a sailor's logbook found eleven miles inland led to an impossible fact: the boat was recovered thirty-one miles out to sea while the logbook showed no water damage-how did anything from that trip end up bone dry? One man survived 33 hours in open water after falling from a 28-foot sloop; what kept him alive when everything else pointed to loss?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the boat's departure to the moment the logbook was found, and we trace Lloyd Vaughn's actions in the water and the official response that followed to ask whether routine preparation made the difference between life and death.

Person: Lloyd Vaughn
Person: Pete Sorrells
Event: Fall overboard at 23:50 on July 5, 2019
Location: Beaufort departure; drift zone southeast of Cape Lookout
Item: Marine logbook found on Heron Marsh Road, eleven miles inland, dry

- The Carla June is a 28-foot sloop co-owned by Lloyd Vaughn and Pete Sorrells.
- Lloyd turned 26 on June 4, 2019, one month before the incident.
- The pair left Beaufort town docks at 16:15 on July 5, 2019 with wind southwest at 12 knots and water temperature 79°F.
- Lloyd went overboard at approximately 23:50 on July 5, 2019; the inflatable life jacket deployed on impact.
- A Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft and a 47-foot response boat were launched within the hour after Pete reported Lloyd missing at 05:23 on July 6, 2019.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079695Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHe Fell Out of the Boat at Night - How Lloyd Stayed Alive 33 Hours The dryness of a sailor's logbook found eleven miles inland led to an impossible fact: the boat was recovered thirty-one miles out to sea while the logbook showed no water...
The dryness of a sailor's logbook found eleven miles inland led to an impossible fact: the boat was recovered thirty-one miles out to sea while the logbook showed no water damage-how did anything from that trip end up bone dry? One man survived 33 hours in open water after falling from a 28-foot sloop; what kept him alive when everything else pointed to loss?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the boat's departure to the moment the logbook was found, and we trace Lloyd Vaughn's actions in the water and the official response that followed to ask whether routine preparation made the difference between life and death.

Person: Lloyd Vaughn
Person: Pete Sorrells
Event: Fall overboard at 23:50 on July 5, 2019
Location: Beaufort departure; drift zone southeast of Cape Lookout
Item: Marine logbook found on Heron Marsh Road, eleven miles inland, dry

- The Carla June is a 28-foot sloop co-owned by Lloyd Vaughn and Pete Sorrells.
- Lloyd turned 26 on June 4, 2019, one month before the incident.
- The pair left Beaufort town docks at 16:15 on July 5, 2019 with wind southwest at 12 knots and water temperature 79°F.
- Lloyd went overboard at approximately 23:50 on July 5, 2019; the inflatable life jacket deployed on impact.
- A Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft and a 47-foot response boat were launched within the hour after Pete reported Lloyd missing at 05:23 on July 6, 2019.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1186falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-birthday-cake-that-tracked-a-man-lost-at-sea--73079694
A wrapped birthday cake with a single unlit yellow candle washed ashore on Carta Key, intact after six days at sea, while the man it was meant for drifted unseen on a life raft; how did a cake survive when almost nothing else did? What tiny sequence of human errors and unluckiest moments turned routine precautions into a near-tragedy?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to discovery, following the three-man crew, the tow, the squall, the fractured shoulder and an unnoticed man going overboard - and we follow the cake that became the strangest breadcrumb. How did a methodical marine electrician end up missing for days despite being surrounded by people and equipment?

Person: Gary Padgett
Date: June 8-15, 2019
Location: Carta Key / Florida Straits / Everett City marina
Vessel: Meridian Clause, 42-foot sloop
Survival bag contents: compass, mechanical watch, pencil and notebook, two foil water pouches, six energy bars, signal mirror, two handheld flares, small first aid kit

- The cake was round, single-layer, white frosting with blue piped letters reading "Happy 50th / Gary" and a single unburned yellow candle.
- Todd Hicks found the intact cake on the wet sand of Carta Key at 5:40 AM on June 15, 2019.
- Gary Padgett went overboard between 7:15 and 7:45 PM on June 8, 2019 and later entered a life raft after roughly 40 minutes in the water.
- The Meridian Clause departed Everett City marina at 3:20 PM on June 7, 2019 with Phil Storrow (53), Gary Padgett (49), and Bobby Cress (37) aboard.
- The survival bag aboard included two handheld flares, one of which was expired.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079694Sun, 30 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Birthday Cake That Tracked a Man Lost at Sea A wrapped birthday cake with a single unlit yellow candle washed ashore on Carta Key, intact after six days at sea, while the man it was meant for drifted unseen on a life raft; how did a cake...
A wrapped birthday cake with a single unlit yellow candle washed ashore on Carta Key, intact after six days at sea, while the man it was meant for drifted unseen on a life raft; how did a cake survive when almost nothing else did? What tiny sequence of human errors and unluckiest moments turned routine precautions into a near-tragedy?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from departure to discovery, following the three-man crew, the tow, the squall, the fractured shoulder and an unnoticed man going overboard - and we follow the cake that became the strangest breadcrumb. How did a methodical marine electrician end up missing for days despite being surrounded by people and equipment?

Person: Gary Padgett
Date: June 8-15, 2019
Location: Carta Key / Florida Straits / Everett City marina
Vessel: Meridian Clause, 42-foot sloop
Survival bag contents: compass, mechanical watch, pencil and notebook, two foil water pouches, six energy bars, signal mirror, two handheld flares, small first aid kit

- The cake was round, single-layer, white frosting with blue piped letters reading "Happy 50th / Gary" and a single unburned yellow candle.
- Todd Hicks found the intact cake on the wet sand of Carta Key at 5:40 AM on June 15, 2019.
- Gary Padgett went overboard between 7:15 and 7:45 PM on June 8, 2019 and later entered a life raft after roughly 40 minutes in the water.
- The Meridian Clause departed Everett City marina at 3:20 PM on June 7, 2019 with Phil Storrow (53), Gary Padgett (49), and Bobby Cress (37) aboard.
- The survival bag aboard included two handheld flares, one of which was expired.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1142falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-yellow-boot-on-the-shelf-what-the-ferry-wouldn-t-explain--73079693
A child's size four left yellow boot, dry and laces double-knotted, was found on a bare metal shelf inside an unoccupied utility substation eleven days after the Redstone Queen capsized-while the child who wore it survived the sinking. How did a single small boot end up on that shelf when the right boot was never recovered from the debris field?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events on the Redstone Queen crossing that morning, the people involved, and the physical clues that remain, focusing on the unanswered question about the boot on the shelf. Why does that boot refuse to fit into the otherwise complete physical record of the capsizing?

Date: May 17, 2009
Event: Redstone Queen capsized
Person: Teresa Simpson
Person: Cody Hurd
Location: Harwick western shore (riprap)

- The boot found was a child's left yellow boot, size four, dry with laces tied in a double knot.
- The Redstone Queen capsized on May 6, 2009; eleven days later the boot was found on May 17, 2009.
- Nine people did not survive the ferry capsizing; two survivors were found alive, including five-year-old Cody Hurd.
- Forty minutes before the 7:45 departure, Teresa Simpson ran the pre-departure checklist; sixty-one passengers and nine crew were on board that morning.
- Wind speed rose from 19 knots to 53 knots in roughly 90 seconds when the squall line hit at 8:04 AM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079693Sat, 29 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Yellow Boot on the Shelf: What the Ferry Wouldn't Explain A child's size four left yellow boot, dry and laces double-knotted, was found on a bare metal shelf inside an unoccupied utility substation eleven days after the Redstone Queen...
A child's size four left yellow boot, dry and laces double-knotted, was found on a bare metal shelf inside an unoccupied utility substation eleven days after the Redstone Queen capsized-while the child who wore it survived the sinking. How did a single small boot end up on that shelf when the right boot was never recovered from the debris field?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events on the Redstone Queen crossing that morning, the people involved, and the physical clues that remain, focusing on the unanswered question about the boot on the shelf. Why does that boot refuse to fit into the otherwise complete physical record of the capsizing?

Date: May 17, 2009
Event: Redstone Queen capsized
Person: Teresa Simpson
Person: Cody Hurd
Location: Harwick western shore (riprap)

- The boot found was a child's left yellow boot, size four, dry with laces tied in a double knot.
- The Redstone Queen capsized on May 6, 2009; eleven days later the boot was found on May 17, 2009.
- Nine people did not survive the ferry capsizing; two survivors were found alive, including five-year-old Cody Hurd.
- Forty minutes before the 7:45 departure, Teresa Simpson ran the pre-departure checklist; sixty-one passengers and nine crew were on board that morning.
- Wind speed rose from 19 knots to 53 knots in roughly 90 seconds when the squall line hit at 8:04 AM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1196falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lost-at-sea-the-logbook-that-sent-rescuers-the-wrong-way--73079692
The first quiet clue was an orange dry bag on a dock with no salt crust and a logbook inside dated April 18 - five days after the Coast Guard had already been searching for David Olson in the wrong place. This episode hinges on three precise errors recorded in his spiral-bound logbook and one disastrous impact ninety miles offshore - how did those pages steer rescuers away from him?

In this episode, we follow the timeline written in David Olson’s logbook from April 5 to April 18, laying out his route, weather reports he recorded, and the debris he noted at sea, and we ask how those entries created a false trail for search teams.

Person: David Olson
Date: April 5-April 18, 2019
Location: ~90 miles east of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina
Vessel: Perseverance, 38-foot sloop
Status: Logbook found April 23 on Beaufort waterfront dock

- The logbook contains handwritten entries spanning 14 days, with the last entry dated April 18, 2019.
- David left Beaufort Inlet on April 5 at 2:20 PM with a filed float plan returning April 28.
- On April 8 he recorded passing a field of floating debris and logged its position in three brief lines.
- On April 10 he recorded winds of 38-42 knots with gusts to 50 and seas 10-12 feet after NOAA had forecast 15-20 knots and 4-6 foot seas.
- On the night of April 18 his GPS logged a single concussive impact roughly 90 miles offshore, and he later found water entering at the port bow.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079692Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaLost at Sea: The Logbook That Sent Rescuers the Wrong Way The first quiet clue was an orange dry bag on a dock with no salt crust and a logbook inside dated April 18 - five days after the Coast Guard had already been searching for David Olson in...
The first quiet clue was an orange dry bag on a dock with no salt crust and a logbook inside dated April 18 - five days after the Coast Guard had already been searching for David Olson in the wrong place. This episode hinges on three precise errors recorded in his spiral-bound logbook and one disastrous impact ninety miles offshore - how did those pages steer rescuers away from him?

In this episode, we follow the timeline written in David Olson’s logbook from April 5 to April 18, laying out his route, weather reports he recorded, and the debris he noted at sea, and we ask how those entries created a false trail for search teams.

Person: David Olson
Date: April 5-April 18, 2019
Location: ~90 miles east of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina
Vessel: Perseverance, 38-foot sloop
Status: Logbook found April 23 on Beaufort waterfront dock

- The logbook contains handwritten entries spanning 14 days, with the last entry dated April 18, 2019.
- David left Beaufort Inlet on April 5 at 2:20 PM with a filed float plan returning April 28.
- On April 8 he recorded passing a field of floating debris and logged its position in three brief lines.
- On April 10 he recorded winds of 38-42 knots with gusts to 50 and seas 10-12 feet after NOAA had forecast 15-20 knots and 4-6 foot seas.
- On the night of April 18 his GPS logged a single concussive impact roughly 90 miles offshore, and he later found water entering at the port bow.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1168falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/two-words-eleven-seconds-how-a-missing-boat-vanished-without-a-mayday--73079691
A single radio transmission lasted eleven seconds: eight seconds of static and a woman saying, "We're over." The Marta Lee then went silent, its eight-year-old EPIRB failed to activate, and no Mayday was ever heard - so how did a flare canister end up eleven miles inland in a freshwater creek while a woman was later found alive on a life raft six days after the boat vanished?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the morning the Marta Lee struck a submerged concrete mooring block to the moment a shrimper found two people on a semi-deflated life raft, and we trace the gaps between an eleven-second radio fragment, a non-firing emergency beacon, and six days adrift that defied survival expectations. What really happened in those six days at sea?

Person: Gail Bennett
Person: Tom Wicker
Person: Don Abate
Date: March 5, 2019
Date: March 11, 2019

- The initial eleven-second transmission on Channel 16 occurred at 05:47 and contained eight seconds of static followed by the words "We're over."
- The Marta Lee struck a submerged, unmarked concrete mooring block at 04:00 and suffered a destroyed port hull, a downed mast, and a sheared radio antenna.
- The EPIRB aboard the Marta Lee was eight years old and had its battery tested 14 months before the trip, missing the recommended 12-month interval.
- Six days and four hours after the Marta Lee lost radio contact, shrimper Don Abate found two people on a semi-deflated life raft in the Gulf; one had a fractured left wrist, hypothermia, and severe dehydration.
- On the morning of March 11, 2019, a beagle mix named Sergeant found an orange marine flare canister in Sutter Creek, a freshwater stream 11 miles inland from the Gulf with no navigable connection to open water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079691Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaTwo Words, Eleven Seconds: How a Missing Boat Vanished Without a Mayday A single radio transmission lasted eleven seconds: eight seconds of static and a woman saying, "We're over." The Marta Lee then went silent, its eight-year-old EPIRB failed to...
A single radio transmission lasted eleven seconds: eight seconds of static and a woman saying, "We're over." The Marta Lee then went silent, its eight-year-old EPIRB failed to activate, and no Mayday was ever heard - so how did a flare canister end up eleven miles inland in a freshwater creek while a woman was later found alive on a life raft six days after the boat vanished?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the morning the Marta Lee struck a submerged concrete mooring block to the moment a shrimper found two people on a semi-deflated life raft, and we trace the gaps between an eleven-second radio fragment, a non-firing emergency beacon, and six days adrift that defied survival expectations. What really happened in those six days at sea?

Person: Gail Bennett
Person: Tom Wicker
Person: Don Abate
Date: March 5, 2019
Date: March 11, 2019

- The initial eleven-second transmission on Channel 16 occurred at 05:47 and contained eight seconds of static followed by the words "We're over."
- The Marta Lee struck a submerged, unmarked concrete mooring block at 04:00 and suffered a destroyed port hull, a downed mast, and a sheared radio antenna.
- The EPIRB aboard the Marta Lee was eight years old and had its battery tested 14 months before the trip, missing the recommended 12-month interval.
- Six days and four hours after the Marta Lee lost radio contact, shrimper Don Abate found two people on a semi-deflated life raft in the Gulf; one had a fractured left wrist, hypothermia, and severe dehydration.
- On the morning of March 11, 2019, a beagle mix named Sergeant found an orange marine flare canister in Sutter Creek, a freshwater stream 11 miles inland from the Gulf with no navigable connection to open water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1113falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hours-one-watch-how-a-sailor-survived-the-gulf-s-false-bearings--73079689
A sixty-dollar watch kept perfect time after nearly four days underwater, tangled in a longline six miles off the Louisiana coast - and the man who owned it survived 91 hours separated from his boat. The story hinges on one offshore decision left ambiguous, a failing forestay, and an unknown item aboard that Warren never opened; how did preparation and luck split the distance between life and death?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a methodical twenty-eight-year-old leaving Pensacola to the moment his log goes blank and beyond, tracing the equipment, weather, and choices that framed his survival - and asking how a small, unopened bag changed everything.

Person: Warren Davis
Boat: Patina
Date: February 15-16, 2017
Duration adrift: Ninety-one hours
Location found item: Six miles off the Louisiana coast

- Warren was twenty-eight years old and worked as an apprentice electrician.
- The Patina was a thirty-two-foot sloop with a fiberglass hull and fin keel.
- The last written log entry at 5:51 PM on February 16, 2017 read: "Knockdown. Righted. Mast standing. Forestay loose."
- The forestay failed about twenty minutes after the first knockdown, causing the mast to fall.
- A sixty-dollar watch was underwater for nearly four days and still kept perfect time when recovered.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079689Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHours, One Watch: How a Sailor Survived the Gulf's False Bearings A sixty-dollar watch kept perfect time after nearly four days underwater, tangled in a longline six miles off the Louisiana coast - and the man who owned it survived 91 hours...
A sixty-dollar watch kept perfect time after nearly four days underwater, tangled in a longline six miles off the Louisiana coast - and the man who owned it survived 91 hours separated from his boat. The story hinges on one offshore decision left ambiguous, a failing forestay, and an unknown item aboard that Warren never opened; how did preparation and luck split the distance between life and death?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a methodical twenty-eight-year-old leaving Pensacola to the moment his log goes blank and beyond, tracing the equipment, weather, and choices that framed his survival - and asking how a small, unopened bag changed everything.

Person: Warren Davis
Boat: Patina
Date: February 15-16, 2017
Duration adrift: Ninety-one hours
Location found item: Six miles off the Louisiana coast

- Warren was twenty-eight years old and worked as an apprentice electrician.
- The Patina was a thirty-two-foot sloop with a fiberglass hull and fin keel.
- The last written log entry at 5:51 PM on February 16, 2017 read: "Knockdown. Righted. Mast standing. Forestay loose."
- The forestay failed about twenty minutes after the first knockdown, causing the mast to fall.
- A sixty-dollar watch was underwater for nearly four days and still kept perfect time when recovered.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1210falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-that-drifted-eleven-miles-how-one-sailor-survived-41-days--73079668
Salt crust on a spiral notebook led a land surveyor eleven miles from the coast to evidence of a man clinging to life at sea; the pages contained compass bearings, fuel burn estimates and sun-angle recordings from a dismasted sloop named Perseverance. How did a notebook washed ashore become the only thread connecting a missing sailor, three failed safety systems and a forty-one day ordeal?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events that began on January 4, 2019 and unfolded over forty-one days, tracing technical failures, storm damage and improvised navigation that kept one sailor alive. What combination of small oversights and stubborn expertise produced a near-impossible survival story?

Person: Mark Whitfield
Date: January 4-January 22, 2019
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina departure; found notebook near Harwick, Georgia
Vessel: 38-foot sloop Perseverance
Status: Survivor after 41 days adrift

- Whitfield was 54 years old and retired from a civil engineering career in Charleston.
- The mast fell at 04:17 on January 6 after a forestay fitting failed, breaking two ribs.
- Winds increased to 30-35 knots with gusts up to 45 knots the night of January 5.
- His satellite messenger subscription failed to activate due to a billing error renewed on January 2.
- An EPIRB firmware defect in a production batch could offset coordinates by 31 nautical miles northwest.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079668Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook That Drifted Eleven Miles: How One Sailor Survived 41 Days Salt crust on a spiral notebook led a land surveyor eleven miles from the coast to evidence of a man clinging to life at sea; the pages contained compass bearings, fuel burn...
Salt crust on a spiral notebook led a land surveyor eleven miles from the coast to evidence of a man clinging to life at sea; the pages contained compass bearings, fuel burn estimates and sun-angle recordings from a dismasted sloop named Perseverance. How did a notebook washed ashore become the only thread connecting a missing sailor, three failed safety systems and a forty-one day ordeal?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events that began on January 4, 2019 and unfolded over forty-one days, tracing technical failures, storm damage and improvised navigation that kept one sailor alive. What combination of small oversights and stubborn expertise produced a near-impossible survival story?

Person: Mark Whitfield
Date: January 4-January 22, 2019
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina departure; found notebook near Harwick, Georgia
Vessel: 38-foot sloop Perseverance
Status: Survivor after 41 days adrift

- Whitfield was 54 years old and retired from a civil engineering career in Charleston.
- The mast fell at 04:17 on January 6 after a forestay fitting failed, breaking two ribs.
- Winds increased to 30-35 knots with gusts up to 45 knots the night of January 5.
- His satellite messenger subscription failed to activate due to a billing error renewed on January 2.
- An EPIRB firmware defect in a production batch could offset coordinates by 31 nautical miles northwest.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>974falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-tide-table-that-shouldn-t-be-wet-two-dead-one-saved--73079667
A laminated tide table dated 2009, found damp inside a sealed pump hatch three feet from where one missing crew member stood, refuses to fit any easy explanation and keeps the memory of two dead and one survivor tethered to a single, strange object. How did a dry, locked space hold a wet booklet tied to a year the crew never needed - and what does that wetness reveal about the Ariel Foss's vanished passage?

In this episode, we tell what happened on the Ariel Foss from its departure to the discovery that changed the search, laying out the timeline, the people involved, and the odd evidence that resisted every search grid. Why did a tide table dated 2009, sealed in a dock hatch, have beads of moisture on it?

Person: Nancy Williams
Person: Dennis Pruett
Person: Curtis Haley
Date: December 15, 2011
Location: Pilcher marina to Dunmore Cay

- The Ariel Foss is a 41-foot ketch that cleared Pilcher marina at 6:47 a.m, on December 15, 2011.
- The planned passage to Dunmore Cay was approximately four hours, with estimated arrival around 11:00 a.m.
- The vessel had been topped off with 40 gallons of fuel the day before, and was refueled again at 6:30 a.m, before departure.
- Search-and-rescue covered a grid for three days across fifty nautical miles and found no debris, no life ring, and no flare canister before suspending the active search on December 18.
- On December 19, a county contractor, Vicki Barnes, opened a sealed cast-iron pump hatch on the Pilcher dock and found a laminated tide table dated 2009 with beads of moisture inside.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079667Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Tide Table That Shouldn't Be Wet - Two Dead, One Saved A laminated tide table dated 2009, found damp inside a sealed pump hatch three feet from where one missing crew member stood, refuses to fit any easy explanation and keeps the memory of two...
A laminated tide table dated 2009, found damp inside a sealed pump hatch three feet from where one missing crew member stood, refuses to fit any easy explanation and keeps the memory of two dead and one survivor tethered to a single, strange object. How did a dry, locked space hold a wet booklet tied to a year the crew never needed - and what does that wetness reveal about the Ariel Foss's vanished passage?

In this episode, we tell what happened on the Ariel Foss from its departure to the discovery that changed the search, laying out the timeline, the people involved, and the odd evidence that resisted every search grid. Why did a tide table dated 2009, sealed in a dock hatch, have beads of moisture on it?

Person: Nancy Williams
Person: Dennis Pruett
Person: Curtis Haley
Date: December 15, 2011
Location: Pilcher marina to Dunmore Cay

- The Ariel Foss is a 41-foot ketch that cleared Pilcher marina at 6:47 a.m, on December 15, 2011.
- The planned passage to Dunmore Cay was approximately four hours, with estimated arrival around 11:00 a.m.
- The vessel had been topped off with 40 gallons of fuel the day before, and was refueled again at 6:30 a.m, before departure.
- Search-and-rescue covered a grid for three days across fifty nautical miles and found no debris, no life ring, and no flare canister before suspending the active search on December 18.
- On December 19, a county contractor, Vicki Barnes, opened a sealed cast-iron pump hatch on the Pilcher dock and found a laminated tide table dated 2009 with beads of moisture inside.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1131falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rabbit-rope-and-a-100-mile-drift-the-kittiwake-s-impossible-survivor--73079666
Fear and bewilderment meet at Pelican Flat: a live Holland Lop rabbit named Biscuit washes ashore in a metal cage tied to a rope burned at one end, fifty miles from the last search area - and the sloop Kittiwake and her owner Vicki O'Connor are nowhere to be found. How did a feeding log kept for eleven days end with a cage on a mudflat and an EPIRB that broadcast for only forty‑seven minutes?

In this episode, we tell what was found, what was logged, and how a single unrecorded course decision put the Kittiwake sixty‑one miles offshore when a storm arrived twelve hours early. Listen to learn how the rabbit’s feeding entries, a failed forestay, and a stopped distress beacon create a puzzle that challenges the official search timeline.

Person: Vicki O'Connor
Vessel: Kittiwake (forty‑two‑foot sloop)
Animal: Biscuit (tricolor Holland Lop rabbit)
Date: November 6-19 (feeding log entries span eleven days)
Signal duration: EPIRB broadcast for forty‑seven minutes

- The cage with Biscuit was found at 7:15 AM on November 19 on a South Carolina mudflat.
- Biscuit’s feeding log contains twenty‑two pencil entries spanning eleven days, last entry at 6:00 PM on November 18.
- Vicki left Thunderbolt Marina on the morning of November 6 and was expected in Charleston by the evening of November 7.
- The forestay failed during a storm on the night of November 7 in forty‑five‑knot gusts and twelve‑foot seas, leaving the mast fallen to port.
- The EPIRB was manually activated and transmitted for forty‑seven minutes before going silent; the unit was never recovered.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079666Sun, 23 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaRabbit, Rope, and a 100‑Mile Drift: The Kittiwake's Impossible Survivor Fear and bewilderment meet at Pelican Flat: a live Holland Lop rabbit named Biscuit washes ashore in a metal cage tied to a rope burned at one end, fifty miles from the last...
Fear and bewilderment meet at Pelican Flat: a live Holland Lop rabbit named Biscuit washes ashore in a metal cage tied to a rope burned at one end, fifty miles from the last search area - and the sloop Kittiwake and her owner Vicki O'Connor are nowhere to be found. How did a feeding log kept for eleven days end with a cage on a mudflat and an EPIRB that broadcast for only forty‑seven minutes?

In this episode, we tell what was found, what was logged, and how a single unrecorded course decision put the Kittiwake sixty‑one miles offshore when a storm arrived twelve hours early. Listen to learn how the rabbit’s feeding entries, a failed forestay, and a stopped distress beacon create a puzzle that challenges the official search timeline.

Person: Vicki O'Connor
Vessel: Kittiwake (forty‑two‑foot sloop)
Animal: Biscuit (tricolor Holland Lop rabbit)
Date: November 6-19 (feeding log entries span eleven days)
Signal duration: EPIRB broadcast for forty‑seven minutes

- The cage with Biscuit was found at 7:15 AM on November 19 on a South Carolina mudflat.
- Biscuit’s feeding log contains twenty‑two pencil entries spanning eleven days, last entry at 6:00 PM on November 18.
- Vicki left Thunderbolt Marina on the morning of November 6 and was expected in Charleston by the evening of November 7.
- The forestay failed during a storm on the night of November 7 in forty‑five‑knot gusts and twelve‑foot seas, leaving the mast fallen to port.
- The EPIRB was manually activated and transmitted for forty‑seven minutes before going silent; the unit was never recovered.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1186falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/recorder-found-floating-the-survival-of-teresa-whitley--73079665
The ocean returned a blinking silver recorder with its battery at eleven percent - and inside were forty-seven audio files made by a woman who had been missing for five months. This episode opens on that uncanny find and asks how a meticulous sailor managed to survive alone at sea long enough to document her own disappearance; what did the recordings reveal that search teams missed?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Teresa Whitley’s departure from St. Augustine to the night her mast went overboard and the small decisions that determined everything that followed. You’ll hear how routine logs, two conflicting float plans, and a taped recorder became the only trail back to her story - and why the search went the wrong way.

Person: Teresa Whitley
Date: October 3-6, 2018
Location: Departed St. Augustine; intended routes to Nassau or West End, Grand Bahama Island
Event: Mast loss and capsized roll on October 5 at 11:47 p.m.
Files recovered: Forty-seven audio recordings

- The recorder was found by Kelly Dalton at 5:40 a.m, on March 14, 2019, blinking with an eleven percent battery.
- Teresa left St. Augustine on October 3, 2018, at 6:15 a.m, under 12-15 knot northeast winds and 2-3 foot seas.
- Teresa logged fuel at departure as twelve gallons and recorded four gallons burned by the end of October 4, leaving eight gallons.
- At 11:47 p.m. on October 5, Teresa recorded a 14-second file that includes: a structural groan, a crack, and her voice saying, "That's the rig. That's the whole rig gone."
- After the incident Teresa had eight liters of water, three days of food, a compass, a wet paper chart, a damaged VHF, a dead-battery handheld backup, and a silver recorder sealed in electrical tape.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079665Sat, 22 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaRecorder Found Floating: The Survival of Teresa Whitley The ocean returned a blinking silver recorder with its battery at eleven percent - and inside were forty-seven audio files made by a woman who had been missing for five months. This episode...
The ocean returned a blinking silver recorder with its battery at eleven percent - and inside were forty-seven audio files made by a woman who had been missing for five months. This episode opens on that uncanny find and asks how a meticulous sailor managed to survive alone at sea long enough to document her own disappearance; what did the recordings reveal that search teams missed?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Teresa Whitley’s departure from St. Augustine to the night her mast went overboard and the small decisions that determined everything that followed. You’ll hear how routine logs, two conflicting float plans, and a taped recorder became the only trail back to her story - and why the search went the wrong way.

Person: Teresa Whitley
Date: October 3-6, 2018
Location: Departed St. Augustine; intended routes to Nassau or West End, Grand Bahama Island
Event: Mast loss and capsized roll on October 5 at 11:47 p.m.
Files recovered: Forty-seven audio recordings

- The recorder was found by Kelly Dalton at 5:40 a.m, on March 14, 2019, blinking with an eleven percent battery.
- Teresa left St. Augustine on October 3, 2018, at 6:15 a.m, under 12-15 knot northeast winds and 2-3 foot seas.
- Teresa logged fuel at departure as twelve gallons and recorded four gallons burned by the end of October 4, leaving eight gallons.
- At 11:47 p.m. on October 5, Teresa recorded a 14-second file that includes: a structural groan, a crack, and her voice saying, "That's the rig. That's the whole rig gone."
- After the incident Teresa had eight liters of water, three days of food, a compass, a wet paper chart, a damaged VHF, a dead-battery handheld backup, and a silver recorder sealed in electrical tape.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1299falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/eleven-days-after-the-ship-that-carried-it-sank-in-lake-superior--73079664
A dry suit was found in a roadside ditch on Route Nine at six in the morning eleven days after the Ambrose Crossing sank in Lake Superior. The suit was clean, zipper sealed and locked with its clip in place, though the man who had worn it did not have that clip when rescuers pulled him from the raft. How did a perfectly handled piece of survival gear end up in a ditch and what does that single object reveal about the decisions made on a sinking boat?

In this episode, we follow Dennis Farr, his nephew William Thorpe and friend Pete Okafor from departure in Grand Portage to the night the thirty-eight-foot Ambrose Crossing went down; we trace the mis-transmitted VHF coordinates that sent rescuers eighteen nautical miles the wrong way and we reconstruct how one dry suit became the hinge between survival and sacrifice.

Person: Dennis Farr
Vessel: Ambrose Crossing
Date of sinking: September 10, 2012
Location: Lake Superior, western shore passage Grand Portage to Duluth
Duration adrift before rescue: four days for survivors

- Dennis Farr, 51, spent eleven years building the 38-foot Ambrose Crossing in his garage on Birch Street in Grand Portage.
- The boat left Grand Portage at 7:15 a.m. on September 9, 2012 with Farr, William Thorpe and Pete Okafor aboard.
- At 2:11 a.m. on September 10 Farr transmitted distress coordinates but one final digit in longitude dropped during the VHF call.
- Searchers launched to the wrong location and expanded the grid three times before a cargo ship’s debris report refocused operations.
- The dry suit found in the ditch was clean, zipped and clipped from the outside - evidence that it had been handled and secured during the post-rescue rush before rotor wash carried it off a helicopter pallet.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079664Fri, 21 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at Obomediaeleven days after the ship that carried it sank in Lake Superior A dry suit was found in a roadside ditch on Route Nine at six in the morning eleven days after the Ambrose Crossing sank in Lake Superior. The suit was clean, zipper sealed and locked...
A dry suit was found in a roadside ditch on Route Nine at six in the morning eleven days after the Ambrose Crossing sank in Lake Superior. The suit was clean, zipper sealed and locked with its clip in place, though the man who had worn it did not have that clip when rescuers pulled him from the raft. How did a perfectly handled piece of survival gear end up in a ditch and what does that single object reveal about the decisions made on a sinking boat?

In this episode, we follow Dennis Farr, his nephew William Thorpe and friend Pete Okafor from departure in Grand Portage to the night the thirty-eight-foot Ambrose Crossing went down; we trace the mis-transmitted VHF coordinates that sent rescuers eighteen nautical miles the wrong way and we reconstruct how one dry suit became the hinge between survival and sacrifice.

Person: Dennis Farr
Vessel: Ambrose Crossing
Date of sinking: September 10, 2012
Location: Lake Superior, western shore passage Grand Portage to Duluth
Duration adrift before rescue: four days for survivors

- Dennis Farr, 51, spent eleven years building the 38-foot Ambrose Crossing in his garage on Birch Street in Grand Portage.
- The boat left Grand Portage at 7:15 a.m. on September 9, 2012 with Farr, William Thorpe and Pete Okafor aboard.
- At 2:11 a.m. on September 10 Farr transmitted distress coordinates but one final digit in longitude dropped during the VHF call.
- Searchers launched to the wrong location and expanded the grid three times before a cargo ship’s debris report refocused operations.
- The dry suit found in the ditch was clean, zipped and clipped from the outside - evidence that it had been handled and secured during the post-rescue rush before rotor wash carried it off a helicopter pallet.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1063falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/driven-through-with-a-galvanized-nail-toe-box-punctured-clean-velcro-still-fastened--73079661
A small pink-and-white child’s sneaker, size six, was found nailed toe-down to the lower fin of Marker Seven in Crescent Channel on August 14, 2011, the Velcro still fastened and an air pocket preserved inside. The nail was driven from outside at a rightward angle consistent with a right-handed person leaning from a small boat or low dock, but no one was ever identified or came forward-so why was that shoe fixed to the buoy, four miles from where its owner’s father lay in hospital?

In this episode, we tell the story of Scott Rafferty, a 48-year-old electrician sailing his 32-foot ketch Ardea into a Georgia squall on August 3, 2011, whose EPIRB and GPS errors sent searchers twelve miles off course and nearly cost him his life, and the baffling discovery of Nora’s lost shoe nailed to Marker Seven days later.

Person: Scott Rafferty
Vessel: Ardea (32-foot wooden ketch)
Date of incident: August 3-11, 2011
Location found: Marker Seven, Crescent Channel, Georgia
Days adrift before rescue: 8

- Scott Rafferty left Darien at 6:45 a.m. on August 3 and encountered rapidly worsening seas the next day.
- The Ardea’s mast came down and a port chainplate pulled from the hull causing a flooding seam on August 4.
- A GPS firmware bug displaced Rafferty’s reported position twelve miles east and misdirected the Coast Guard search.
- Rafferty was spotted by the shrimp boat Patrice Jean on August 11 and airlifted conscious at 1:47 p.m. holding a child’s sneaker in his right hand.
- The left shoe was found nailed to Marker Seven on August 14 with the Velcro still fastened and an undisturbed air pocket making the nail’s placement inexplicably precise.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079661Thu, 20 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaDriven through with a galvanized nail, toe box punctured clean, Velcro still fastened A small pink-and-white child’s sneaker, size six, was found nailed toe-down to the lower fin of Marker Seven in Crescent Channel on August 14, 2011, the Velcro...
A small pink-and-white child’s sneaker, size six, was found nailed toe-down to the lower fin of Marker Seven in Crescent Channel on August 14, 2011, the Velcro still fastened and an air pocket preserved inside. The nail was driven from outside at a rightward angle consistent with a right-handed person leaning from a small boat or low dock, but no one was ever identified or came forward-so why was that shoe fixed to the buoy, four miles from where its owner’s father lay in hospital?

In this episode, we tell the story of Scott Rafferty, a 48-year-old electrician sailing his 32-foot ketch Ardea into a Georgia squall on August 3, 2011, whose EPIRB and GPS errors sent searchers twelve miles off course and nearly cost him his life, and the baffling discovery of Nora’s lost shoe nailed to Marker Seven days later.

Person: Scott Rafferty
Vessel: Ardea (32-foot wooden ketch)
Date of incident: August 3-11, 2011
Location found: Marker Seven, Crescent Channel, Georgia
Days adrift before rescue: 8

- Scott Rafferty left Darien at 6:45 a.m. on August 3 and encountered rapidly worsening seas the next day.
- The Ardea’s mast came down and a port chainplate pulled from the hull causing a flooding seam on August 4.
- A GPS firmware bug displaced Rafferty’s reported position twelve miles east and misdirected the Coast Guard search.
- Rafferty was spotted by the shrimp boat Patrice Jean on August 11 and airlifted conscious at 1:47 p.m. holding a child’s sneaker in his right hand.
- The left shoe was found nailed to Marker Seven on August 14 with the Velcro still fastened and an undisturbed air pocket making the nail’s placement inexplicably precise.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1082falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/at-six-fifteen-in-the-morning-on-july-thirteenth--73079659
A lone flare gun with an orange grip and black barrel lay upright at the surf’s edge on Cordray Point, its surrounding sand soaked from tide yet the gun itself completely dry. A runner photographed it without touching it - an image that later appeared in a Coast Guard review - but how did that single dry piece of equipment travel from a life raft in a storm to a quiet shoreline two days later?

In this episode, we tell the story of Diane Harris, skipper of the 44-foot sloop Ardent Reach, whose mast failed in 42-knot winds and forced her crew into a life raft for fifty-eight hours; how an EPIRB transmitting accurate coordinates named the wrong vessel; and how a factory data entry error nearly closed a rescue before it began.

Person: Diane Harris
Vessel: Ardent Reach, 44-foot sloop
Date of incident: July 9-11, 2018
Location: Approximately 80 miles off the North Carolina coast
Duration adrift: 58 hours

- The mast on Ardent Reach failed at 11:47 p.m. on July ninth and the crew deployed the life raft at 12:19 a.m. on July tenth.
- Diane activated an EPIRB at 12:19 a.m. and the signal reached Coast Guard Norfolk at 12:23 a.m.
- The EPIRB transmitted correct GPS coordinates but the unit was registered to a different boat named Solstice Patience in Annapolis.
- Lieutenant Ed Farrar followed protocol and closed the alert at 12:44 a.m. after confirmation that the named vessel was in port.
- The flare gun that signaled a C-130 from about four miles was later found dry on wet sand and photographed at 6:15 a.m. on July thirteenth.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079659Wed, 19 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaAt six fifteen in the morning on July thirteenth A lone flare gun with an orange grip and black barrel lay upright at the surf’s edge on Cordray Point, its surrounding sand soaked from tide yet the gun itself completely dry. A runner photographed it...
A lone flare gun with an orange grip and black barrel lay upright at the surf’s edge on Cordray Point, its surrounding sand soaked from tide yet the gun itself completely dry. A runner photographed it without touching it - an image that later appeared in a Coast Guard review - but how did that single dry piece of equipment travel from a life raft in a storm to a quiet shoreline two days later?

In this episode, we tell the story of Diane Harris, skipper of the 44-foot sloop Ardent Reach, whose mast failed in 42-knot winds and forced her crew into a life raft for fifty-eight hours; how an EPIRB transmitting accurate coordinates named the wrong vessel; and how a factory data entry error nearly closed a rescue before it began.

Person: Diane Harris
Vessel: Ardent Reach, 44-foot sloop
Date of incident: July 9-11, 2018
Location: Approximately 80 miles off the North Carolina coast
Duration adrift: 58 hours

- The mast on Ardent Reach failed at 11:47 p.m. on July ninth and the crew deployed the life raft at 12:19 a.m. on July tenth.
- Diane activated an EPIRB at 12:19 a.m. and the signal reached Coast Guard Norfolk at 12:23 a.m.
- The EPIRB transmitted correct GPS coordinates but the unit was registered to a different boat named Solstice Patience in Annapolis.
- Lieutenant Ed Farrar followed protocol and closed the alert at 12:44 a.m. after confirmation that the named vessel was in port.
- The flare gun that signaled a C-130 from about four miles was later found dry on wet sand and photographed at 6:15 a.m. on July thirteenth.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1237falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/monica-roberts-a-pacific-gas-meter-reader-photographed-it-before-she-touched-it--73079658
A laminated emergency card lay perfectly centered on a concrete utility pad four hundred yards from the ocean, dry and face up, its surface scratched with seven tally marks. Monica Roberts photographed the card before she touched it, and those seven marks became the only visible trace of a woman who had been missing at sea for six days. What did that seventh mark mean, and how did a private grief reroute a multi-day search?

In this episode, we tell the story of Rhonda Allen, a fifty-two-year-old maritime surveyor who set sail on her thirty-six-foot sloop Patience and disappeared north instead of south. Her boat sank in a rogue wave and she survived six days on a cockpit hatch cover until a late change to the search grid brought a helicopter to her location.

Person: Rhonda Allen
Vessel: 36-foot sloop Patience
Date of sinking: Night of June 5-6, 2011
Location of rescue: ~40 nautical miles north of Calder Harbor near Point Harrow
Duration adrift: Six days before rescue

- Rhonda purchased fifty-one gallons of diesel on the Sunday before her departure and filled a tank that held fifty-two gallons.
- She filed a float plan saying she was going south for a weekend passage but in fact headed north toward Point Harrow.
- A rogue wave struck at approximately midnight and Patience sank in four to six minutes with the companionway open.
- Rhonda surfaced clipped to her harness, clung to a flat fiberglass cockpit hatch, and exhausted her handheld VHF by day two.
- The laminated card with seven deep tally marks washed inland and ended up dry on a utility pad four hundred yards from the water, photographed by Monica Roberts.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079658Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaMonica Roberts, a Pacific Gas meter reader, photographed it before she touched it A laminated emergency card lay perfectly centered on a concrete utility pad four hundred yards from the ocean, dry and face up, its surface scratched with seven tally...
A laminated emergency card lay perfectly centered on a concrete utility pad four hundred yards from the ocean, dry and face up, its surface scratched with seven tally marks. Monica Roberts photographed the card before she touched it, and those seven marks became the only visible trace of a woman who had been missing at sea for six days. What did that seventh mark mean, and how did a private grief reroute a multi-day search?

In this episode, we tell the story of Rhonda Allen, a fifty-two-year-old maritime surveyor who set sail on her thirty-six-foot sloop Patience and disappeared north instead of south. Her boat sank in a rogue wave and she survived six days on a cockpit hatch cover until a late change to the search grid brought a helicopter to her location.

Person: Rhonda Allen
Vessel: 36-foot sloop Patience
Date of sinking: Night of June 5-6, 2011
Location of rescue: ~40 nautical miles north of Calder Harbor near Point Harrow
Duration adrift: Six days before rescue

- Rhonda purchased fifty-one gallons of diesel on the Sunday before her departure and filled a tank that held fifty-two gallons.
- She filed a float plan saying she was going south for a weekend passage but in fact headed north toward Point Harrow.
- A rogue wave struck at approximately midnight and Patience sank in four to six minutes with the companionway open.
- Rhonda surfaced clipped to her harness, clung to a flat fiberglass cockpit hatch, and exhausted her handheld VHF by day two.
- The laminated card with seven deep tally marks washed inland and ended up dry on a utility pad four hundred yards from the water, photographed by Monica Roberts.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1141falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/that-is-the-contradiction-at-the-center-of-this-story--73079657
A neon-yellow child’s sneaker, standing upright on the concrete lip of a Pelican Flat culvert, carried a laminated card zip-tied through its lace hole with two lines of marker: coordinates and the words STILL ALIVE. The shoe had drifted an estimated seven days and landed thirty miles up the coast, but when a volunteer read that plea, the woman who wrote it had been in a Savannah hospital for four days. How did a carefully planned last-ditch signal arrive after the rescue it aimed to prompt?

In this episode, we follow Jean Wallace, a forty-four-year-old solo sailor aboard the 38-foot sloop Ardent, as her mast collapses in a May storm and a failed drogue sends her sixty-one miles from her EPIRB fix; we trace the Coast Guard search, the sister’s memory that shifted the grid, and the shoe that almost changed everything.

Person: Jean Wallace
Vessel: Ardent, 38-foot sloop
Date of incident: May 3-15, 2011
Location: 45 miles east-southeast of Georgia coast at EPIRB activation
Duration adrift before rescue: 11 days from departure; rescued May 15

- Jean activated her EPIRB at approximately 8:15 PM on May 5 after losing her mast in 51-knot winds.
- The drogue bridle had chafed through before deployment causing the Ardent to drift 61 miles southwest of the EPIRB coordinates.
- The Coast Guard search used the EPIRB fix and initially searched northeast and southeast of the beacon position.
- Jean’s sister Barbara drove to Sector Charleston on May 13 and relayed Jean’s offhand comment about southwest post-storm currents.
- A neon-yellow sneaker zip-tied to a laminated card reading STILL ALIVE washed ashore seven days later bearing coordinates 48 miles from Jean’s actual rescue location.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079657Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThat is the contradiction at the center of this story A neon-yellow child’s sneaker, standing upright on the concrete lip of a Pelican Flat culvert, carried a laminated card zip-tied through its lace hole with two lines of marker: coordinates and the...
A neon-yellow child’s sneaker, standing upright on the concrete lip of a Pelican Flat culvert, carried a laminated card zip-tied through its lace hole with two lines of marker: coordinates and the words STILL ALIVE. The shoe had drifted an estimated seven days and landed thirty miles up the coast, but when a volunteer read that plea, the woman who wrote it had been in a Savannah hospital for four days. How did a carefully planned last-ditch signal arrive after the rescue it aimed to prompt?

In this episode, we follow Jean Wallace, a forty-four-year-old solo sailor aboard the 38-foot sloop Ardent, as her mast collapses in a May storm and a failed drogue sends her sixty-one miles from her EPIRB fix; we trace the Coast Guard search, the sister’s memory that shifted the grid, and the shoe that almost changed everything.

Person: Jean Wallace
Vessel: Ardent, 38-foot sloop
Date of incident: May 3-15, 2011
Location: 45 miles east-southeast of Georgia coast at EPIRB activation
Duration adrift before rescue: 11 days from departure; rescued May 15

- Jean activated her EPIRB at approximately 8:15 PM on May 5 after losing her mast in 51-knot winds.
- The drogue bridle had chafed through before deployment causing the Ardent to drift 61 miles southwest of the EPIRB coordinates.
- The Coast Guard search used the EPIRB fix and initially searched northeast and southeast of the beacon position.
- Jean’s sister Barbara drove to Sector Charleston on May 13 and relayed Jean’s offhand comment about southwest post-storm currents.
- A neon-yellow sneaker zip-tied to a laminated card reading STILL ALIVE washed ashore seven days later bearing coordinates 48 miles from Jean’s actual rescue location.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1078falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nine-thirty-in-the-morning-on-april-fourteenth-two-thousand-nineteen--73079656
A warm bowl of tomato soup sat in the gimbaled holder of an unmanned thirty-two-foot sloop, warm enough that Coast Guard Petty Officer Travis Ogle pressed two fingers to the rim and noted "definitely above ambient." The inflatable suspender vest was gone from its hook, the engine idled, and the logbook showed a planned trip to Harkers Island - so why was the boat circling a quarter mile off Pelican Notch and its owner nowhere aboard?

In this episode, we follow the search for Marilyn Fisher, a 28-year-old marine supply worker and meticulous sailor whose Cora Jean was found adrift; a sequence of fuel receipts, eyewitness direction of travel, and a drifting EPIRB forced rescuers to revise their search and ultimately find her alive after 31 hours adrift.

Person: Marilyn Fisher
Vessel: 32-foot sloop Cora Jean
Date: April 13-15, 2019
Location: Beaufort / Pelican Notch / south of Cape Lookout
Duration adrift: 31 hours

- Marilyn logged every trip and always wore an inflatable suspender vest when sailing alone.
- On April 14 at about 9:30 AM the Coast Guard boarded the Cora Jean and found the engine idling and the companionway vest hook empty.
- A bowl of tomato soup on the table registered "definitely above ambient" when pressed by Petty Officer Travis Ogle.
- The EPIRB plotted a position four miles northeast of where fuel receipts and witness Pete Farraro indicated she had actually gone.
- Rescuers found Marilyn alive at 11:22 AM on April 15 with a core temperature of 94.1°F lacerations and a bruised sternum still wearing the vest she had deliberately taken into the water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079656Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaNine thirty in the morning on April fourteenth, two thousand nineteen A warm bowl of tomato soup sat in the gimbaled holder of an unmanned thirty-two-foot sloop, warm enough that Coast Guard Petty Officer Travis Ogle pressed two fingers to the rim...
A warm bowl of tomato soup sat in the gimbaled holder of an unmanned thirty-two-foot sloop, warm enough that Coast Guard Petty Officer Travis Ogle pressed two fingers to the rim and noted "definitely above ambient." The inflatable suspender vest was gone from its hook, the engine idled, and the logbook showed a planned trip to Harkers Island - so why was the boat circling a quarter mile off Pelican Notch and its owner nowhere aboard?

In this episode, we follow the search for Marilyn Fisher, a 28-year-old marine supply worker and meticulous sailor whose Cora Jean was found adrift; a sequence of fuel receipts, eyewitness direction of travel, and a drifting EPIRB forced rescuers to revise their search and ultimately find her alive after 31 hours adrift.

Person: Marilyn Fisher
Vessel: 32-foot sloop Cora Jean
Date: April 13-15, 2019
Location: Beaufort / Pelican Notch / south of Cape Lookout
Duration adrift: 31 hours

- Marilyn logged every trip and always wore an inflatable suspender vest when sailing alone.
- On April 14 at about 9:30 AM the Coast Guard boarded the Cora Jean and found the engine idling and the companionway vest hook empty.
- A bowl of tomato soup on the table registered "definitely above ambient" when pressed by Petty Officer Travis Ogle.
- The EPIRB plotted a position four miles northeast of where fuel receipts and witness Pete Farraro indicated she had actually gone.
- Rescuers found Marilyn alive at 11:22 AM on April 15 with a core temperature of 94.1°F lacerations and a bruised sternum still wearing the vest she had deliberately taken into the water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1075falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-fisherman-named-gary-green-found-it-face-down-in-the-shallows-of-cutter-shoal--73079654
A swollen orange vinyl logbook, its spiral binding bent but pages still legible, washed ashore on March 19, 2011 and contained a final entry dated five days earlier. Its pages recorded bearings, weather, water collection, and rationing decisions from a small sloop that had been missing at sea. How did a disciplined skipper survive twelve days while searchers combed a corridor four nautical miles to the west?

In this episode, we follow Shannon Brooks, a seasoned marine biology instructor sailing her twenty-two-foot sloop Meridian Call from Gulfport to Isla Mujeres, and the chain of small failures that prolonged her rescue. We trace the capsize, a lost VHF antenna, a transposed coordinate by a contracted pilot, and a drift model that missed her by miles without revealing the moment of rescue.

Person: Shannon Brooks
Vessel: Meridian Call (22-foot sloop)
Date of capsize: March 8, 2011
Rescue: March 14, 2011 by the container ship Basque Meridian
Logbook found: March 19, 2011 at Cutter Shoal

- The Meridian Call capsized around 0400 on March 8 during a squall with sustained winds of 38 knots and gusts to 52.
- The VHF antenna was sheared off in the capsize leaving the boat unable to transmit position updates.
- A pilot logged a possible visual flare on March 10 but transposed the last digit of the longitude displacing the reported position four nautical miles northwest.
- Shannon maintained a written log through twelve days noting sea state, estimated position, remaining flares, and rationing decisions.
- A sealed cookie Shannon discarded before rescue remained unopened and was later confirmed by lab testing to have been never eaten, a detail that underscores her deliberate rationing and long-term planning.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079654Sat, 15 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA fisherman named Gary Green found it face-down in the shallows of Cutter Shoal A swollen orange vinyl logbook, its spiral binding bent but pages still legible, washed ashore on March 19, 2011 and contained a final entry dated five days earlier. Its...
A swollen orange vinyl logbook, its spiral binding bent but pages still legible, washed ashore on March 19, 2011 and contained a final entry dated five days earlier. Its pages recorded bearings, weather, water collection, and rationing decisions from a small sloop that had been missing at sea. How did a disciplined skipper survive twelve days while searchers combed a corridor four nautical miles to the west?

In this episode, we follow Shannon Brooks, a seasoned marine biology instructor sailing her twenty-two-foot sloop Meridian Call from Gulfport to Isla Mujeres, and the chain of small failures that prolonged her rescue. We trace the capsize, a lost VHF antenna, a transposed coordinate by a contracted pilot, and a drift model that missed her by miles without revealing the moment of rescue.

Person: Shannon Brooks
Vessel: Meridian Call (22-foot sloop)
Date of capsize: March 8, 2011
Rescue: March 14, 2011 by the container ship Basque Meridian
Logbook found: March 19, 2011 at Cutter Shoal

- The Meridian Call capsized around 0400 on March 8 during a squall with sustained winds of 38 knots and gusts to 52.
- The VHF antenna was sheared off in the capsize leaving the boat unable to transmit position updates.
- A pilot logged a possible visual flare on March 10 but transposed the last digit of the longitude displacing the reported position four nautical miles northwest.
- Shannon maintained a written log through twelve days noting sea state, estimated position, remaining flares, and rationing decisions.
- A sealed cookie Shannon discarded before rescue remained unopened and was later confirmed by lab testing to have been never eaten, a detail that underscores her deliberate rationing and long-term planning.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1214falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/he-had-been-re-establishing-property-markers-on-a-routine-job--73079652
A bright orange float bag lay in a mangrove flat with its O-ring seal intact and six flares inside completely dry while the signal mirror beside them was soaking and still dripping. The mirror’s lanyard showed signs of continuous wear and its back bore moisture patterns like a warm palm - but how did a dry bag and a saturat-ed mirror tell two parts of the same story?

In this episode, we tell the ninety-six hour ordeal of Peggy Snyder, a 23-year-old marine biology student clinging to an overturned 22-foot hull after the Kestrel capsized. We trace the storm, the EPIRB’s corrupted coordinates, a shrimper’s miscoded radio call, and the single decision that kept her alive without spoiling the rescue itself.

Person: Peggy Snyder
Vessel: Kestrel, 22-foot center-console
Date: February 7-12
Location: 31 nautical miles southwest of Pensacola Pass drifting toward Teller Island
Duration adrift: 96 hours

- Russell Watson found the float bag and soaking signal mirror on Teller Island’s eastern shore on March 14 while re-establishing property markers.
- The float bag’s O-ring was intact and all six flares inside were bone dry and never fired.
- Peggy rationed half a liter of water to three sips per day and collected about 200 milliliters from a rain squall on February 10.
- An EPIRB antenna joint separated and transmitted coordinates nineteen miles from the Kestrel’s actual location misleading searchers for eighteen hours.
- The mirror’s lanyard showed continuous contact injuries on Peggy’s right index and middle fingers consistent with holding it for the entire 96-hour rescue period.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079652Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHe had been re-establishing property markers on a routine job A bright orange float bag lay in a mangrove flat with its O-ring seal intact and six flares inside completely dry while the signal mirror beside them was soaking and still dripping. The...
A bright orange float bag lay in a mangrove flat with its O-ring seal intact and six flares inside completely dry while the signal mirror beside them was soaking and still dripping. The mirror’s lanyard showed signs of continuous wear and its back bore moisture patterns like a warm palm - but how did a dry bag and a saturat-ed mirror tell two parts of the same story?

In this episode, we tell the ninety-six hour ordeal of Peggy Snyder, a 23-year-old marine biology student clinging to an overturned 22-foot hull after the Kestrel capsized. We trace the storm, the EPIRB’s corrupted coordinates, a shrimper’s miscoded radio call, and the single decision that kept her alive without spoiling the rescue itself.

Person: Peggy Snyder
Vessel: Kestrel, 22-foot center-console
Date: February 7-12
Location: 31 nautical miles southwest of Pensacola Pass drifting toward Teller Island
Duration adrift: 96 hours

- Russell Watson found the float bag and soaking signal mirror on Teller Island’s eastern shore on March 14 while re-establishing property markers.
- The float bag’s O-ring was intact and all six flares inside were bone dry and never fired.
- Peggy rationed half a liter of water to three sips per day and collected about 200 milliliters from a rain squall on February 10.
- An EPIRB antenna joint separated and transmitted coordinates nineteen miles from the Kestrel’s actual location misleading searchers for eighteen hours.
- The mirror’s lanyard showed continuous contact injuries on Peggy’s right index and middle fingers consistent with holding it for the entire 96-hour rescue period.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1231falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-card-was-laminated-creased-diagonally-across-the-center--73079651
A laminated tide table for the Dry Tortugas, creased diagonally and marked with blue ballpoint sun-angle diagrams, turned up inside a padlocked wellhead on a property forty-one miles from the nearest boat ramp. The card was dry and bore the handwriting of the man who later could not recall leaving it there. Why did Glenn Jensen drive forty-one miles and deposit the only physical record of how he navigated nine days without instruments?

In this episode, we follow Glenn Jensen, a thirty-eight-year-old diesel mechanic who accepted a delivery from St. Petersburg to Key West aboard the ketch Westerly Arm and survived nine days adrift after a rogue wave destroyed the vessel’s navigation and radios. We trace his improvised sun-shadow navigation, the clerical float-plan error that misdirected the Coast Guard search, and the moment a container ship sighting redirected fate.

Person: Glenn Jensen
Vessel: Westerly Arm (1983 Tayana 44 ketch)
Date of incident: January 10-17, 2019
Location found: Dellwood property forty-one miles from nearest boat ramp
Rescue: NAS Opa-locka Falcon sighting at 11:22 AM January 17

- The Westerly Arm was struck by an estimated 22-26 foot rogue wave at 2:47 AM on January 10 and the original captain went overboard.
- The wave destroyed the charts, handheld VHF, life-raft canister and cracked the GPS circuit board at the chart table.
- Jensen navigated by measuring the shadow of a cockpit cleat with a dock line and shackle and recorded angles on a laminated 2018 Dry Tortugas tide table.
- A transposed marina slip number in Douglas Kern’s float plan displaced the Coast Guard search by about forty nautical miles.
- The tide table card was found six weeks later dry and laminated in a padlocked wellhead with the sun-angle diagrams in Jensen’s handwriting while he could not fully remember placing it.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079651Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe card was laminated, creased diagonally across the center A laminated tide table for the Dry Tortugas, creased diagonally and marked with blue ballpoint sun-angle diagrams, turned up inside a padlocked wellhead on a property forty-one miles from...
A laminated tide table for the Dry Tortugas, creased diagonally and marked with blue ballpoint sun-angle diagrams, turned up inside a padlocked wellhead on a property forty-one miles from the nearest boat ramp. The card was dry and bore the handwriting of the man who later could not recall leaving it there. Why did Glenn Jensen drive forty-one miles and deposit the only physical record of how he navigated nine days without instruments?

In this episode, we follow Glenn Jensen, a thirty-eight-year-old diesel mechanic who accepted a delivery from St. Petersburg to Key West aboard the ketch Westerly Arm and survived nine days adrift after a rogue wave destroyed the vessel’s navigation and radios. We trace his improvised sun-shadow navigation, the clerical float-plan error that misdirected the Coast Guard search, and the moment a container ship sighting redirected fate.

Person: Glenn Jensen
Vessel: Westerly Arm (1983 Tayana 44 ketch)
Date of incident: January 10-17, 2019
Location found: Dellwood property forty-one miles from nearest boat ramp
Rescue: NAS Opa-locka Falcon sighting at 11:22 AM January 17

- The Westerly Arm was struck by an estimated 22-26 foot rogue wave at 2:47 AM on January 10 and the original captain went overboard.
- The wave destroyed the charts, handheld VHF, life-raft canister and cracked the GPS circuit board at the chart table.
- Jensen navigated by measuring the shadow of a cockpit cleat with a dock line and shackle and recorded angles on a laminated 2018 Dry Tortugas tide table.
- A transposed marina slip number in Douglas Kern’s float plan displaced the Coast Guard search by about forty nautical miles.
- The tide table card was found six weeks later dry and laminated in a padlocked wellhead with the sun-angle diagrams in Jensen’s handwriting while he could not fully remember placing it.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1236falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shoe-was-sitting-upright-in-the-marsh-grass-still-clean-on-the-sole--73079650
A single white canvas sneaker, size eight or nine, sat upright in Harker's Point marsh grass with coordinates inked across its toe box and the name WHITAKER beneath them. The numbers pointed 311 miles offshore to a sloop last seen dismasted, but how did one floating shoe become the only breadcrumb that rerouted a search and led to a woman still alive after eleven days at sea?

In this episode, we follow Cynthia Whitaker, a sixty-three-year-old sailor whose 38-foot sloop Marian Bess was rolled by a rogue sea on December 10, 2014, leaving her without radio or instruments; we trace her improvised navigation, the failed EPIRB signal, a missed ship sighting, and the shoe she cast to shore without knowing if anyone would follow its vector.

Person: Cynthia Whitaker
Vessel: Marian Bess, 38-foot sloop
Date of rollover: December 10, 2014
Rescue: MH-60 helicopter and P-8 on December 20, 2014
Find: Harker's Point, Georgia marsh, December 19, 2014

- Amy White found a left canvas sneaker at 7:42 a.m. on December 19 and photographed it before calling dispatch.
- The shoe had coordinates written in brown ink and the name WHITAKER on the toe box.
- Cynthia lost mast and radio in a midnight knockdown and the EPIRB signal was damaged and classified as a probable false alarm.
- The container ship MV Dockland Star logged a derelict dismasted sailboat within four miles on December 13 but did not report it.
- Marie Olson's four-hour drift analysis from the shoe led search aircraft to find Cynthia alive on deck on December 20 despite her weighing nineteen pounds less.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079650Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe shoe was sitting upright in the marsh grass, still clean on the sole A single white canvas sneaker, size eight or nine, sat upright in Harker's Point marsh grass with coordinates inked across its toe box and the name WHITAKER beneath them. The...
A single white canvas sneaker, size eight or nine, sat upright in Harker's Point marsh grass with coordinates inked across its toe box and the name WHITAKER beneath them. The numbers pointed 311 miles offshore to a sloop last seen dismasted, but how did one floating shoe become the only breadcrumb that rerouted a search and led to a woman still alive after eleven days at sea?

In this episode, we follow Cynthia Whitaker, a sixty-three-year-old sailor whose 38-foot sloop Marian Bess was rolled by a rogue sea on December 10, 2014, leaving her without radio or instruments; we trace her improvised navigation, the failed EPIRB signal, a missed ship sighting, and the shoe she cast to shore without knowing if anyone would follow its vector.

Person: Cynthia Whitaker
Vessel: Marian Bess, 38-foot sloop
Date of rollover: December 10, 2014
Rescue: MH-60 helicopter and P-8 on December 20, 2014
Find: Harker's Point, Georgia marsh, December 19, 2014

- Amy White found a left canvas sneaker at 7:42 a.m. on December 19 and photographed it before calling dispatch.
- The shoe had coordinates written in brown ink and the name WHITAKER on the toe box.
- Cynthia lost mast and radio in a midnight knockdown and the EPIRB signal was damaged and classified as a probable false alarm.
- The container ship MV Dockland Star logged a derelict dismasted sailboat within four miles on December 13 but did not report it.
- Marie Olson's four-hour drift analysis from the shoe led search aircraft to find Cynthia alive on deck on December 20 despite her weighing nineteen pounds less.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1074falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/three-hundred-and-forty-nautical-miles-of-open-ocean--73079649
A single sheet of spiral notebook paper was found perfectly dry inside an aluminum lifeboat that had drifted for nine days and 340 nautical miles in the Atlantic. Seven names in blue ink, four checkmarks and three capital N’s lay across the page like a simple ledger of survival - but why did that paper endure when two of the people it recorded did not?

In this episode, we follow second officer Dex Morrow and a young able seaman named Karen Padgett aboard the bulk carrier MV Stellan Voss after a pre-dawn collision on November 10, 2011. The story traces the list Morrow wrote in the first hour, the rationing discipline he imposed, and a rescue coordinator nine hundred miles away who re-examined an EPIRB log and redirected aircraft - all before the lifeboat was finally sighted.

Person: Dex Morrow
Vessel: MV Stellan Voss
Date of collision: November 10, 2011
Location: ~60 nm ESE of Cape Fear
Duration adrift: 9 days

- Dex Morrow folded two blank sheets into his jacket pocket and wrote seven names with instructions inside the lifeboat within the first hour.
- The lifeboat's EPIRB activated at 03:14 on November 10 and was logged but initially classified as a secondary ping.
- Frank Watson in Charleston re-examined the logged coordinate on November 17 and redirected two HC-144 aircraft the same day.
- Vincent Tarr died on November 14 at 14:22 from internal injuries sustained in the collision and Morrow recorded the time.
- The notebook was found dry in a bracket on the lifeboat where adhesive foam and aluminum conduction prevented condensation leaving the final entries legible.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079649Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThree hundred and forty nautical miles of open ocean A single sheet of spiral notebook paper was found perfectly dry inside an aluminum lifeboat that had drifted for nine days and 340 nautical miles in the Atlantic. Seven names in blue ink, four...
A single sheet of spiral notebook paper was found perfectly dry inside an aluminum lifeboat that had drifted for nine days and 340 nautical miles in the Atlantic. Seven names in blue ink, four checkmarks and three capital N’s lay across the page like a simple ledger of survival - but why did that paper endure when two of the people it recorded did not?

In this episode, we follow second officer Dex Morrow and a young able seaman named Karen Padgett aboard the bulk carrier MV Stellan Voss after a pre-dawn collision on November 10, 2011. The story traces the list Morrow wrote in the first hour, the rationing discipline he imposed, and a rescue coordinator nine hundred miles away who re-examined an EPIRB log and redirected aircraft - all before the lifeboat was finally sighted.

Person: Dex Morrow
Vessel: MV Stellan Voss
Date of collision: November 10, 2011
Location: ~60 nm ESE of Cape Fear
Duration adrift: 9 days

- Dex Morrow folded two blank sheets into his jacket pocket and wrote seven names with instructions inside the lifeboat within the first hour.
- The lifeboat's EPIRB activated at 03:14 on November 10 and was logged but initially classified as a secondary ping.
- Frank Watson in Charleston re-examined the logged coordinate on November 17 and redirected two HC-144 aircraft the same day.
- Vincent Tarr died on November 14 at 14:22 from internal injuries sustained in the collision and Morrow recorded the time.
- The notebook was found dry in a bracket on the lifeboat where adhesive foam and aluminum conduction prevented condensation leaving the final entries legible.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1239falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-stopped-her-machine-climbed-down-and-pulled-it-free--73079648
A blue canvas bag half-buried in a highway shoulder held a yellow waterproof notebook and a leather-strap wristwatch sealed triple in a ziplock bag and electrical tape. The watch was running perfectly after seventeen days at sea and sixteen miles from the beach. How did a mechanical timepiece keep exact time through a raft, a storm, and a hospital transfer, and what do the log and watch together tell us about those lost days?

In this episode, we follow Kelly Collins, a forty-eight-year-old licensed captain on a thirty-eight-foot sloop, and her two crew Dennis Marsh and Angie Trevino as a routine offshore passage unravels after a water purifier failure and a night storm; the log and watch recovered intact reveal a sequence of survival decisions that the search never uncovered.

Person: Kelly Collins
Vessel: Meridian Clause, 38-foot sloop
Other persons: Dennis Marsh and Angie Trevino
Date of departure: October 3, 2019
Date watch found: November 2, 2019
Location found: State Road 47 shoulder, Brunswick County NC

- Kelly held a fifty-ton captain’s license and logged on paper because electronics fail.
- At 11:47 AM on departure day the water purifier seal failed leaving three people with half a liter per day.
- The mast came down in a fast coastal low and the EPIRB was lost with the mast.
- Kelly navigated alone by compass and an automatic wristwatch and landed on a North Carolina beach on October 20.
- The watch, still running and accurate to the minute after seventeen days adrift, proves she never stopped moving.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079648Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe stopped her machine, climbed down, and pulled it free A blue canvas bag half-buried in a highway shoulder held a yellow waterproof notebook and a leather-strap wristwatch sealed triple in a ziplock bag and electrical tape. The watch was running...
A blue canvas bag half-buried in a highway shoulder held a yellow waterproof notebook and a leather-strap wristwatch sealed triple in a ziplock bag and electrical tape. The watch was running perfectly after seventeen days at sea and sixteen miles from the beach. How did a mechanical timepiece keep exact time through a raft, a storm, and a hospital transfer, and what do the log and watch together tell us about those lost days?

In this episode, we follow Kelly Collins, a forty-eight-year-old licensed captain on a thirty-eight-foot sloop, and her two crew Dennis Marsh and Angie Trevino as a routine offshore passage unravels after a water purifier failure and a night storm; the log and watch recovered intact reveal a sequence of survival decisions that the search never uncovered.

Person: Kelly Collins
Vessel: Meridian Clause, 38-foot sloop
Other persons: Dennis Marsh and Angie Trevino
Date of departure: October 3, 2019
Date watch found: November 2, 2019
Location found: State Road 47 shoulder, Brunswick County NC

- Kelly held a fifty-ton captain’s license and logged on paper because electronics fail.
- At 11:47 AM on departure day the water purifier seal failed leaving three people with half a liter per day.
- The mast came down in a fast coastal low and the EPIRB was lost with the mast.
- Kelly navigated alone by compass and an automatic wristwatch and landed on a North Carolina beach on October 20.
- The watch, still running and accurate to the minute after seventeen days adrift, proves she never stopped moving.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1196falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/at-seven-twenty-two-in-the-morning-on-the-fourteenth-of-september--73079647
A playing-card-sized laminated documentation card, spotless and perfectly dry, was found tangled in the root of a live oak four feet above the high-tide line at Grady’s Inlet. It bore a vessel name, registration and home port, and its pristine condition contradicted every expectation about objects washed from a sinking boat; how did this tiny, unread item become the single clue that would change everything?

In this episode, we follow John Holmes and his crewman Fred Soto aboard the Leopard 38 Sable Twin as a hidden wiring chafe turns routine offshore passage into a catastrophic fire and explosion, and how a utility technician’s photograph of a dry documentation card set a drift model in motion that led searchers to two men clinging to a half-submerged deck.

Person: John Holmes
Person: Fred Soto
Vessel: Sable Twin (1994 Leopard 38)
Date of incident: September 10-14
Location of card discovery: Grady’s Inlet, North Carolina

- John logged a planned rhumb line route to the Bahamas and filed a float plan with the harbor office in Beaufort.
- A squall pushed the Sable Twin twenty-three miles north of its planned track on September 11.
- A hidden chafed wiring harness ignited in the port engine compartment and the fire reached the port fuel manifold forty minutes later.
- The port hull blew away and the EPIRB mounted in that cockpit went down with it leaving two men with a damaged handheld VHF and minimal supplies.
- A dry, laminated documentation card found at 7:22 a.m. two days later triggered a drift calculation that brought rescuers to the survivors one day before Fred likely would have died.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079647Sun, 09 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaAt seven twenty-two in the morning on the fourteenth of September A playing-card-sized laminated documentation card, spotless and perfectly dry, was found tangled in the root of a live oak four feet above the high-tide line at Grady’s Inlet. It bore...
A playing-card-sized laminated documentation card, spotless and perfectly dry, was found tangled in the root of a live oak four feet above the high-tide line at Grady’s Inlet. It bore a vessel name, registration and home port, and its pristine condition contradicted every expectation about objects washed from a sinking boat; how did this tiny, unread item become the single clue that would change everything?

In this episode, we follow John Holmes and his crewman Fred Soto aboard the Leopard 38 Sable Twin as a hidden wiring chafe turns routine offshore passage into a catastrophic fire and explosion, and how a utility technician’s photograph of a dry documentation card set a drift model in motion that led searchers to two men clinging to a half-submerged deck.

Person: John Holmes
Person: Fred Soto
Vessel: Sable Twin (1994 Leopard 38)
Date of incident: September 10-14
Location of card discovery: Grady’s Inlet, North Carolina

- John logged a planned rhumb line route to the Bahamas and filed a float plan with the harbor office in Beaufort.
- A squall pushed the Sable Twin twenty-three miles north of its planned track on September 11.
- A hidden chafed wiring harness ignited in the port engine compartment and the fire reached the port fuel manifold forty minutes later.
- The port hull blew away and the EPIRB mounted in that cockpit went down with it leaving two men with a damaged handheld VHF and minimal supplies.
- A dry, laminated documentation card found at 7:22 a.m. two days later triggered a drift calculation that brought rescuers to the survivors one day before Fred likely would have died.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1245falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-raft-smelled-of-salt-and-closed-air--73079646
A bright orange Elliot six-man life raft washed up at Pelican Shore Road with its canopy zipper still closed and a single right sneaker standing upright inside the clear-panel window. The shoe looked placed not tumbled, an image that made a longtime runner pause and call the Coast Guard, and it raised the question everyone feared: if someone had been aboard, where were they now?

In this episode, we follow Robert Hayes, a fifty-two-year-old civil engineer who departed Port Renard alone on his 38-foot sloop Patience Ridge and was forced into a life raft after his mast punched through the deck. The story tracks the broken EPIRB, the drift modeling errors, and the chance rescue by a shrimp boat that reunited man and raft days apart without revealing the startling explanation behind that solitary shoe.

Person: Robert Hayes
Vessel: Patience Ridge, 38-foot sloop
Date of departure: August 9, 2011
Rescue: August 14, 2011 by the shrimp boat Ida Jean
Location found ashore: Pelican Shore Road seawall

- Robert activated his EPIRB and deployed the raft after the forestay fitting failed and the mast holed the boat at night.
- The EPIRB sent one position with roughly a quarter-mile GPS error before its antenna cracked and went silent.
- A drift model initialized twelve hours after entry plus faster early currents produced an eleven-mile miss in the Coast Guard search.
- Frank Dubose on the Ida Jean sighted and rescued Robert at 2:17 p.m. on August 14 after 97 hours adrift with severe dehydration.
- The raft washed ashore five days later with the canopy zipped closed and a single right shoe upright, a result traced back to a pebble Robert had removed from his insole.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079646Sat, 08 Aug 2026 23:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe raft smelled of salt and closed air A bright orange Elliot six-man life raft washed up at Pelican Shore Road with its canopy zipper still closed and a single right sneaker standing upright inside the clear-panel window. The shoe looked placed not...
A bright orange Elliot six-man life raft washed up at Pelican Shore Road with its canopy zipper still closed and a single right sneaker standing upright inside the clear-panel window. The shoe looked placed not tumbled, an image that made a longtime runner pause and call the Coast Guard, and it raised the question everyone feared: if someone had been aboard, where were they now?

In this episode, we follow Robert Hayes, a fifty-two-year-old civil engineer who departed Port Renard alone on his 38-foot sloop Patience Ridge and was forced into a life raft after his mast punched through the deck. The story tracks the broken EPIRB, the drift modeling errors, and the chance rescue by a shrimp boat that reunited man and raft days apart without revealing the startling explanation behind that solitary shoe.

Person: Robert Hayes
Vessel: Patience Ridge, 38-foot sloop
Date of departure: August 9, 2011
Rescue: August 14, 2011 by the shrimp boat Ida Jean
Location found ashore: Pelican Shore Road seawall

- Robert activated his EPIRB and deployed the raft after the forestay fitting failed and the mast holed the boat at night.
- The EPIRB sent one position with roughly a quarter-mile GPS error before its antenna cracked and went silent.
- A drift model initialized twelve hours after entry plus faster early currents produced an eleven-mile miss in the Coast Guard search.
- Frank Dubose on the Ida Jean sighted and rescued Robert at 2:17 p.m. on August 14 after 97 hours adrift with severe dehydration.
- The raft washed ashore five days later with the canopy zipped closed and a single right shoe upright, a result traced back to a pebble Robert had removed from his insole.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1031falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/and-found-a-small-orange-device-sitting-in-the-dirt-behind-a-propane-cage--73079645
A small orange EPIRB, dry and unactivated, was discovered in the dirt behind a propane cage at Sawyer Marina eleven days after the sailboat it belonged to was reported missing. The beacon traced directly to Fair Margin, yet the boat was later found underway and her owner alive - so where had the safety device been while the crew drifted and searched in the dark?

In this episode, we tell the story of Amy Young and her Catalina 42 Fair Margin, the night Tom Bricker went overboard, and the chain of interrupted tasks and hidden failures that left a competent sailor invisible to the systems meant to find her without spoiling how she was ultimately located.

Person: Amy Young
Vessel: Fair Margin, 1994 Catalina 42
Person (deceased): Tom Bricker
Location: Sawyer Marina to 67 miles southwest of Portsmith
Dates: Departure July 7 2011; rescue July 18 2011

- Donna Peterson found the EPIRB dry and unactivated behind a propane cage on July 19 2011.
- Tom Bricker removed the EPIRB two days before departure to replace a sticker and left it on a workbench.
- A dockhand moved the beacon outside to clear bench space and it remained in the dirt for at least a week.
- Amy transmitted nine seconds of VHF at 2:23 a.m. reporting a man overboard but the radio could not reliably transmit.
- Tom Bricker’s body was recovered twelve miles north of the man-overboard position on July 22 and the reason he went overboard remains unknown.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079645Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at Obomediaand found a small orange device sitting in the dirt behind a propane cage A small orange EPIRB, dry and unactivated, was discovered in the dirt behind a propane cage at Sawyer Marina eleven days after the sailboat it belonged to was reported missing....
A small orange EPIRB, dry and unactivated, was discovered in the dirt behind a propane cage at Sawyer Marina eleven days after the sailboat it belonged to was reported missing. The beacon traced directly to Fair Margin, yet the boat was later found underway and her owner alive - so where had the safety device been while the crew drifted and searched in the dark?

In this episode, we tell the story of Amy Young and her Catalina 42 Fair Margin, the night Tom Bricker went overboard, and the chain of interrupted tasks and hidden failures that left a competent sailor invisible to the systems meant to find her without spoiling how she was ultimately located.

Person: Amy Young
Vessel: Fair Margin, 1994 Catalina 42
Person (deceased): Tom Bricker
Location: Sawyer Marina to 67 miles southwest of Portsmith
Dates: Departure July 7 2011; rescue July 18 2011

- Donna Peterson found the EPIRB dry and unactivated behind a propane cage on July 19 2011.
- Tom Bricker removed the EPIRB two days before departure to replace a sticker and left it on a workbench.
- A dockhand moved the beacon outside to clear bench space and it remained in the dirt for at least a week.
- Amy transmitted nine seconds of VHF at 2:23 a.m. reporting a man overboard but the radio could not reliably transmit.
- Tom Bricker’s body was recovered twelve miles north of the man-overboard position on July 22 and the reason he went overboard remains unknown.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1299falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-nineteen-dollar-drugstore-watch-should-not-survive-eleven-days-at-sea--73079644
A small Casio wristwatch, face down and still running, fell from the underside rope netting of a deflated life raft onto a volunteer’s sneaker at a boat ramp on Ibis Cay. It kept time to within four minutes after eleven days adrift and redirected a Coast Guard search hundreds of square miles from its original corridor. How did a cheap watch, hidden face-inward, become the single clue that saved the only survivor?

In this episode, we follow Marie Crawford, a 28-year-old surveyor and experienced sailor, aboard the 42-foot sloop Indigo Road when a sudden squall dismasted the vessel on June 7. We reconstruct the decisions she made in the raft, the drift modeling that moved the search, and the chain of small choices that kept rescue possible without promising it.

Person: Marie Crawford
Vessel: Indigo Road, 42-foot sloop
Date of incident: June 7 departure, raft found June 19
Location of rescue: debris field ~70 miles east-northeast of Jacksonville
Survivor weight on rescue: 91 pounds

- Pete Sauer filed a float plan from Marina Bay listing Nassau and return by June 16.
- The Indigo Road carried a six-person coastal life raft not rated for open-ocean use purchased six weeks earlier.
- During the squall the mast came down, Pete Sauer went overboard and did not resurface.
- Marie hid a $19 Casio watch face-inward in the raft netting and packed a VHF radio with its battery removed and a taped one-liter water bottle.
- The most disturbing detail is that the watch survived eleven days inside a rope fold and its discovery by a volunteer is what redirected the Coast Guard and led to Marie’s rescue.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079644Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA nineteen-dollar drugstore watch should not survive eleven days at sea A small Casio wristwatch, face down and still running, fell from the underside rope netting of a deflated life raft onto a volunteer’s sneaker at a boat ramp on Ibis Cay. It kept...
A small Casio wristwatch, face down and still running, fell from the underside rope netting of a deflated life raft onto a volunteer’s sneaker at a boat ramp on Ibis Cay. It kept time to within four minutes after eleven days adrift and redirected a Coast Guard search hundreds of square miles from its original corridor. How did a cheap watch, hidden face-inward, become the single clue that saved the only survivor?

In this episode, we follow Marie Crawford, a 28-year-old surveyor and experienced sailor, aboard the 42-foot sloop Indigo Road when a sudden squall dismasted the vessel on June 7. We reconstruct the decisions she made in the raft, the drift modeling that moved the search, and the chain of small choices that kept rescue possible without promising it.

Person: Marie Crawford
Vessel: Indigo Road, 42-foot sloop
Date of incident: June 7 departure, raft found June 19
Location of rescue: debris field ~70 miles east-northeast of Jacksonville
Survivor weight on rescue: 91 pounds

- Pete Sauer filed a float plan from Marina Bay listing Nassau and return by June 16.
- The Indigo Road carried a six-person coastal life raft not rated for open-ocean use purchased six weeks earlier.
- During the squall the mast came down, Pete Sauer went overboard and did not resurface.
- Marie hid a $19 Casio watch face-inward in the raft netting and packed a VHF radio with its battery removed and a taped one-liter water bottle.
- The most disturbing detail is that the watch survived eleven days inside a rope fold and its discovery by a volunteer is what redirected the Coast Guard and led to Marie’s rescue.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1073falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/that-single-fact-broke-every-physical-explanation-investigators-had-tried-to-build--73079642
Eight inches below the surface of Grover Falls Reservoir, nineteen days after the Calhoun Duchess capsized, a dog groomer found a child's size-four sneaker with its velcro still fastened and the interior completely dry. How could a shoe submerged under thirty feet of water for weeks look as if it had just come off a child's foot, and what did that impossible object reveal about the ninety seconds that determined who lived and who died?

In this episode, we follow the April 25 capsize of the Calhoun Duchess and the three anomalies that reshaped the investigation: a field notebook with the name MAYA written four times, life vests shown to have been manually loosened before the boat went over, and a dry sneaker recovered nineteen days later. We trace the actions of Sandra Pruitt, her daughter Maya, deckhand Pete Odell, and biology teacher Eric Barnes without spoiling the procedural findings.

Person: Sandra Pruitt
Person: Maya Pruitt, age 9
Vessel: Calhoun Duchess
Date: April 25
Duration trapped under hull: 3 hours 40 minutes for survivors; time of rescue begins at 7:47 p.m.

- At 4:03 p.m. Pete Odell felt the vessel's trim pull three degrees low on the starboard quarter and did not immediately report it.
- Two life vests stored on the stern showed stress marks consistent with manual release prior to impact.
- Eric Barnes resurfaced in an air pocket beneath the inverted hull and kept Maya awake by asking her about yellow-crowned night herons.
- Barnes's waterproof field notebook contained a list of names and the word MAYA written four times with different pressure and the same pen.
- A size-four white sneaker with closed velcro photographed at 7:42 a.m. on May 14 was wedged eight inches underwater yet completely dry, linking a jacket pocket, a blown tire, and nineteen days to the rescue sequence.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079642Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThat single fact broke every physical explanation investigators had tried to build Eight inches below the surface of Grover Falls Reservoir, nineteen days after the Calhoun Duchess capsized, a dog groomer found a child's size-four sneaker with its...
Eight inches below the surface of Grover Falls Reservoir, nineteen days after the Calhoun Duchess capsized, a dog groomer found a child's size-four sneaker with its velcro still fastened and the interior completely dry. How could a shoe submerged under thirty feet of water for weeks look as if it had just come off a child's foot, and what did that impossible object reveal about the ninety seconds that determined who lived and who died?

In this episode, we follow the April 25 capsize of the Calhoun Duchess and the three anomalies that reshaped the investigation: a field notebook with the name MAYA written four times, life vests shown to have been manually loosened before the boat went over, and a dry sneaker recovered nineteen days later. We trace the actions of Sandra Pruitt, her daughter Maya, deckhand Pete Odell, and biology teacher Eric Barnes without spoiling the procedural findings.

Person: Sandra Pruitt
Person: Maya Pruitt, age 9
Vessel: Calhoun Duchess
Date: April 25
Duration trapped under hull: 3 hours 40 minutes for survivors; time of rescue begins at 7:47 p.m.

- At 4:03 p.m. Pete Odell felt the vessel's trim pull three degrees low on the starboard quarter and did not immediately report it.
- Two life vests stored on the stern showed stress marks consistent with manual release prior to impact.
- Eric Barnes resurfaced in an air pocket beneath the inverted hull and kept Maya awake by asking her about yellow-crowned night herons.
- Barnes's waterproof field notebook contained a list of names and the word MAYA written four times with different pressure and the same pen.
- A size-four white sneaker with closed velcro photographed at 7:42 a.m. on May 14 was wedged eight inches underwater yet completely dry, linking a jacket pocket, a blown tire, and nineteen days to the rescue sequence.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1152falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/that-logbook-had-been-aboard-a-dismasted-sailboat-in-eight-to-ten-foot-atlantic-seas--73079641
A compact logbook, its rubber band still in place and pages dry and legible, was found wedged in a mat of sargassum on Pickett Flat - an object that should have been waterlogged after nine days in eight-to-ten-foot Atlantic seas. Inside were daily entries that read like a ration plan and a single last line that redirected a Coast Guard search by one hundred and forty nautical miles. How did a sealed notebook and a rolled chart arrive intact where they could change everything?

In this episode, we follow Cynthia Gardner, a twenty-two-year-old sailor from Homestead who left Islamorada on March 29 aboard the thirty-foot sloop Patience Anne bound for Nassau, and the sequence of choices and failures - a missing engine, a failed forestay, lost VHF, and strict water rationing - that left her dismasted and drifting until a fisherman’s morning routine found her boat.

Person: Cynthia Gardner
Vessel: Patience Anne, 1987 Pearson 303
Date of departure: March 29
Location found: Pickett Flat, four miles south of Matecumbe Channel
Duration adrift before discovery: nine days

- On March 30 Cynthia noted wind backing and pressure dropping and wrote she was "thinking about turning back" but did not.
- The forestay failed in the early hours of April 1 with gusts to 42 knots and seas eight to ten feet.
- She cut the mast free with a hacksaw, lost the VHF antenna, and recorded a water inventory of 12 liters.
- She rationed water to 750 milliliters per day and later to 500 milliliters when she feared no search was coming.
- The final entry read "Saving the last flare. Someone will check the trotlines" and the dry, rubber-banded logbook led the Coast Guard to find her two miles north of the Arsenicker Keys.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079641Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThat logbook had been aboard a dismasted sailboat in eight-to-ten-foot Atlantic seas A compact logbook, its rubber band still in place and pages dry and legible, was found wedged in a mat of sargassum on Pickett Flat - an object that should have been...
A compact logbook, its rubber band still in place and pages dry and legible, was found wedged in a mat of sargassum on Pickett Flat - an object that should have been waterlogged after nine days in eight-to-ten-foot Atlantic seas. Inside were daily entries that read like a ration plan and a single last line that redirected a Coast Guard search by one hundred and forty nautical miles. How did a sealed notebook and a rolled chart arrive intact where they could change everything?

In this episode, we follow Cynthia Gardner, a twenty-two-year-old sailor from Homestead who left Islamorada on March 29 aboard the thirty-foot sloop Patience Anne bound for Nassau, and the sequence of choices and failures - a missing engine, a failed forestay, lost VHF, and strict water rationing - that left her dismasted and drifting until a fisherman’s morning routine found her boat.

Person: Cynthia Gardner
Vessel: Patience Anne, 1987 Pearson 303
Date of departure: March 29
Location found: Pickett Flat, four miles south of Matecumbe Channel
Duration adrift before discovery: nine days

- On March 30 Cynthia noted wind backing and pressure dropping and wrote she was "thinking about turning back" but did not.
- The forestay failed in the early hours of April 1 with gusts to 42 knots and seas eight to ten feet.
- She cut the mast free with a hacksaw, lost the VHF antenna, and recorded a water inventory of 12 liters.
- She rationed water to 750 milliliters per day and later to 500 milliliters when she feared no search was coming.
- The final entry read "Saving the last flare. Someone will check the trotlines" and the dry, rubber-banded logbook led the Coast Guard to find her two miles north of the Arsenicker Keys.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1094falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/two-thousand-and-nineteen-found-a-waterlogged-notebook-lying-in-the-mud--73079640
An orange, waterlogged notebook with legible handwriting turned up in Weller Marsh eleven days after a commercial fishing boat sent a four‑second radio transmission: "taking water." The small book was the first concrete sign that someone had survived beyond the suspended search and that the Cecelia Jo had not sunk where rescuers were told. How did a captain keep moving through salt and marsh for days while search coordinators combed the wrong ocean?

In this episode, we trace Brenda Tate’s voyage from Opelika Reach aboard the 42‑foot Cecelia Jo to the moment a hull struck a submerged object and the raft deployed in haste. We follow the drift, the missed course deviation, the discovery of debris and a life jacket, and the notebook that ultimately located a survivor without resolving the man who was never found.

Person: Brenda Tate
Vessel: Cecelia Jo, 42‑foot fiberglass with twin Cummins engines
Date of incident: March 3, 2019
Location found: Weller Marsh, Pelican Key island system
Duration adrift before notebook found: 11 days

- Brenda, 38, kept an orange notebook in her jacket pocket and wrote in it every morning before leaving the dock.
- The filed navigation plan listed grouper grounds 60 miles southwest but the crew likely headed northeast toward red snapper grounds.
- A four‑second marina log entry at 12:47 PM read "taking water" and then radio silence.
- Hull debris with the Cecelia Jo registration was retrieved 18 miles northeast shifting the probable sinking zone nearly 20 miles.
- Terrence Ogle never resurfaced and his body was never recovered leaving his disappearance unresolved.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079640Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at Obomediatwo thousand and nineteen found a waterlogged notebook lying in the mud An orange, waterlogged notebook with legible handwriting turned up in Weller Marsh eleven days after a commercial fishing boat sent a four‑second radio transmission: "taking...
An orange, waterlogged notebook with legible handwriting turned up in Weller Marsh eleven days after a commercial fishing boat sent a four‑second radio transmission: "taking water." The small book was the first concrete sign that someone had survived beyond the suspended search and that the Cecelia Jo had not sunk where rescuers were told. How did a captain keep moving through salt and marsh for days while search coordinators combed the wrong ocean?

In this episode, we trace Brenda Tate’s voyage from Opelika Reach aboard the 42‑foot Cecelia Jo to the moment a hull struck a submerged object and the raft deployed in haste. We follow the drift, the missed course deviation, the discovery of debris and a life jacket, and the notebook that ultimately located a survivor without resolving the man who was never found.

Person: Brenda Tate
Vessel: Cecelia Jo, 42‑foot fiberglass with twin Cummins engines
Date of incident: March 3, 2019
Location found: Weller Marsh, Pelican Key island system
Duration adrift before notebook found: 11 days

- Brenda, 38, kept an orange notebook in her jacket pocket and wrote in it every morning before leaving the dock.
- The filed navigation plan listed grouper grounds 60 miles southwest but the crew likely headed northeast toward red snapper grounds.
- A four‑second marina log entry at 12:47 PM read "taking water" and then radio silence.
- Hull debris with the Cecelia Jo registration was retrieved 18 miles northeast shifting the probable sinking zone nearly 20 miles.
- Terrence Ogle never resurfaced and his body was never recovered leaving his disappearance unresolved.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1096falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/not-seven-years-with-a-few-missed-shifts--73079639
A cracked-crystal wristwatch with a brown leather strap was found running in the keel notch of an overturned 32-foot sloop at Pelican Neck on a February morning in 2011. The watch read 6:41 while a contractor’s phone read 6:43 - two minutes off - but the person who had worn it was nowhere to be seen. How did a watch keep time on an inverted hull for four days while the owner drifted out of search range?

In this episode, we follow Wendy Romano, a 62-year-old former radiographic technician turned meticulous solo sailor, whose sloop February capsized in 30-knot winds on the night of February 13. The watch on the hull, drifting north toward Pelican Neck, becomes the first physical clue that redirects a search initially aimed forty miles offshore.

Person: Wendy Romano
Vessel: February, 32-foot fiberglass sloop
Date of capsize: Night of February 13, 2011
Location of hull recovery: Pelican Neck dock
Duration adrift / missing: Approximately 96 hours

- Wendy had sailed solo regularly and owned February for eleven years with a four-year rigging maintenance schedule.
- The forestay fitting she had replaced two years earlier parted under load during the storm bringing the mast down.
- Wendy spent about twenty minutes in 51°F water before hauling onto the inverted hull without her handheld radio.
- The hull drifted north and grounded at Pelican Neck where she entered the marsh but became stuck in cordgrass with a fractured left forearm.
- The running watch she set in the keel notch to retrieve later ticked through four days while she lay 300 yards away hypothermic, reciting Tuesday’s soup menu to stay conscious.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079639Sun, 02 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaNot seven years with a few missed shifts A cracked-crystal wristwatch with a brown leather strap was found running in the keel notch of an overturned 32-foot sloop at Pelican Neck on a February morning in 2011. The watch read 6:41 while a...
A cracked-crystal wristwatch with a brown leather strap was found running in the keel notch of an overturned 32-foot sloop at Pelican Neck on a February morning in 2011. The watch read 6:41 while a contractor’s phone read 6:43 - two minutes off - but the person who had worn it was nowhere to be seen. How did a watch keep time on an inverted hull for four days while the owner drifted out of search range?

In this episode, we follow Wendy Romano, a 62-year-old former radiographic technician turned meticulous solo sailor, whose sloop February capsized in 30-knot winds on the night of February 13. The watch on the hull, drifting north toward Pelican Neck, becomes the first physical clue that redirects a search initially aimed forty miles offshore.

Person: Wendy Romano
Vessel: February, 32-foot fiberglass sloop
Date of capsize: Night of February 13, 2011
Location of hull recovery: Pelican Neck dock
Duration adrift / missing: Approximately 96 hours

- Wendy had sailed solo regularly and owned February for eleven years with a four-year rigging maintenance schedule.
- The forestay fitting she had replaced two years earlier parted under load during the storm bringing the mast down.
- Wendy spent about twenty minutes in 51°F water before hauling onto the inverted hull without her handheld radio.
- The hull drifted north and grounded at Pelican Neck where she entered the marsh but became stuck in cordgrass with a fractured left forearm.
- The running watch she set in the keel notch to retrieve later ticked through four days while she lay 300 yards away hypothermic, reciting Tuesday’s soup menu to stay conscious.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1198falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/he-was-not-looking-for-anything-human-at-all--73079638
A folded NOAA chart sealed in plastic washed up on a Georgia breakwater with six words scrawled in black marker: "MAST DOWN. DAY FOUR. NO VHF. FREIGHTERS DO NOT LOOK." The sleeve was waterlogged at the edges and had traveled across open Atlantic water for days-so how did a diagnosis written by a stranded sailor become the only thing that could redirect a search and save a life?

In this episode, we trace Kent Ramsey’s seven-day ordeal after Threadline lost her mast off Ossabaw Sound, the cascade of equipment failures that left him without an EPIRB or a transmitting VHF, and the improbable chain of people and decisions that turned a dead-man's chart into a rescue.

Person: Kent Ramsey
Vessel: Threadline, 1987 Morgan Out Island 41
Date of incident: January 7-14, 2019
Location of rescue: 41 miles east of Pelican Spit, Georgia
Duration adrift before rescue: 7 days

- Kent filed a float plan with Darien marina listing departure January 7 at 06:00 for Fernandina Beach.
- An unintended gybe during 40-knot gusts sheared the port lower shroud and pulled the mast overboard.
- The EPIRB bracket and primary VHF antenna sheared off with the rig leaving only a receive-only handheld.
- On Day Four Kent sealed a chart in a waterproof sleeve, marked his drift and the six-word note, then threw it overboard as a calculated beacon.
- The most unsettling detail is that three freighters passed him without reporting Threadline because dismasted hulls are essentially invisible against the sea state from their bridge wings.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079638Sat, 01 Aug 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHe was not looking for anything human at all A folded NOAA chart sealed in plastic washed up on a Georgia breakwater with six words scrawled in black marker: "MAST DOWN. DAY FOUR. NO VHF. FREIGHTERS DO NOT LOOK." The sleeve was waterlogged at the...
A folded NOAA chart sealed in plastic washed up on a Georgia breakwater with six words scrawled in black marker: "MAST DOWN. DAY FOUR. NO VHF. FREIGHTERS DO NOT LOOK." The sleeve was waterlogged at the edges and had traveled across open Atlantic water for days-so how did a diagnosis written by a stranded sailor become the only thing that could redirect a search and save a life?

In this episode, we trace Kent Ramsey’s seven-day ordeal after Threadline lost her mast off Ossabaw Sound, the cascade of equipment failures that left him without an EPIRB or a transmitting VHF, and the improbable chain of people and decisions that turned a dead-man's chart into a rescue.

Person: Kent Ramsey
Vessel: Threadline, 1987 Morgan Out Island 41
Date of incident: January 7-14, 2019
Location of rescue: 41 miles east of Pelican Spit, Georgia
Duration adrift before rescue: 7 days

- Kent filed a float plan with Darien marina listing departure January 7 at 06:00 for Fernandina Beach.
- An unintended gybe during 40-knot gusts sheared the port lower shroud and pulled the mast overboard.
- The EPIRB bracket and primary VHF antenna sheared off with the rig leaving only a receive-only handheld.
- On Day Four Kent sealed a chart in a waterproof sleeve, marked his drift and the six-word note, then threw it overboard as a calculated beacon.
- The most unsettling detail is that three freighters passed him without reporting Threadline because dismasted hulls are essentially invisible against the sea state from their bridge wings.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1194falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/by-ten-forty-that-same-morning-she-was-on-the-ocean-floor--73079636
A paper log, thumbed and time-stamped, was found wedged against a municipal bait shed three days after a motorsailer sank in Chalker Reach; its entries record a current pushing the boat twelve degrees east and a captain fighting to correct it. How did a charted channel, a damaged GPS, and a failed bilge pump combine so precisely that three people never returned to shore?

In this episode, we follow Jean Armstrong, an experienced delivery captain aboard the 42-foot motorsailer Celia Dawn, as a preexisting bilge-pump fault, an uncharted bathymetric ridge, and a damaged GPS create a cascade of failures; the episode traces the sinking, the misdirected 61-hour search, and the logbook’s journey back to shore without revealing every last aftermath.

Person: Jean Armstrong
Vessel: Celia Dawn, 42-foot motorsailer
Date: December 6
Location: Southern Chalker Reach, Florida
Duration adrift before rescue: 61 hours

- Jean left Chalker Bay Marina at 6:20 a.m. on December 6 under clear skies with a planned three-hour passage to Dunmore Key.
- At 7:50 a.m. Jean recorded the boat was twelve degrees east of its intended course and noted a current "setting us east not on chart."
- By 9:30 a.m. wind had risen to 22 knots and seas to six feet while the bilge pump failed to keep up with incoming water.
- The PLB activated after Jean entered the water at ~10:40 a.m. but transmitted a corrupted GPS position three miles off, anchoring the search in the wrong place.
- Jean survived on a makeshift raft with twelve ounces of water for 61 hours while two crewmen were never found and a third was recovered days later.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079636Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaBy ten forty that same morning, she was on the ocean floor A paper log, thumbed and time-stamped, was found wedged against a municipal bait shed three days after a motorsailer sank in Chalker Reach; its entries record a current pushing the boat...
A paper log, thumbed and time-stamped, was found wedged against a municipal bait shed three days after a motorsailer sank in Chalker Reach; its entries record a current pushing the boat twelve degrees east and a captain fighting to correct it. How did a charted channel, a damaged GPS, and a failed bilge pump combine so precisely that three people never returned to shore?

In this episode, we follow Jean Armstrong, an experienced delivery captain aboard the 42-foot motorsailer Celia Dawn, as a preexisting bilge-pump fault, an uncharted bathymetric ridge, and a damaged GPS create a cascade of failures; the episode traces the sinking, the misdirected 61-hour search, and the logbook’s journey back to shore without revealing every last aftermath.

Person: Jean Armstrong
Vessel: Celia Dawn, 42-foot motorsailer
Date: December 6
Location: Southern Chalker Reach, Florida
Duration adrift before rescue: 61 hours

- Jean left Chalker Bay Marina at 6:20 a.m. on December 6 under clear skies with a planned three-hour passage to Dunmore Key.
- At 7:50 a.m. Jean recorded the boat was twelve degrees east of its intended course and noted a current "setting us east not on chart."
- By 9:30 a.m. wind had risen to 22 knots and seas to six feet while the bilge pump failed to keep up with incoming water.
- The PLB activated after Jean entered the water at ~10:40 a.m. but transmitted a corrupted GPS position three miles off, anchoring the search in the wrong place.
- Jean survived on a makeshift raft with twelve ounces of water for 61 hours while two crewmen were never found and a third was recovered days later.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1176falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/at-six-forty-in-the-morning-on-november-seventh--73079635
A bright orange life ring, bone dry and stamped "CORMORANT LADY, BATH, ME," turned up in a roadside ditch eleven miles from the coast with its throwing line still in factory half-hitches. Why did the one visible trace of a lost vessel sit untouched on land while three people drifted for days in forty-four-degree water, miles from where the emergency beacon had told rescuers to look?

In this episode, we follow Angela Edwards, a thirty-one-year-old captain who rebuilt her forty-eight-foot ketch and tested her EPIRB days before a storm dismasted the Cormorant Lady; we trace the firmware error that displaced her beacon's coordinates two hundred and forty nautical miles and the chain of decisions that kept three people alive until a night-shift analyst noticed the mismatch.

Person: Angela Edwards
Vessel: Cormorant Lady, 48-foot ketch
Date of abandonment: November 4, 2017
Location found adrift: 20+ hours from last AIS position after a 240 nm EPIRB error
Rescue: Helicopter located raft on November 7, 2017

- At 2:47 a.m. a rogue swell rolled the Cormorant Lady past 90 degrees and brought the rig down across the deck.
- Angela ordered abandon ship at 2:53 a.m. and three people were aboard the life raft by approximately 2:59 a.m.
- Angela activated the EPIRB and watched its green light blink but the unit transmitted coordinates 240 nautical miles northwest of the raft.
- The portable VHF radio fell into the sea at deployment because a D-ring clip failed inside the emergency bag.
- The most unsettling detail is that a firmware defect present at manufacture displaced emergency coordinates across a wide region without any visible warning to users.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079635Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaAt six forty in the morning on November seventh A bright orange life ring, bone dry and stamped "CORMORANT LADY, BATH, ME," turned up in a roadside ditch eleven miles from the coast with its throwing line still in factory half-hitches. Why did the...
A bright orange life ring, bone dry and stamped "CORMORANT LADY, BATH, ME," turned up in a roadside ditch eleven miles from the coast with its throwing line still in factory half-hitches. Why did the one visible trace of a lost vessel sit untouched on land while three people drifted for days in forty-four-degree water, miles from where the emergency beacon had told rescuers to look?

In this episode, we follow Angela Edwards, a thirty-one-year-old captain who rebuilt her forty-eight-foot ketch and tested her EPIRB days before a storm dismasted the Cormorant Lady; we trace the firmware error that displaced her beacon's coordinates two hundred and forty nautical miles and the chain of decisions that kept three people alive until a night-shift analyst noticed the mismatch.

Person: Angela Edwards
Vessel: Cormorant Lady, 48-foot ketch
Date of abandonment: November 4, 2017
Location found adrift: 20+ hours from last AIS position after a 240 nm EPIRB error
Rescue: Helicopter located raft on November 7, 2017

- At 2:47 a.m. a rogue swell rolled the Cormorant Lady past 90 degrees and brought the rig down across the deck.
- Angela ordered abandon ship at 2:53 a.m. and three people were aboard the life raft by approximately 2:59 a.m.
- Angela activated the EPIRB and watched its green light blink but the unit transmitted coordinates 240 nautical miles northwest of the raft.
- The portable VHF radio fell into the sea at deployment because a D-ring clip failed inside the emergency bag.
- The most unsettling detail is that a firmware defect present at manufacture displaced emergency coordinates across a wide region without any visible warning to users.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1196falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-radio-sat-upright-in-the-sand-on-the-south-shore-of-cedar-shoal--73079634
A handheld VHF radio, antenna fully extended and paracord clip still attached, was found standing upright in the surf with its casing salt-scoured and its battery dead except for a single orange pulse when its finder pressed the button. It belonged to a boat that had sunk nine days earlier and pointed to a survivor close to shore while official search efforts were searching sixty miles away-how did one device change everything so late in the game?

In this episode, we tell the story of Lori Quinn, a fifty-two-year-old solo sailor whose thirty-eight-foot sloop Celia Anne was lost in a knockdown and sank on October 7. Prepared to the point of ritual, Lori survived nine days on an inflatable life raft using methodical rationing, a signal mirror, and a waterproof voice recorder that captured her entire ordeal as searchers initially combed the wrong area.

Person: Lori Quinn
Vessel: Celia Anne, 38-foot sloop
Date of sinking: October 7
Location when rafted: approximately 1.5 nautical miles from Cedar Shoal
Duration adrift: 9 days

- Lori activated an EPIRB at 00:41 on October 7 and its signal reached Miami within four minutes.
- She climbed into an inflatable balsa raft and recorded her actions on a waterproof voice recorder still running when she was rescued.
- By day four she rationed water twice daily and slept in short intervals waking every forty minutes to scan the horizon.
- A recreational fisherman saw debris northeast of the official search box on October 9 but the sighting was not reported to the coordination center until day eight.
- The final disturbing detail: a single pulse from the washed-up VHF radio on October 15 redirected the search and revealed that nine days of procedural gaps had left a survivor within sight of land while aircraft searched sixty miles away.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079634Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA radio sat upright in the sand on the south shore of Cedar Shoal A handheld VHF radio, antenna fully extended and paracord clip still attached, was found standing upright in the surf with its casing salt-scoured and its battery dead except for a...
A handheld VHF radio, antenna fully extended and paracord clip still attached, was found standing upright in the surf with its casing salt-scoured and its battery dead except for a single orange pulse when its finder pressed the button. It belonged to a boat that had sunk nine days earlier and pointed to a survivor close to shore while official search efforts were searching sixty miles away-how did one device change everything so late in the game?

In this episode, we tell the story of Lori Quinn, a fifty-two-year-old solo sailor whose thirty-eight-foot sloop Celia Anne was lost in a knockdown and sank on October 7. Prepared to the point of ritual, Lori survived nine days on an inflatable life raft using methodical rationing, a signal mirror, and a waterproof voice recorder that captured her entire ordeal as searchers initially combed the wrong area.

Person: Lori Quinn
Vessel: Celia Anne, 38-foot sloop
Date of sinking: October 7
Location when rafted: approximately 1.5 nautical miles from Cedar Shoal
Duration adrift: 9 days

- Lori activated an EPIRB at 00:41 on October 7 and its signal reached Miami within four minutes.
- She climbed into an inflatable balsa raft and recorded her actions on a waterproof voice recorder still running when she was rescued.
- By day four she rationed water twice daily and slept in short intervals waking every forty minutes to scan the horizon.
- A recreational fisherman saw debris northeast of the official search box on October 9 but the sighting was not reported to the coordination center until day eight.
- The final disturbing detail: a single pulse from the washed-up VHF radio on October 15 redirected the search and revealed that nine days of procedural gaps had left a survivor within sight of land while aircraft searched sixty miles away.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1299falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-empty-suit-163-miles-from-death--73079633
A sealed, inflated survival suit hung from the outer piling of the public dock at Heron Flats, Maine, on the morning of September 11, 2019 - empty and 163 miles from the last known location of the vessel it came from. How did a suit that should have stayed with a sinking cutter end up deliberately placed on a pier in a direction that defied the expected drift?

In this episode, we trace the loss of the Ardmore Cross and the choices made in the twenty chaotic minutes after it broached, focusing on Philip Noyes, his nephew Chris Albano, and crewman Earl McCarthy, and the single decision that sent a sealed suit toward a shore someone might walk before dawn.

Person: Philip Noyes
Vessel: Ardmore Cross, 42-foot cutter
Date of sinking: September 9-11, 2019
Location of last automatic position: 41 miles southeast of Seal Island Nova Scotia
Distance from Yarmouth to Heron Flats: 163 miles

- The Ardmore Cross broached at 2:25 a.m. and lost its mast within seconds leaving the boat critically damaged.
- Three survival suits were aboard; two became inaccessible when the starboard locker jammed during the broach.
- Chris Albano dove twice into a flooding forward cabin and retrieved the single usable suit for Philip Noyes.
- Noyes was recovered hypothermic at 11:40 a.m. on September 9 seven miles north-northwest of the EPIRB position.
- The most unsettling detail is that Noyes later took the inventoried suit from Yarmouth and deliberately released it off Heron Flats to signal a shore he believed someone might reach.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079633Tue, 28 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Empty Suit: 163 Miles from Death A sealed, inflated survival suit hung from the outer piling of the public dock at Heron Flats, Maine, on the morning of September 11, 2019 - empty and 163 miles from the last known location of the vessel it came...
A sealed, inflated survival suit hung from the outer piling of the public dock at Heron Flats, Maine, on the morning of September 11, 2019 - empty and 163 miles from the last known location of the vessel it came from. How did a suit that should have stayed with a sinking cutter end up deliberately placed on a pier in a direction that defied the expected drift?

In this episode, we trace the loss of the Ardmore Cross and the choices made in the twenty chaotic minutes after it broached, focusing on Philip Noyes, his nephew Chris Albano, and crewman Earl McCarthy, and the single decision that sent a sealed suit toward a shore someone might walk before dawn.

Person: Philip Noyes
Vessel: Ardmore Cross, 42-foot cutter
Date of sinking: September 9-11, 2019
Location of last automatic position: 41 miles southeast of Seal Island Nova Scotia
Distance from Yarmouth to Heron Flats: 163 miles

- The Ardmore Cross broached at 2:25 a.m. and lost its mast within seconds leaving the boat critically damaged.
- Three survival suits were aboard; two became inaccessible when the starboard locker jammed during the broach.
- Chris Albano dove twice into a flooding forward cabin and retrieved the single usable suit for Philip Noyes.
- Noyes was recovered hypothermic at 11:40 a.m. on September 9 seven miles north-northwest of the EPIRB position.
- The most unsettling detail is that Noyes later took the inventoried suit from Yarmouth and deliberately released it off Heron Flats to signal a shore he believed someone might reach.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1112falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-nailed-shoe-a-child-s-last-message-from-the-deep--73079632
Imagine a child's shoe, not tangled or lost, but deliberately nailed to a federal buoy in the Hatteras Inlet channel. This unsettling discovery, made by a utility worker, launched a three-week investigation into a story with no crime, no villain, and no easy explanation. Who would nail a child's shoe to a navigational buoy?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing tale of the ketch Maren Bell and its crew, caught in a sudden storm off the Virginia coast. The episode details the events leading to the vessel's demise, a critical error in a distress signal, and the desperate actions of a captain in functional shock, ultimately revealing the strange truth behind the nailed shoe.

Person: Kenneth Hoffman
Date: September 4
Location: Hatteras Inlet channel
Vessel: Maren Bell
Status: Sinking

- A utility worker found a child's shoe nailed to federal buoy number forty-one.
- The Maren Bell, a 42-foot ketch, was carrying four people, including a three-year-old child.
- A line of convective cells moving at 40 knots struck the Maren Bell in the dark.
- A wave brought the main mast down, sending two men into the water.
- An EPIRB registration error sent rescue helicopters 40 miles west of the sinking vessel.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079632Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Nailed Shoe: A Child's Last Message From The Deep Imagine a child's shoe, not tangled or lost, but deliberately nailed to a federal buoy in the Hatteras Inlet channel. This unsettling discovery, made by a utility worker, launched a three-week...
Imagine a child's shoe, not tangled or lost, but deliberately nailed to a federal buoy in the Hatteras Inlet channel. This unsettling discovery, made by a utility worker, launched a three-week investigation into a story with no crime, no villain, and no easy explanation. Who would nail a child's shoe to a navigational buoy?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing tale of the ketch Maren Bell and its crew, caught in a sudden storm off the Virginia coast. The episode details the events leading to the vessel's demise, a critical error in a distress signal, and the desperate actions of a captain in functional shock, ultimately revealing the strange truth behind the nailed shoe.

Person: Kenneth Hoffman
Date: September 4
Location: Hatteras Inlet channel
Vessel: Maren Bell
Status: Sinking

- A utility worker found a child's shoe nailed to federal buoy number forty-one.
- The Maren Bell, a 42-foot ketch, was carrying four people, including a three-year-old child.
- A line of convective cells moving at 40 knots struck the Maren Bell in the dark.
- A wave brought the main mast down, sending two men into the water.
- An EPIRB registration error sent rescue helicopters 40 miles west of the sinking vessel.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1104falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-beacon-that-lied-58-hours-lost-at-sea--73079631
Imagine being lost at sea, your distress beacon activated, yet rescuers are searching 63 miles away in the wrong location. This was the terrifying reality for a solo sailor whose life depended on a critical piece of paper that proved to be a lie. How could a document designed for safety lead to such a perilous misdirection?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing ordeal of Denise O'Connor, a seasoned sailor who found herself adrift in the Atlantic with a broken wrist and a non-functional radio. Her emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) was transmitting, but its registration was tied to a different boat and a different owner, sending search teams on a futile chase.

Person: Denise O'Connor
Date: July 4-9, 2019
Location: Atlantic Ocean, off Georgia coast
Vessel: Meridian Line (40-foot sailboat)
Status: Rescued

- A search aircraft located Denise O'Connor's 40-foot sailboat 63 miles southeast of Hilton Head Island.
- Denise O'Connor, 53 years old, was alone on the Atlantic with a broken wrist and no radio.
- Her EPIRB was registered to a previous owner's boat, named Caraway, and a man named Patrick Sievert.
- On July 6, 2019, a large swell caused Meridian Line to go over more than 90 degrees, dismasting the boat.
- Denise O'Connor, a commercial maritime insurance underwriter, had completed three solo offshore passages of over 500 miles before this incident.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079631Sun, 26 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Beacon That Lied: 58 Hours Lost at Sea Imagine being lost at sea, your distress beacon activated, yet rescuers are searching 63 miles away in the wrong location. This was the terrifying reality for a solo sailor whose life depended on a...
Imagine being lost at sea, your distress beacon activated, yet rescuers are searching 63 miles away in the wrong location. This was the terrifying reality for a solo sailor whose life depended on a critical piece of paper that proved to be a lie. How could a document designed for safety lead to such a perilous misdirection?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing ordeal of Denise O'Connor, a seasoned sailor who found herself adrift in the Atlantic with a broken wrist and a non-functional radio. Her emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) was transmitting, but its registration was tied to a different boat and a different owner, sending search teams on a futile chase.

Person: Denise O'Connor
Date: July 4-9, 2019
Location: Atlantic Ocean, off Georgia coast
Vessel: Meridian Line (40-foot sailboat)
Status: Rescued

- A search aircraft located Denise O'Connor's 40-foot sailboat 63 miles southeast of Hilton Head Island.
- Denise O'Connor, 53 years old, was alone on the Atlantic with a broken wrist and no radio.
- Her EPIRB was registered to a previous owner's boat, named Caraway, and a man named Patrick Sievert.
- On July 6, 2019, a large swell caused Meridian Line to go over more than 90 degrees, dismasting the boat.
- Denise O'Connor, a commercial maritime insurance underwriter, had completed three solo offshore passages of over 500 miles before this incident.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1198falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-clean-hatch-how-he-survived-the-impossible-sea--73079630
Imagine a boat hatch, perfectly clean, found eleven miles inland on a hiking trail, with no barnacles or saltwater stains. This anomaly, discovered by a dog, led to a 22-year-old man, Craig Miller, alive but unconscious, underneath it. How did he survive six days at sea and end up so far from the Pacific Ocean?

In this episode, we uncover the astonishing survival story of Craig Miller, a deckhand on the commercial fishing vessel Adeline Rose, which sank in the Pacific. We explore the critical decisions, the unexpected modifications, and the unique skills that allowed him to endure the impossible and return home.

Person: Craig Miller
Date: June 2019
Location: Northern California
Vessel: Adeline Rose
Status: Survivor

- A fiberglass hatch cover, four feet by two and a half, was found eleven miles from the Pacific Ocean.
- The hatch cover belonged to the 48-foot commercial fishing vessel Adeline Rose.
- Craig Miller, 22, was found underneath the hatch cover with a core body temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
- He had not eaten in six days and consumed less than a full can of soda's worth of fresh water.
- The Adeline Rose sank in approximately eleven minutes after a fire started in the engine compartment.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079630Sat, 25 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Clean Hatch: How He Survived the Impossible Sea Imagine a boat hatch, perfectly clean, found eleven miles inland on a hiking trail, with no barnacles or saltwater stains. This anomaly, discovered by a dog, led to a 22-year-old man, Craig...
Imagine a boat hatch, perfectly clean, found eleven miles inland on a hiking trail, with no barnacles or saltwater stains. This anomaly, discovered by a dog, led to a 22-year-old man, Craig Miller, alive but unconscious, underneath it. How did he survive six days at sea and end up so far from the Pacific Ocean?

In this episode, we uncover the astonishing survival story of Craig Miller, a deckhand on the commercial fishing vessel Adeline Rose, which sank in the Pacific. We explore the critical decisions, the unexpected modifications, and the unique skills that allowed him to endure the impossible and return home.

Person: Craig Miller
Date: June 2019
Location: Northern California
Vessel: Adeline Rose
Status: Survivor

- A fiberglass hatch cover, four feet by two and a half, was found eleven miles from the Pacific Ocean.
- The hatch cover belonged to the 48-foot commercial fishing vessel Adeline Rose.
- Craig Miller, 22, was found underneath the hatch cover with a core body temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
- He had not eaten in six days and consumed less than a full can of soda's worth of fresh water.
- The Adeline Rose sank in approximately eleven minutes after a fire started in the engine compartment.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1112falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-sneaker-and-the-vanished-ship--73079629
A child's red canvas sneaker, still tied and dry inside, was pulled from the ocean depths, an impossible find that hinted at a much larger mystery. How could a shoe remain dry forty feet underwater, and what did it have to do with a missing forty-two-foot sloop and its two-man crew?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Meridian Pass, a delivery voyage that turned into a desperate search for two missing men. Discover how a paper log, a broken emergency beacon, and a child's sneaker became crucial clues in a race against the ocean's unforgiving power.

Person: Kevin Watson
Vessel: Meridian Pass
Date: May 6, 2017
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina to Brunswick, Georgia
Event: Offshore delivery voyage

- A child's red canvas sneaker was found eleven miles off the Georgia coast, forty feet down.
- The sneaker belonged to Pete Sully's five-year-old daughter and had a hand-drawn star on its toe.
- The Meridian Pass, a forty-two-foot sloop, departed Beaufort, South Carolina, on May 6, 2017.
- An emergency beacon on board had a non-compliant battery installed fourteen months prior.
- A storm hit on May 7, with forty-knot winds, causing Pete Sully to sustain two fractured ribs and a scalp laceration.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079629Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Sneaker and the Vanished Ship A child's red canvas sneaker, still tied and dry inside, was pulled from the ocean depths, an impossible find that hinted at a much larger mystery. How could a shoe remain dry forty feet underwater, and what...
A child's red canvas sneaker, still tied and dry inside, was pulled from the ocean depths, an impossible find that hinted at a much larger mystery. How could a shoe remain dry forty feet underwater, and what did it have to do with a missing forty-two-foot sloop and its two-man crew?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Meridian Pass, a delivery voyage that turned into a desperate search for two missing men. Discover how a paper log, a broken emergency beacon, and a child's sneaker became crucial clues in a race against the ocean's unforgiving power.

Person: Kevin Watson
Vessel: Meridian Pass
Date: May 6, 2017
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina to Brunswick, Georgia
Event: Offshore delivery voyage

- A child's red canvas sneaker was found eleven miles off the Georgia coast, forty feet down.
- The sneaker belonged to Pete Sully's five-year-old daughter and had a hand-drawn star on its toe.
- The Meridian Pass, a forty-two-foot sloop, departed Beaufort, South Carolina, on May 6, 2017.
- An emergency beacon on board had a non-compliant battery installed fourteen months prior.
- A storm hit on May 7, with forty-knot winds, causing Pete Sully to sustain two fractured ribs and a scalp laceration.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1133falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sailing-ghost-two-notebooks-one-man-no-explanation--73079627
Imagine being found adrift in the Atlantic, your sailboat moving in slow arcs, but no one on deck. When the Coast Guard boards, they find you conscious but unable to stand, with a cold bowl of soup and two water-soaked notebooks as the only clues to what happened. What could explain such a mysterious maritime survival?

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing 32 hours between Grant Patterson's last confirmed position and his discovery by the Coast Guard. We explore the physical evidence, logbook entries, and Grant's own account to reconstruct the events of a storm that nearly claimed his life, revealing the surprising habit that ultimately saved him.

Person: Grant Patterson
Date: April 9, 2019
Location: Atlantic Ocean, 240 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear
Vessel: Agnes Marie, a 31-foot Pearson sloop
Status: Rescued

- Grant Patterson was 62 years old and a finish carpenter from Merritt's Cove, South Carolina.
- His boat, the Agnes Marie, was a 28-year-old Pearson sloop he had rebuilt over three winters.
- Grant departed Merritt's Cove Marina on March 30, 2019, for a solo offshore sail.
- On April 7, a low-pressure front brought sustained winds of 35 knots and seas up to 15 feet.
- A massive wave hit the Agnes Marie broadside, snapping the forestay and causing the mast to fall.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079627Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Sailing Ghost: Two Notebooks, One Man, No Explanation Imagine being found adrift in the Atlantic, your sailboat moving in slow arcs, but no one on deck. When the Coast Guard boards, they find you conscious but unable to stand, with a cold bowl...
Imagine being found adrift in the Atlantic, your sailboat moving in slow arcs, but no one on deck. When the Coast Guard boards, they find you conscious but unable to stand, with a cold bowl of soup and two water-soaked notebooks as the only clues to what happened. What could explain such a mysterious maritime survival?

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing 32 hours between Grant Patterson's last confirmed position and his discovery by the Coast Guard. We explore the physical evidence, logbook entries, and Grant's own account to reconstruct the events of a storm that nearly claimed his life, revealing the surprising habit that ultimately saved him.

Person: Grant Patterson
Date: April 9, 2019
Location: Atlantic Ocean, 240 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear
Vessel: Agnes Marie, a 31-foot Pearson sloop
Status: Rescued

- Grant Patterson was 62 years old and a finish carpenter from Merritt's Cove, South Carolina.
- His boat, the Agnes Marie, was a 28-year-old Pearson sloop he had rebuilt over three winters.
- Grant departed Merritt's Cove Marina on March 30, 2019, for a solo offshore sail.
- On April 7, a low-pressure front brought sustained winds of 35 knots and seas up to 15 feet.
- A massive wave hit the Agnes Marie broadside, snapping the forestay and causing the mast to fall.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1132falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-they-wrote-their-own-rescue--73079626
Imagine being lost at sea, your boat taking on water, and your only hope is a message scrawled in a notebook. On March 8, 2011, Randy Bell found an orange spiral notebook on Osprey Key, its pages dissolved except for a final, desperate entry. What incredible circumstances led this ordinary object to become a beacon of hope for a suspended search?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of Gary Perry and Tom Vickers, two friends who faced a sudden squall in the Gulf of Mexico. We learn how a meticulous habit of writing in a notebook became their last chance for rescue after their boats were separated and their radio signals swallowed by a radio shadow.

Person: Gary Perry, Tom Vickers, Derek Pratt, Randy Bell, Michael Rice, Steve Pollard
Date: March 8, 2011 (notebook found), February 24, 2011 (trip launched)
Location: Osprey Key, Palmetto Harbor, Gulf Coast
Status: Rescue initiated by notebook entry
Event: Discovery of a notebook with a distress message

- Randy Bell found an orange spiral notebook on March 8, 2011, at 7:15 AM.
- The last entry in the notebook, dated March 4, included coordinates and a water temperature of sixty-three degrees Fahrenheit.
- Gary Perry, 24, and Tom Vickers, 26, launched from Palmetto Harbor on February 24, 2011, for a trip eighteen miles south.
- A squall arrived at 1:17 PM, from the southwest, at approximately thirty knots, disabling both motors within four minutes.
- Derek Pratt, in the second boat, was found alive on day three, exactly where drift models predicted, but Gary and Tom were not.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079626Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook: They Wrote Their Own Rescue Imagine being lost at sea, your boat taking on water, and your only hope is a message scrawled in a notebook. On March 8, 2011, Randy Bell found an orange spiral notebook on Osprey Key, its pages dissolved...
Imagine being lost at sea, your boat taking on water, and your only hope is a message scrawled in a notebook. On March 8, 2011, Randy Bell found an orange spiral notebook on Osprey Key, its pages dissolved except for a final, desperate entry. What incredible circumstances led this ordinary object to become a beacon of hope for a suspended search?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of Gary Perry and Tom Vickers, two friends who faced a sudden squall in the Gulf of Mexico. We learn how a meticulous habit of writing in a notebook became their last chance for rescue after their boats were separated and their radio signals swallowed by a radio shadow.

Person: Gary Perry, Tom Vickers, Derek Pratt, Randy Bell, Michael Rice, Steve Pollard
Date: March 8, 2011 (notebook found), February 24, 2011 (trip launched)
Location: Osprey Key, Palmetto Harbor, Gulf Coast
Status: Rescue initiated by notebook entry
Event: Discovery of a notebook with a distress message

- Randy Bell found an orange spiral notebook on March 8, 2011, at 7:15 AM.
- The last entry in the notebook, dated March 4, included coordinates and a water temperature of sixty-three degrees Fahrenheit.
- Gary Perry, 24, and Tom Vickers, 26, launched from Palmetto Harbor on February 24, 2011, for a trip eighteen miles south.
- A squall arrived at 1:17 PM, from the southwest, at approximately thirty knots, disabling both motors within four minutes.
- Derek Pratt, in the second boat, was found alive on day three, exactly where drift models predicted, but Gary and Tom were not.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1189falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-unfired-flares-and-the-mirror-s-secret--73079624
Imagine being adrift for days, your emergency flares untouched, yet a simple mirror becomes your only hope. How could a seasoned sailor, meticulous about safety, find himself in a situation where a three-by-five piece of glass was his last resort against the vast ocean?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing experience of Jerry Roberts, a man whose expertise in the Florida Keys waters was undeniable, yet faced a catastrophic system failure. His story reveals a series of critical decisions, a near-miss helicopter sighting, and the incredible resilience of one man when all conventional search efforts were looking in the wrong place.

Person: Jerry Roberts
Date: February 8, 2011
Location: Florida Keys
Vessel: Calliope
Equipment: Signal mirror, EPIRB, flares

- Sarah Peterson found Jerry Roberts' yellow inflatable raft at Cayo Redondo Point on February 19, 2011.
- Jerry Roberts, 48, from Cudjoe Key, had been home for four days when his raft was discovered.
- His boat, Calliope, a 32-foot fiberglass sloop, lost its mast and VHF antenna when the forestay fitting failed.
- Jerry Roberts' EPIRB transmitted for approximately four minutes, sending a single position before drifting away.
- He had three flares, one signal mirror, a handheld VHF radio, two liters of water, four energy bars, a space blanket, and a compass on his raft.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079624Tue, 21 Jul 2026 23:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Unfired Flares and the Mirror's Secret Imagine being adrift for days, your emergency flares untouched, yet a simple mirror becomes your only hope. How could a seasoned sailor, meticulous about safety, find himself in a situation where a...
Imagine being adrift for days, your emergency flares untouched, yet a simple mirror becomes your only hope. How could a seasoned sailor, meticulous about safety, find himself in a situation where a three-by-five piece of glass was his last resort against the vast ocean?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing experience of Jerry Roberts, a man whose expertise in the Florida Keys waters was undeniable, yet faced a catastrophic system failure. His story reveals a series of critical decisions, a near-miss helicopter sighting, and the incredible resilience of one man when all conventional search efforts were looking in the wrong place.

Person: Jerry Roberts
Date: February 8, 2011
Location: Florida Keys
Vessel: Calliope
Equipment: Signal mirror, EPIRB, flares

- Sarah Peterson found Jerry Roberts' yellow inflatable raft at Cayo Redondo Point on February 19, 2011.
- Jerry Roberts, 48, from Cudjoe Key, had been home for four days when his raft was discovered.
- His boat, Calliope, a 32-foot fiberglass sloop, lost its mast and VHF antenna when the forestay fitting failed.
- Jerry Roberts' EPIRB transmitted for approximately four minutes, sending a single position before drifting away.
- He had three flares, one signal mirror, a handheld VHF radio, two liters of water, four energy bars, a space blanket, and a compass on his raft.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1184falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-warm-boot-nine-days-lost-one-man-found--73079623
Imagine finding a warm rubber boot on a cold January morning, only to discover a dry spiral notebook inside. This seemingly innocuous find would become the crucial link to a man lost at sea for eight days, with no GPS, no radio, and a silent emergency beacon. How did a simple boot hold the key to a nine-hundred-mile mystery?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing journey of Brian Rafferty, a licensed deckhand who faced a rogue wave, bureaucratic oversight, and the vast Atlantic alone. We explore the events that led to his sailboat being crippled and how an improvised navigation trick ultimately converged with a paperboy's discovery.

Person: Brian Rafferty
Date: January 5th - January 14th
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Portsmith, Georgia
Status: Lost at sea, then found
Event: Rogue wave disables sailboat

- On January 14th, a 15-year-old paperboy found a size eleven rubber boot.
- The boot was warm despite 41-degree winter air.
- Inside the boot was a dry spiral notebook with a plastic cover.
- Brian Rafferty was alone on a crippled sailboat for eight days.
- A Coast Guard emergency beacon registered to another man was suppressed as a false alarm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079623Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:55 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Warm Boot: Nine Days Lost, One Man Found Imagine finding a warm rubber boot on a cold January morning, only to discover a dry spiral notebook inside. This seemingly innocuous find would become the crucial link to a man lost at sea for eight...
Imagine finding a warm rubber boot on a cold January morning, only to discover a dry spiral notebook inside. This seemingly innocuous find would become the crucial link to a man lost at sea for eight days, with no GPS, no radio, and a silent emergency beacon. How did a simple boot hold the key to a nine-hundred-mile mystery?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing journey of Brian Rafferty, a licensed deckhand who faced a rogue wave, bureaucratic oversight, and the vast Atlantic alone. We explore the events that led to his sailboat being crippled and how an improvised navigation trick ultimately converged with a paperboy's discovery.

Person: Brian Rafferty
Date: January 5th - January 14th
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Portsmith, Georgia
Status: Lost at sea, then found
Event: Rogue wave disables sailboat

- On January 14th, a 15-year-old paperboy found a size eleven rubber boot.
- The boot was warm despite 41-degree winter air.
- Inside the boot was a dry spiral notebook with a plastic cover.
- Brian Rafferty was alone on a crippled sailboat for eight days.
- A Coast Guard emergency beacon registered to another man was suppressed as a false alarm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1343falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-chart-that-saved-him-1400-miles-away--73079622
Imagine a nautical chart for the Gulf of Mexico, found dry and clean in a North Dakota snowdrift, 1400 miles from the nearest saltwater. This chart was clutched by a marine electrician, Jeffrey Becker, when he was pulled from a life raft after eight days adrift. How did this crucial chart end up so far inland, and what role did it play in his survival?

In this episode, we uncover the parallel threads of Jeffrey Becker's harrowing eight-day ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico and the improbable journey of the chart that became his only fixed point. We explore the meticulous preparation of a man who understood systems and the unexpected turn of events that tested his will to survive.

Person: Jeffrey Becker
Age: 52
Location: Gulf of Mexico, Harwick, North Dakota
Event: Survival at sea, chart discovery
Boat: Evie B, a 31-foot cutter

- On December 19th, a nautical chart sleeve for the Gulf of Mexico was found in a snowdrift in Harwick, North Dakota.
- Jeffrey Becker, a marine electrician, was rescued on December 11th after eight days in a life raft, holding the chart.
- His boat, Evie B, was a 31-foot cutter he spent seven years rebuilding.
- Jeffrey performed dead reckoning from memory, updating his estimated drift aloud every few hours.
- The squall that capsized his boat hit on December 3rd with 55-knot winds and 18-foot seas.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079622Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:52 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Chart That Saved Him, 1400 Miles Away Imagine a nautical chart for the Gulf of Mexico, found dry and clean in a North Dakota snowdrift, 1400 miles from the nearest saltwater. This chart was clutched by a marine electrician, Jeffrey Becker, when...
Imagine a nautical chart for the Gulf of Mexico, found dry and clean in a North Dakota snowdrift, 1400 miles from the nearest saltwater. This chart was clutched by a marine electrician, Jeffrey Becker, when he was pulled from a life raft after eight days adrift. How did this crucial chart end up so far inland, and what role did it play in his survival?

In this episode, we uncover the parallel threads of Jeffrey Becker's harrowing eight-day ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico and the improbable journey of the chart that became his only fixed point. We explore the meticulous preparation of a man who understood systems and the unexpected turn of events that tested his will to survive.

Person: Jeffrey Becker
Age: 52
Location: Gulf of Mexico, Harwick, North Dakota
Event: Survival at sea, chart discovery
Boat: Evie B, a 31-foot cutter

- On December 19th, a nautical chart sleeve for the Gulf of Mexico was found in a snowdrift in Harwick, North Dakota.
- Jeffrey Becker, a marine electrician, was rescued on December 11th after eight days in a life raft, holding the chart.
- His boat, Evie B, was a 31-foot cutter he spent seven years rebuilding.
- Jeffrey performed dead reckoning from memory, updating his estimated drift aloud every few hours.
- The squall that capsized his boat hit on December 3rd with 55-knot winds and 18-foot seas.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1133falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-notebook-six-survivors-eighteen-dead-one-unexplained-entry--73079621
Imagine finding a perfectly dry notebook on a tidal flat, belonging to a ship that sank eleven days prior, killing eighteen people. This isn't a riddle; it's the chilling discovery that launched an eighteen-month inquiry into the MV Fortuna Star disaster. What secrets did this waterlogged vessel's dry logbook hold, and why did it feel "placed"?

In this episode, we delve into the sinking of the bulk carrier Fortuna Star and the mysterious notebook found by a utility lineman. We explore the lives of the six survivors, the meticulous records kept by the second officer, and the baffling entry that investigators spent years trying to understand.

Event: MV Fortuna Star sinking
Date: November 3rd
Location: Forty-two miles offshore
Status: Eighteen dead, six survivors
Discovery: Dry notebook found November 14th

- The MV Fortuna Star was struck by the MV Crestline at approximately 11:47 PM on November 3rd.
- The ship sank in under eighteen minutes, with sixteen people dying at collision or in the water.
- Lifeboat Two launched with seven people, including Susan Hill, a 44-year-old senior cargo compliance officer.
- The lifeboat's radio was transmit-only and unreliable, and the Crestline transmitted incorrect GPS coordinates, off by nineteen miles.
- The lifeboat carried supplies rated for twenty-four person-days, immediately halved to last roughly seven days for seven survivors.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079621Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:49 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Notebook: Six Survivors, Eighteen Dead, One Unexplained Entry Imagine finding a perfectly dry notebook on a tidal flat, belonging to a ship that sank eleven days prior, killing eighteen people. This isn't a riddle; it's the chilling...
Imagine finding a perfectly dry notebook on a tidal flat, belonging to a ship that sank eleven days prior, killing eighteen people. This isn't a riddle; it's the chilling discovery that launched an eighteen-month inquiry into the MV Fortuna Star disaster. What secrets did this waterlogged vessel's dry logbook hold, and why did it feel "placed"?

In this episode, we delve into the sinking of the bulk carrier Fortuna Star and the mysterious notebook found by a utility lineman. We explore the lives of the six survivors, the meticulous records kept by the second officer, and the baffling entry that investigators spent years trying to understand.

Event: MV Fortuna Star sinking
Date: November 3rd
Location: Forty-two miles offshore
Status: Eighteen dead, six survivors
Discovery: Dry notebook found November 14th

- The MV Fortuna Star was struck by the MV Crestline at approximately 11:47 PM on November 3rd.
- The ship sank in under eighteen minutes, with sixteen people dying at collision or in the water.
- Lifeboat Two launched with seven people, including Susan Hill, a 44-year-old senior cargo compliance officer.
- The lifeboat's radio was transmit-only and unreliable, and the Crestline transmitted incorrect GPS coordinates, off by nineteen miles.
- The lifeboat carried supplies rated for twenty-four person-days, immediately halved to last roughly seven days for seven survivors.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1151falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-library-card-that-sailed-2-000-miles-alone--73079620
Imagine finding a dry, undamaged library card on a New England breakwater, 161 days after its owner nearly died at sea, 2,000 miles away. This impossible discovery hints at one of the most astonishing survival stories in recent offshore sailing, but how did it get there?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible journey of Janet Hamilton, a marine biologist who, along with her crew, faced a life-threatening mechanical failure just hours into an Atlantic crossing. The narrative details the meticulous preparations, the critical decisions made under duress, and the sheer will to survive against overwhelming odds.

Person: Janet Hamilton
Date: September 28, 2018
Vessel: Marguerite Gray
Location: North Atlantic
Status: Survival ordeal

- Cynthia Sullivan found a library card on the riprap of Haverford Inlet on March 14, 2019.
- The card belonged to a woman who had been at sea 161 days earlier and 2,000 miles away.
- Janet Hamilton, 28, bought the 1984 sloop, Marguerite Gray, a 38-foot fiberglass cutter rig.
- The watermaker broke less than 24 hours into the journey, leaving 46 gallons of fresh water for three people.
- On day seven, Janet's laminated library card slipped from its waterproof case and dropped into the boat's interior.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079620Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:46 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Library Card That Sailed 2,000 Miles Alone Imagine finding a dry, undamaged library card on a New England breakwater, 161 days after its owner nearly died at sea, 2,000 miles away. This impossible discovery hints at one of the most astonishing...
Imagine finding a dry, undamaged library card on a New England breakwater, 161 days after its owner nearly died at sea, 2,000 miles away. This impossible discovery hints at one of the most astonishing survival stories in recent offshore sailing, but how did it get there?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible journey of Janet Hamilton, a marine biologist who, along with her crew, faced a life-threatening mechanical failure just hours into an Atlantic crossing. The narrative details the meticulous preparations, the critical decisions made under duress, and the sheer will to survive against overwhelming odds.

Person: Janet Hamilton
Date: September 28, 2018
Vessel: Marguerite Gray
Location: North Atlantic
Status: Survival ordeal

- Cynthia Sullivan found a library card on the riprap of Haverford Inlet on March 14, 2019.
- The card belonged to a woman who had been at sea 161 days earlier and 2,000 miles away.
- Janet Hamilton, 28, bought the 1984 sloop, Marguerite Gray, a 38-foot fiberglass cutter rig.
- The watermaker broke less than 24 hours into the journey, leaving 46 gallons of fresh water for three people.
- On day seven, Janet's laminated library card slipped from its waterproof case and dropped into the boat's interior.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1012falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-radio-that-survived-the-fire-and-the-lie--73079619
Imagine finding an object that defied its own destruction: a marine VHF radio, its rubber casing melted flat on one side, yet still intact. How did this radio survive a catastrophic boat fire and end up in a Florida storage unit?

In this episode, we trace the incredible journey of a marine VHF radio, from a burning catamaran in the Florida Straits to a storage unit in Holloway Beach. We delve into the meticulous life of Bruce Wells, the boat's owner, and the fateful decisions that led to the fire and his survival.

Person: Bruce Wells
Vessel: Tidal Agreement
Location: Florida Straits, Holloway Beach, Siesta Key
Event: Catamaran fire
Date: August 25, 12:14 AM

- A meter reader found the melted marine VHF radio in Unit Seven-C, Bayside Self-Storage.
- The Tidal Agreement was a 41-foot catamaran, owned by Bruce Wells for six years.
- The fire was caused by a hairline fracture in the copper propane tubing in the starboard hull.
- Bruce Wells grabbed his VHF radio from a shelf above his berth, a decision made months earlier.
- Bruce and Owen held onto 90 feet of galvanized steel anchor chain that had paid out due to the fire's heat.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079619Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:43 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Radio That Survived the Fire and the Lie Imagine finding an object that defied its own destruction: a marine VHF radio, its rubber casing melted flat on one side, yet still intact. How did this radio survive a catastrophic boat fire and end up...
Imagine finding an object that defied its own destruction: a marine VHF radio, its rubber casing melted flat on one side, yet still intact. How did this radio survive a catastrophic boat fire and end up in a Florida storage unit?

In this episode, we trace the incredible journey of a marine VHF radio, from a burning catamaran in the Florida Straits to a storage unit in Holloway Beach. We delve into the meticulous life of Bruce Wells, the boat's owner, and the fateful decisions that led to the fire and his survival.

Person: Bruce Wells
Vessel: Tidal Agreement
Location: Florida Straits, Holloway Beach, Siesta Key
Event: Catamaran fire
Date: August 25, 12:14 AM

- A meter reader found the melted marine VHF radio in Unit Seven-C, Bayside Self-Storage.
- The Tidal Agreement was a 41-foot catamaran, owned by Bruce Wells for six years.
- The fire was caused by a hairline fracture in the copper propane tubing in the starboard hull.
- Bruce Wells grabbed his VHF radio from a shelf above his berth, a decision made months earlier.
- Bruce and Owen held onto 90 feet of galvanized steel anchor chain that had paid out due to the fire's heat.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1243falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lost-at-sea-the-card-that-saved-a-life--73079618
Imagine being adrift in the vast ocean, your vessel damaged, and the emergency beacon untouched. What if the only record of your exact position, crucial for rescue, was miles away, tucked inside a jacket pocket that had washed ashore?

In this episode, we recount the harrowing ordeal of a 23-year-old woman, Jean Sharp, who found herself alone in a life raft after a sudden squall. We explore the critical errors in a float plan and the incredible journey of a laminated card that became the sole hope for her survival.

Person: Jean Sharp
Date: August 8-11
Location: Off the Georgia coast
Vessel: Mira Leigh
Status: Rescue

- The commercial shrimping vessel Pelican Quay found the Mira Leigh 62 nautical miles east-southeast of the Georgia coast.
- The Mira Leigh's emergency position-indicating radio beacon was found undisturbed and never activated.
- Jean Sharp, 23, was found alive in a life raft 37 hours after the incident and 11 miles from the search area.
- A laminated card with critical navigation data traveled four miles of coastal waterway before being found in Darien, Georgia.
- Howard Teague, 51, was swept overboard at 2:31 AM on August 9 during a squall with 40-knot winds and eight-foot seas.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079618Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:41 +0000Creator at ObomediaLost at Sea: The Card That Saved a Life Imagine being adrift in the vast ocean, your vessel damaged, and the emergency beacon untouched. What if the only record of your exact position, crucial for rescue, was miles away, tucked inside a jacket...
Imagine being adrift in the vast ocean, your vessel damaged, and the emergency beacon untouched. What if the only record of your exact position, crucial for rescue, was miles away, tucked inside a jacket pocket that had washed ashore?

In this episode, we recount the harrowing ordeal of a 23-year-old woman, Jean Sharp, who found herself alone in a life raft after a sudden squall. We explore the critical errors in a float plan and the incredible journey of a laminated card that became the sole hope for her survival.

Person: Jean Sharp
Date: August 8-11
Location: Off the Georgia coast
Vessel: Mira Leigh
Status: Rescue

- The commercial shrimping vessel Pelican Quay found the Mira Leigh 62 nautical miles east-southeast of the Georgia coast.
- The Mira Leigh's emergency position-indicating radio beacon was found undisturbed and never activated.
- Jean Sharp, 23, was found alive in a life raft 37 hours after the incident and 11 miles from the search area.
- A laminated card with critical navigation data traveled four miles of coastal waterway before being found in Darien, Georgia.
- Howard Teague, 51, was swept overboard at 2:31 AM on August 9 during a squall with 40-knot winds and eight-foot seas.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1254falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-chart-found-miles-inland-she-sailed-for-a-star--73079616
A hand-drawn navigation chart, labeled "Scorpius" and found four miles inland in black peat with its rubber band intact, defies easy explanation. How did a laminated chart, marked for a star bearing, end up so far from salt water, and what does it reveal about the woman who made it?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible journey of Valerie Reynolds and her thirty-two-foot sloop, Meridian Cross. Discover the surprising details behind a chart that responders initially dismissed as debris, only to find it held a story far stranger than they imagined.

Person: Valerie Reynolds
Date: July 19, 2011
Location: Pelican Marsh Reserve, Georgia
Object: Hand-drawn navigation chart
Vessel: Meridian Cross

- The chart was found four miles from the nearest salt water, pressed into black peat.
- It had a single bearing line drawn in black permanent marker, labeled Scorpius.
- Valerie Reynolds, 38, had been living aboard Meridian Cross, a 32-foot sloop.
- Her solo passage from Mosswick to the Outer Banks was approximately 310 nautical miles.
- She departed Mosswick Marina on July 8, 2011, at 6:00 AM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079616Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:38 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Chart Found Miles Inland: She Sailed for a Star A hand-drawn navigation chart, labeled "Scorpius" and found four miles inland in black peat with its rubber band intact, defies easy explanation. How did a laminated chart, marked for a star...
A hand-drawn navigation chart, labeled "Scorpius" and found four miles inland in black peat with its rubber band intact, defies easy explanation. How did a laminated chart, marked for a star bearing, end up so far from salt water, and what does it reveal about the woman who made it?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible journey of Valerie Reynolds and her thirty-two-foot sloop, Meridian Cross. Discover the surprising details behind a chart that responders initially dismissed as debris, only to find it held a story far stranger than they imagined.

Person: Valerie Reynolds
Date: July 19, 2011
Location: Pelican Marsh Reserve, Georgia
Object: Hand-drawn navigation chart
Vessel: Meridian Cross

- The chart was found four miles from the nearest salt water, pressed into black peat.
- It had a single bearing line drawn in black permanent marker, labeled Scorpius.
- Valerie Reynolds, 38, had been living aboard Meridian Cross, a 32-foot sloop.
- Her solo passage from Mosswick to the Outer Banks was approximately 310 nautical miles.
- She departed Mosswick Marina on July 8, 2011, at 6:00 AM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1147falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-impossible-drift-found-12-feet-from-nowhere--73079614
Imagine surviving twelve days alone in the Atlantic, only to be found conscious and hypothermic, just twelve feet from a mangrove shoreline that no search algorithm had ever targeted. How did one woman, adrift in a life raft, navigate the impossible and survive against all odds?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible true story of Kelly Andrews, a methodical sailor and former biology teacher, whose routine voyage turned into a desperate fight for survival after a sudden, unforecasted squall crippled her sailboat. Discover the crucial role a single notebook played in her rescue and what kept her alive when all seemed lost.

Person: Kelly Andrews
Age: 61
Vessel: Meridian Cross (42-foot sloop)
Departure Date: June 1, 2014
Duration Adrift: 12 days

- Kelly Andrews, a 61-year-old former middle school biology teacher, sailed the Georgia coast and Florida Keys for seven years before the incident.
- Her sailboat, the Meridian Cross, departed Tarpon Shoal Marina in Georgia on June 1, 2014, heading south.
- Eight days later, search crews were looking for her sixty miles in the wrong direction.
- A sudden "raça" with 60 knots of wind hit her boat, causing the mast to fall and the VHF radio and EPIRB to be lost.
- She deployed her life raft on June 3, taking a compass, four liters of water, crackers, a flare kit, a space blanket, and a manual bilge pump.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079614Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:35 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Impossible Drift: Found 12 Feet From Nowhere Imagine surviving twelve days alone in the Atlantic, only to be found conscious and hypothermic, just twelve feet from a mangrove shoreline that no search algorithm had ever targeted. How did one...
Imagine surviving twelve days alone in the Atlantic, only to be found conscious and hypothermic, just twelve feet from a mangrove shoreline that no search algorithm had ever targeted. How did one woman, adrift in a life raft, navigate the impossible and survive against all odds?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible true story of Kelly Andrews, a methodical sailor and former biology teacher, whose routine voyage turned into a desperate fight for survival after a sudden, unforecasted squall crippled her sailboat. Discover the crucial role a single notebook played in her rescue and what kept her alive when all seemed lost.

Person: Kelly Andrews
Age: 61
Vessel: Meridian Cross (42-foot sloop)
Departure Date: June 1, 2014
Duration Adrift: 12 days

- Kelly Andrews, a 61-year-old former middle school biology teacher, sailed the Georgia coast and Florida Keys for seven years before the incident.
- Her sailboat, the Meridian Cross, departed Tarpon Shoal Marina in Georgia on June 1, 2014, heading south.
- Eight days later, search crews were looking for her sixty miles in the wrong direction.
- A sudden "raça" with 60 knots of wind hit her boat, causing the mast to fall and the VHF radio and EPIRB to be lost.
- She deployed her life raft on June 3, taking a compass, four liters of water, crackers, a flare kit, a space blanket, and a manual bilge pump.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1204falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ninety-seconds-of-air-trapped-beneath-the-capsized-ferry--73079613
Imagine being trapped in an air pocket beneath a capsized ferry, with only ninety seconds of breathable air and a life-or-death decision to make. Eleven days after the Calloway Queen capsized, killing seventeen people, a perfectly clean library card belonging to an eight-year-old girl was found in the tidal mud. How did a laminated card survive eleven tidal cycles cleaner than it left, and what led to the ferry's tragic end?

In this episode, we delve into the cascading decisions and silent failures that culminated in the capsizing of the Calloway Queen on Ossabaw Sound. We explore the critical ninety seconds a passenger spent in an air pocket, the misdirection of a search, and the baffling discovery of a pristine library card that defied explanation for months.

Date: May 8, 2011
Location: Ossabaw Sound, Georgia
Vessel: Calloway Queen
Casualties: 17 dead, 9 of them children
Survivors: 48

- The Calloway Queen departed Merritt Landing at 4:18 PM, three minutes late, despite a small-craft advisory issued 28 minutes prior.
- The vessel's auto-righting ballast system, designed to stabilize and recover the catamaran, had been non-functional for seven weeks.
- A microburst with winds estimated at 68 miles per hour struck the Calloway Queen at 4:41 PM.
- Brenda Carter, a passenger, had roughly ninety seconds of breathable air in an air pocket beneath the overturned hull.
- An eight-year-old girl's library card was found 11 days after the capsizing, perfectly clean, 30 feet from the ferry dock.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079613Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:32 +0000Creator at ObomediaNinety Seconds of Air: Trapped Beneath the Capsized Ferry Imagine being trapped in an air pocket beneath a capsized ferry, with only ninety seconds of breathable air and a life-or-death decision to make. Eleven days after the Calloway Queen...
Imagine being trapped in an air pocket beneath a capsized ferry, with only ninety seconds of breathable air and a life-or-death decision to make. Eleven days after the Calloway Queen capsized, killing seventeen people, a perfectly clean library card belonging to an eight-year-old girl was found in the tidal mud. How did a laminated card survive eleven tidal cycles cleaner than it left, and what led to the ferry's tragic end?

In this episode, we delve into the cascading decisions and silent failures that culminated in the capsizing of the Calloway Queen on Ossabaw Sound. We explore the critical ninety seconds a passenger spent in an air pocket, the misdirection of a search, and the baffling discovery of a pristine library card that defied explanation for months.

Date: May 8, 2011
Location: Ossabaw Sound, Georgia
Vessel: Calloway Queen
Casualties: 17 dead, 9 of them children
Survivors: 48

- The Calloway Queen departed Merritt Landing at 4:18 PM, three minutes late, despite a small-craft advisory issued 28 minutes prior.
- The vessel's auto-righting ballast system, designed to stabilize and recover the catamaran, had been non-functional for seven weeks.
- A microburst with winds estimated at 68 miles per hour struck the Calloway Queen at 4:41 PM.
- Brenda Carter, a passenger, had roughly ninety seconds of breathable air in an air pocket beneath the overturned hull.
- An eight-year-old girl's library card was found 11 days after the capsizing, perfectly clean, 30 feet from the ferry dock.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1145falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-logbook-that-shouldn-t-exist-meridian-cross-mystery--73079611
A sealed logbook, found floating in a septic tank on Harkers Island, North Carolina, shouldn't have been there. Its ship was 430 miles away, adrift and presumed sinking. How did it travel that distance, and where was the man who wrote its entries?

In this episode, we delve into the baffling case of Kevin Zeller, the Meridian Cross, and thirteen days on the North Atlantic. We explore the meticulous life of a marine surveyor, his routine, and the fateful decision that led to his vessel becoming crippled at sea.

Person: Kevin Zeller
Date: April 14, 2017
Location: Harkers Island, North Carolina
Vessel: Meridian Cross
Event: Discovery of logbook

- A septic service worker found a sealed plastic bag with a spiral-bound notebook inside.
- The logbook was discovered 430 miles from its presumed sinking vessel, the Meridian Cross.
- Kevin Zeller, a 48-year-old marine surveyor, lived in Morehead City, North Carolina.
- He had sailed the 670 nautical mile passage to Bermuda twice before, in 2011 and 2014.
- On March 26, 2017, the lower starboard shroud of the Meridian Cross parted 200 miles southwest of Bermuda.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079611Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:29 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Logbook That Shouldn't Exist: Meridian Cross Mystery A sealed logbook, found floating in a septic tank on Harkers Island, North Carolina, shouldn't have been there. Its ship was 430 miles away, adrift and presumed sinking. How did it travel...
A sealed logbook, found floating in a septic tank on Harkers Island, North Carolina, shouldn't have been there. Its ship was 430 miles away, adrift and presumed sinking. How did it travel that distance, and where was the man who wrote its entries?

In this episode, we delve into the baffling case of Kevin Zeller, the Meridian Cross, and thirteen days on the North Atlantic. We explore the meticulous life of a marine surveyor, his routine, and the fateful decision that led to his vessel becoming crippled at sea.

Person: Kevin Zeller
Date: April 14, 2017
Location: Harkers Island, North Carolina
Vessel: Meridian Cross
Event: Discovery of logbook

- A septic service worker found a sealed plastic bag with a spiral-bound notebook inside.
- The logbook was discovered 430 miles from its presumed sinking vessel, the Meridian Cross.
- Kevin Zeller, a 48-year-old marine surveyor, lived in Morehead City, North Carolina.
- He had sailed the 670 nautical mile passage to Bermuda twice before, in 2011 and 2014.
- On March 26, 2017, the lower starboard shroud of the Meridian Cross parted 200 miles southwest of Bermuda.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1230falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-life-ring-in-the-tree-a-4-day-ocean-miracle--73079610
Imagine a life ring, not tossed by waves, but found nine feet up a dead cedar tree, above any tide mark. This impossible discovery was the only clue to two missing people, adrift for four days in the vast Atlantic. How did the ocean carry a foam ring sixty miles and place it so deliberately, and what did it mean for the missing crew of the Caroline B.?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing four-day search for a commercial fishing vessel that vanished after a two-word distress call. We explore the critical details missed by search coordinators and the surprising items that held the key to survival, all while the ocean performed an inexplicable act of delivery.

Person: Walt Beckett, Felix Odum, Peggy Adams
Vessel: Caroline B.
Date: March 13th
Location: Offshore Brunswick, Georgia
Status: Missing for four days

- A life ring was found nine feet up a dead cedar tree at Harker's Reach.
- The Caroline B. transmitted "Taking water" at 11:22 AM on March 13th.
- Walt Beckett, the captain, was 55 and had fished off Brunswick, Georgia, for 23 years.
- Felix Odum, 26, was the deckhand and a strong swimmer.
- The Caroline B. was a 42-foot commercial fishing vessel.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079610Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:27 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Life Ring in the Tree: A 4-Day Ocean Miracle Imagine a life ring, not tossed by waves, but found nine feet up a dead cedar tree, above any tide mark. This impossible discovery was the only clue to two missing people, adrift for four days in the...
Imagine a life ring, not tossed by waves, but found nine feet up a dead cedar tree, above any tide mark. This impossible discovery was the only clue to two missing people, adrift for four days in the vast Atlantic. How did the ocean carry a foam ring sixty miles and place it so deliberately, and what did it mean for the missing crew of the Caroline B.?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing four-day search for a commercial fishing vessel that vanished after a two-word distress call. We explore the critical details missed by search coordinators and the surprising items that held the key to survival, all while the ocean performed an inexplicable act of delivery.

Person: Walt Beckett, Felix Odum, Peggy Adams
Vessel: Caroline B.
Date: March 13th
Location: Offshore Brunswick, Georgia
Status: Missing for four days

- A life ring was found nine feet up a dead cedar tree at Harker's Reach.
- The Caroline B. transmitted "Taking water" at 11:22 AM on March 13th.
- Walt Beckett, the captain, was 55 and had fished off Brunswick, Georgia, for 23 years.
- Felix Odum, 26, was the deckhand and a strong swimmer.
- The Caroline B. was a 42-foot commercial fishing vessel.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1276falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-watch-that-saved-a-drowning-man-they-missed-it--73079609
Imagine being lost at sea, clinging to an overturned boat in freezing water, while search parties look 190 miles in the wrong direction. What if a single, running watch, found by a teenager, became the only clue to your survival?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing 78 hours between a sailboat capsizing and a crucial discovery. We explore the methodical decisions of a man facing catastrophe and the overlooked details that could have saved him sooner.

Person: Jeffrey Clark
Date: February 14, 2009
Location: Garrison Inlet
Status: Missing at sea (initially)
Vessel: Patience Rule

- Bruce Christensen, 14, found a watch buckled to a channel marker eight feet above the waterline.
- The Coast Guard searched for nearly three days, 190 miles in the wrong direction.
- Jeffrey Clark, 53, was an electrician specializing in marine electrical systems.
- He bought the 1978 fiberglass sloop "Patience Rule" for $41,000 in autumn 2007.
- The boat capsized at 2 AM on February 9, throwing Jeffrey into 53-degree water.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079609Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:24 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Watch That Saved a Drowning Man (They Missed It) Imagine being lost at sea, clinging to an overturned boat in freezing water, while search parties look 190 miles in the wrong direction. What if a single, running watch, found by a teenager,...
Imagine being lost at sea, clinging to an overturned boat in freezing water, while search parties look 190 miles in the wrong direction. What if a single, running watch, found by a teenager, became the only clue to your survival?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing 78 hours between a sailboat capsizing and a crucial discovery. We explore the methodical decisions of a man facing catastrophe and the overlooked details that could have saved him sooner.

Person: Jeffrey Clark
Date: February 14, 2009
Location: Garrison Inlet
Status: Missing at sea (initially)
Vessel: Patience Rule

- Bruce Christensen, 14, found a watch buckled to a channel marker eight feet above the waterline.
- The Coast Guard searched for nearly three days, 190 miles in the wrong direction.
- Jeffrey Clark, 53, was an electrician specializing in marine electrical systems.
- He bought the 1978 fiberglass sloop "Patience Rule" for $41,000 in autumn 2007.
- The boat capsized at 2 AM on February 9, throwing Jeffrey into 53-degree water.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1214falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-tide-table-that-escaped-the-ocean-first--73079608
Imagine a laminated tide table, found frozen in Vermont, forty miles from the nearest saltwater, while the woman who wrote on it was still lost at sea. How did a piece of paper escape the ocean before the people who needed rescuing did?

In this episode, we uncover the extraordinary journey of a tide table belonging to Kathleen Larsen, a seasoned delivery captain whose vessel, the Harrowgate, went down in the North Atlantic. We explore the events leading up to the capsize and the baffling discovery that sent rescuers to the wrong location.

Person: Kathleen Larsen
Vessel: Harrowgate
Location: North Atlantic
Date: January 3, 2019
Discovery Location: Harwick, Vermont

- A laminated tide table was found three inches below snowpack on Route 7, outside Harwick, Vermont.
- The nearest saltwater was forty miles south of where the tide table was discovered.
- The Harrowgate was a 1987, forty-two-foot cutter-rigged sloop.
- The vessel went down ninety miles east-southeast of Nantucket in thirty-five to forty knots of northwest wind.
- It took thirty-seven minutes for the Harrowgate to go under after being struck by a rogue wave.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079608Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:21 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Tide Table That Escaped The Ocean First Imagine a laminated tide table, found frozen in Vermont, forty miles from the nearest saltwater, while the woman who wrote on it was still lost at sea. How did a piece of paper escape the ocean before the...
Imagine a laminated tide table, found frozen in Vermont, forty miles from the nearest saltwater, while the woman who wrote on it was still lost at sea. How did a piece of paper escape the ocean before the people who needed rescuing did?

In this episode, we uncover the extraordinary journey of a tide table belonging to Kathleen Larsen, a seasoned delivery captain whose vessel, the Harrowgate, went down in the North Atlantic. We explore the events leading up to the capsize and the baffling discovery that sent rescuers to the wrong location.

Person: Kathleen Larsen
Vessel: Harrowgate
Location: North Atlantic
Date: January 3, 2019
Discovery Location: Harwick, Vermont

- A laminated tide table was found three inches below snowpack on Route 7, outside Harwick, Vermont.
- The nearest saltwater was forty miles south of where the tide table was discovered.
- The Harrowgate was a 1987, forty-two-foot cutter-rigged sloop.
- The vessel went down ninety miles east-southeast of Nantucket in thirty-five to forty knots of northwest wind.
- It took thirty-seven minutes for the Harrowgate to go under after being struck by a rogue wave.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1206falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-cargo-manifest-found-nine-days-later--73079607
Imagine nine days adrift in open water, battered by tidal surges and gulf winds, only for a single sheet of paper to be found completely dry. This cargo manifest, discovered on a relay station roof, belonged to the missing boat Connie Rae and should not have existed in that condition, or on that roof at all. How did it get there, and what did it mean for the missing captain?

In this episode, we delve into the mysterious discovery of a dry cargo manifest and the methodical life of Captain Sandra Berry, who meticulously prepared for every eventuality on her "milk run" deliveries. We explore the conditions leading up to the Connie Rae's disappearance and the hidden dangers of the sea that even the most prepared captains could not chart.

Person: Rhonda Burns
Boat: Connie Rae
Date: December third
Location: Keller Bay
Cargo: Forty-one propane cylinders, frozen shellfish, groceries

- The dry cargo manifest was found on the roof of the Durbin Key relay station.
- The Connie Rae was a fifty-two-foot aluminum-hulled supply boat.
- Captain Sandra Berry had been captaining the Connie Rae for eleven months.
- The Keller Bay-Sable Point run was a twelve-mile route.
- A subsurface current, known as "the slide," ran approximately nine feet beneath the hull.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079607Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:18 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Cargo Manifest Found Nine Days Later Imagine nine days adrift in open water, battered by tidal surges and gulf winds, only for a single sheet of paper to be found completely dry. This cargo manifest, discovered on a relay station roof,...
Imagine nine days adrift in open water, battered by tidal surges and gulf winds, only for a single sheet of paper to be found completely dry. This cargo manifest, discovered on a relay station roof, belonged to the missing boat Connie Rae and should not have existed in that condition, or on that roof at all. How did it get there, and what did it mean for the missing captain?

In this episode, we delve into the mysterious discovery of a dry cargo manifest and the methodical life of Captain Sandra Berry, who meticulously prepared for every eventuality on her "milk run" deliveries. We explore the conditions leading up to the Connie Rae's disappearance and the hidden dangers of the sea that even the most prepared captains could not chart.

Person: Rhonda Burns
Boat: Connie Rae
Date: December third
Location: Keller Bay
Cargo: Forty-one propane cylinders, frozen shellfish, groceries

- The dry cargo manifest was found on the roof of the Durbin Key relay station.
- The Connie Rae was a fifty-two-foot aluminum-hulled supply boat.
- Captain Sandra Berry had been captaining the Connie Rae for eleven months.
- The Keller Bay-Sable Point run was a twelve-mile route.
- A subsurface current, known as "the slide," ran approximately nine feet beneath the hull.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1141falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-she-sailed-then-vanished--73079606
Imagine the chilling discovery: a sealed notebook, dry as paper, found floating in the Harwick Inlet. Its final entry, "Lost steering cable," hints at a terrifying ordeal at sea. What happened to Judith Vaughn, the stubborn marine biologist, after she abandoned her sloop and disappeared into the Atlantic?

In this episode, we delve into the disappearance of Judith Vaughn, a seasoned sailor whose meticulous preparation met with unforeseen challenges. We explore the critical decisions made in the face of a failing vessel and the incredible distances her emergency equipment traveled.

Person: Judith Vaughn
Date: November 14, 2017 (notebook found)
Location: Harwick Inlet, Georgia coast
Vessel: Patience Found (40-foot sloop)
Status: Vanished

- Randy Padgett found the notebook at 6:22 AM on November 14, 2017.
- Judith Vaughn was 55 years old and a retired marine biologist.
- Her life raft, rated for six people, drifted for nine days.
- The life raft was found 40 miles from where the ship went down and 112 miles from where the notebook appeared.
- The last logbook entry, made at 3:10 AM on November 5, recorded winds at 28 knots and seas 8-10 feet.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079606Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:15 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook: She Sailed, Then Vanished Imagine the chilling discovery: a sealed notebook, dry as paper, found floating in the Harwick Inlet. Its final entry, "Lost steering cable," hints at a terrifying ordeal at sea. What happened to Judith...
Imagine the chilling discovery: a sealed notebook, dry as paper, found floating in the Harwick Inlet. Its final entry, "Lost steering cable," hints at a terrifying ordeal at sea. What happened to Judith Vaughn, the stubborn marine biologist, after she abandoned her sloop and disappeared into the Atlantic?

In this episode, we delve into the disappearance of Judith Vaughn, a seasoned sailor whose meticulous preparation met with unforeseen challenges. We explore the critical decisions made in the face of a failing vessel and the incredible distances her emergency equipment traveled.

Person: Judith Vaughn
Date: November 14, 2017 (notebook found)
Location: Harwick Inlet, Georgia coast
Vessel: Patience Found (40-foot sloop)
Status: Vanished

- Randy Padgett found the notebook at 6:22 AM on November 14, 2017.
- Judith Vaughn was 55 years old and a retired marine biologist.
- Her life raft, rated for six people, drifted for nine days.
- The life raft was found 40 miles from where the ship went down and 112 miles from where the notebook appeared.
- The last logbook entry, made at 3:10 AM on November 5, recorded winds at 28 knots and seas 8-10 feet.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1211falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-light-was-still-burning-eight-days-adrift--73079605
Imagine being alone at sea for eight days, your radio broken, your engine gone, and the search-and-rescue team looking in the wrong place. Before her rescue, 22-year-old Crystal Lane recorded a message for a man named Melvin Dalton, detailing her boat's location, her crewman's disappearance, and a curious instruction: she left the light on in the nav station. What compelled her to leave a light burning in an empty boat, and what happened during those harrowing eight days?

In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary survival story of Crystal Lane, who was pulled from the southern Gulf of Mexico after eight days adrift. We explore her background as a seasoned sailor, the fateful delivery run of the Cormorant Blue, and the series of events that led to her crewman going overboard and her subsequent struggle for survival.

Person: Crystal Lane
Date: October 13, 2011
Location: Southern Gulf of Mexico
Vessel: Cormorant Blue
Duration Adrift: Eight days

- Crystal Lane was 22 years old when she was rescued.
- She recorded a message on a Sony microcassette recorder before her rescue.
- The Cormorant Blue was a 41-foot ketch.
- The vessel's fuel tanks were filled to 78 gallons, providing a motoring range of approximately 600 nautical miles.
- The EPIRB registration was outdated, pointing to an old address.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079605Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:12 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Light Was Still Burning: Eight Days Adrift Imagine being alone at sea for eight days, your radio broken, your engine gone, and the search-and-rescue team looking in the wrong place. Before her rescue, 22-year-old Crystal Lane recorded a message...
Imagine being alone at sea for eight days, your radio broken, your engine gone, and the search-and-rescue team looking in the wrong place. Before her rescue, 22-year-old Crystal Lane recorded a message for a man named Melvin Dalton, detailing her boat's location, her crewman's disappearance, and a curious instruction: she left the light on in the nav station. What compelled her to leave a light burning in an empty boat, and what happened during those harrowing eight days?

In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary survival story of Crystal Lane, who was pulled from the southern Gulf of Mexico after eight days adrift. We explore her background as a seasoned sailor, the fateful delivery run of the Cormorant Blue, and the series of events that led to her crewman going overboard and her subsequent struggle for survival.

Person: Crystal Lane
Date: October 13, 2011
Location: Southern Gulf of Mexico
Vessel: Cormorant Blue
Duration Adrift: Eight days

- Crystal Lane was 22 years old when she was rescued.
- She recorded a message on a Sony microcassette recorder before her rescue.
- The Cormorant Blue was a 41-foot ketch.
- The vessel's fuel tanks were filled to 78 gallons, providing a motoring range of approximately 600 nautical miles.
- The EPIRB registration was outdated, pointing to an old address.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1183falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-suit-protocol-who-wears-it-when-death-calls--73079603
A notebook, forty-one pages of handwriting, was found completely dry beneath a submerged dock float after more than seventy-two hours in tidal water-a detail that should be impossible. How did this sealed, untouched record of a harrowing ordeal end up in such an unlikely place?

In this episode, we uncover the story of three men aboard a forty-two-foot ketch sixty miles offshore, unprepared for the conditions that would test their limits. The narrative begins with a critical decision about a single dry suit and escalates into a desperate struggle for survival against the unforgiving Atlantic.

Person: Donna Olson
Date: September 14, 2019
Location: Braden Cove, Maine
Vessel: Alva Mae
Status: Submerged notebook recovered

- The notebook was found with forty-one dry pages, despite being submerged for over seventy-two hours.
- Ryan Cooper, a marine inspection technician, had previously flagged the Alva Mae's GPS chartplotter as suitable only for coastal use.
- Todd Farwell purchased his own dry suit for the trip, sized for a man of six feet two inches.
- The Alva Mae departed Rockland on September 11, 2019, with a water temperature of fifty-three degrees Fahrenheit.
- Tom Briggs was in fifty-three-degree Fahrenheit water for eleven seconds after being struck by the boom.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079603Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:09 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Suit Protocol: Who Wears It When Death Calls? A notebook, forty-one pages of handwriting, was found completely dry beneath a submerged dock float after more than seventy-two hours in tidal water-a detail that should be impossible. How did...
A notebook, forty-one pages of handwriting, was found completely dry beneath a submerged dock float after more than seventy-two hours in tidal water-a detail that should be impossible. How did this sealed, untouched record of a harrowing ordeal end up in such an unlikely place?

In this episode, we uncover the story of three men aboard a forty-two-foot ketch sixty miles offshore, unprepared for the conditions that would test their limits. The narrative begins with a critical decision about a single dry suit and escalates into a desperate struggle for survival against the unforgiving Atlantic.

Person: Donna Olson
Date: September 14, 2019
Location: Braden Cove, Maine
Vessel: Alva Mae
Status: Submerged notebook recovered

- The notebook was found with forty-one dry pages, despite being submerged for over seventy-two hours.
- Ryan Cooper, a marine inspection technician, had previously flagged the Alva Mae's GPS chartplotter as suitable only for coastal use.
- Todd Farwell purchased his own dry suit for the trip, sized for a man of six feet two inches.
- The Alva Mae departed Rockland on September 11, 2019, with a water temperature of fifty-three degrees Fahrenheit.
- Tom Briggs was in fifty-three-degree Fahrenheit water for eleven seconds after being struck by the boom.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1257falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-child-s-shoe-nailed-to-the-buoy-a-survivor-s-haunting-secret--73079602
Seventy miles offshore, a child's size four shoe was found nailed to a rusted buoy, its laces tied in a perfect bow, with no missing child reports. How did this impossible detail lead rescuers to a sixty-three-year-old woman clinging to a life raft nine days after her boat vanished?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing events aboard the sailing vessel Ardmore Bell after an unnamed storm tore through the South Carolina shelf. We explore the meticulous notebook entries of a survivor, the unwavering loyalty of a beagle, and the perplexing clues that confounded investigators.

Person: Gloria Campbell
Person: Thomas Eddy
Vessel: Ardmore Bell
Location: South Carolina shelf
Date: August 1st

- A child's size four white canvas shoe was nailed to buoy 14-Foxtrot, 70 miles offshore.
- Gloria Campbell, a 63-year-old marine surveyor, survived 9 days on a life raft.
- The Ardmore Bell, a 38-foot ketch, vanished after a storm with sustained winds of 51 knots.
- Gloria Campbell's rigging knife made a clean, diagonal cut to free the jammed life raft painter line.
- A beagle named Pickett, 14 years old, led his owner to the water on August 9th.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079602Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:06 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Child's Shoe Nailed To The Buoy: A Survivor's Haunting Secret Seventy miles offshore, a child's size four shoe was found nailed to a rusted buoy, its laces tied in a perfect bow, with no missing child reports. How did this impossible detail...
Seventy miles offshore, a child's size four shoe was found nailed to a rusted buoy, its laces tied in a perfect bow, with no missing child reports. How did this impossible detail lead rescuers to a sixty-three-year-old woman clinging to a life raft nine days after her boat vanished?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing events aboard the sailing vessel Ardmore Bell after an unnamed storm tore through the South Carolina shelf. We explore the meticulous notebook entries of a survivor, the unwavering loyalty of a beagle, and the perplexing clues that confounded investigators.

Person: Gloria Campbell
Person: Thomas Eddy
Vessel: Ardmore Bell
Location: South Carolina shelf
Date: August 1st

- A child's size four white canvas shoe was nailed to buoy 14-Foxtrot, 70 miles offshore.
- Gloria Campbell, a 63-year-old marine surveyor, survived 9 days on a life raft.
- The Ardmore Bell, a 38-foot ketch, vanished after a storm with sustained winds of 51 knots.
- Gloria Campbell's rigging knife made a clean, diagonal cut to free the jammed life raft painter line.
- A beagle named Pickett, 14 years old, led his owner to the water on August 9th.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1265falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-life-ring-was-still-in-its-bracket--73079601
A rescue swimmer found a dismasted boat listing to port with three survivors, yet its life ring remained in its bracket, pristine. What could explain this unsettling detail on a vessel that had endured four days of peril?

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing four days in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the Ardent Cross, a thirty-two-foot racing sloop. We uncover how a critical oversight with an emergency beacon sent rescuers to the wrong boat, and explore a dark decision that may have saved-or nearly ended-three lives.

Person: Marcia Wells, Tom Ashby, Diane Sorel, Steven Murphy
Date: July 9, 2019
Location: Gulf of Mexico, Chandler, Florida, Pensacola, Florida
Vessel: Ardent Cross, Meridian Wayfarer
Event: Chandler-to-Tampico Offshore Race

- Marcia Wells, 26, skippered the Ardent Cross for the Chandler-to-Tampico Offshore Race.
- Tom Ashby, 28, the rigger, was dragged into the water and sustained two fractured ribs and a deep laceration.
- Diane Sorel, 31, a marine electronics specialist, inspected the EPIRB but did not verify its digital ID.
- The Ardent Cross was dismasted 90 miles off the Florida coast during a squall with gusts above 50 knots.
- The EPIRB signal, activated by Marcia, led rescuers to the Meridian Wayfarer, a different boat docked in Pensacola.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079601Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Life Ring Was Still In Its Bracket A rescue swimmer found a dismasted boat listing to port with three survivors, yet its life ring remained in its bracket, pristine. What could explain this unsettling detail on a vessel that had endured four...
A rescue swimmer found a dismasted boat listing to port with three survivors, yet its life ring remained in its bracket, pristine. What could explain this unsettling detail on a vessel that had endured four days of peril?

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing four days in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the Ardent Cross, a thirty-two-foot racing sloop. We uncover how a critical oversight with an emergency beacon sent rescuers to the wrong boat, and explore a dark decision that may have saved-or nearly ended-three lives.

Person: Marcia Wells, Tom Ashby, Diane Sorel, Steven Murphy
Date: July 9, 2019
Location: Gulf of Mexico, Chandler, Florida, Pensacola, Florida
Vessel: Ardent Cross, Meridian Wayfarer
Event: Chandler-to-Tampico Offshore Race

- Marcia Wells, 26, skippered the Ardent Cross for the Chandler-to-Tampico Offshore Race.
- Tom Ashby, 28, the rigger, was dragged into the water and sustained two fractured ribs and a deep laceration.
- Diane Sorel, 31, a marine electronics specialist, inspected the EPIRB but did not verify its digital ID.
- The Ardent Cross was dismasted 90 miles off the Florida coast during a squall with gusts above 50 knots.
- The EPIRB signal, activated by Marcia, led rescuers to the Meridian Wayfarer, a different boat docked in Pensacola.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1125falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/six-days-adrift-the-fork-that-saved-a-man--73079600
Imagine being adrift in the vast Pacific, beyond any search area, with no life raft, for six days. Russell Wagner survived this impossible ordeal, but his story isn't about luck; it's about an inexplicable decision made in the final four minutes before his ship sank. What compels a person to grab a stainless steel fork as their world collapses?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing survival of Russell Wagner after the Mira June went down, leaving three crew members lost at sea. Nineteen months later, a piece of debris with a fork embedded in it washed ashore, providing the crucial clue that revealed Wagner's incredible journey and the limits of human endurance.

Person: Russell Wagner
Vessel: Mira June
Event: Shipwreck
Location: Pacific Ocean
Date: May 29th (shipwreck), June 12th (debris found 19 months later)

- The Mira June was 230 nautical miles offshore when a storm hit.
- The mast came down at 3:40 AM on May 29th.
- Sasha Fenn, 26, was swept from the deck and never seen again.
- Russell Wagner had four minutes between realizing the ship was lost and water reaching his boots.
- The piece of marine plywood with the fork traveled over 200 nautical miles.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079600Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:08:01 +0000Creator at ObomediaSix Days Adrift: The Fork That Saved a Man Imagine being adrift in the vast Pacific, beyond any search area, with no life raft, for six days. Russell Wagner survived this impossible ordeal, but his story isn't about luck; it's about an inexplicable...
Imagine being adrift in the vast Pacific, beyond any search area, with no life raft, for six days. Russell Wagner survived this impossible ordeal, but his story isn't about luck; it's about an inexplicable decision made in the final four minutes before his ship sank. What compels a person to grab a stainless steel fork as their world collapses?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing survival of Russell Wagner after the Mira June went down, leaving three crew members lost at sea. Nineteen months later, a piece of debris with a fork embedded in it washed ashore, providing the crucial clue that revealed Wagner's incredible journey and the limits of human endurance.

Person: Russell Wagner
Vessel: Mira June
Event: Shipwreck
Location: Pacific Ocean
Date: May 29th (shipwreck), June 12th (debris found 19 months later)

- The Mira June was 230 nautical miles offshore when a storm hit.
- The mast came down at 3:40 AM on May 29th.
- Sasha Fenn, 26, was swept from the deck and never seen again.
- Russell Wagner had four minutes between realizing the ship was lost and water reaching his boots.
- The piece of marine plywood with the fork traveled over 200 nautical miles.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1260falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-logbook-that-saved-her-but-no-one-read--73079599
Imagine a logbook, waterlogged and salt-crusted, yet every word perfectly legible after 72 hours adrift in the Gulf. This incredible artifact belonged to Rachel Wallace, a marine surveyor the Coast Guard had already stopped searching for. How did this unreadable logbook become the most precise record of survival at sea ever found?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing journey of Rachel Wallace, whose meticulous logbook detailed her eight days alone on open water after her boat, the Meridian Clause, was caught in an unexpected current. We explore how a machine built to save her nearly cost her everything, and how the very thing that almost killed her was not the storm or the lost mast, but a current running exactly as it was supposed to.

Person: Rachel Wallace
Date: May 8th
Location: Pelican Basin Marina
Status: Survived
Event: Solo coastal passage

- Rachel Wallace, a 32-year-old marine surveyor from Sarasota, Florida, meticulously refitted her boat, the Meridian Clause, over 18 months.
- On May 8th, at 6:40 AM, Rachel untied her boat from slip 44 and motored out to open water.
- A storm anchor, a parachute drogue, held her boat stable for 14 hours while an unpredicted Loop Current carried it 61 miles northeast.
- After her mast came down around 2 AM on May 10th, Rachel spent 40 minutes in the dark cutting it free with a handsaw.
- She inventoried 12 gallons of fuel, 8 gallons of fresh water, 4 parachute flares, and 10 days of food, then rigged a sail that gave her 1.5 knots.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079599Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:57 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Logbook That Saved Her, But No One Read Imagine a logbook, waterlogged and salt-crusted, yet every word perfectly legible after 72 hours adrift in the Gulf. This incredible artifact belonged to Rachel Wallace, a marine surveyor the Coast Guard...
Imagine a logbook, waterlogged and salt-crusted, yet every word perfectly legible after 72 hours adrift in the Gulf. This incredible artifact belonged to Rachel Wallace, a marine surveyor the Coast Guard had already stopped searching for. How did this unreadable logbook become the most precise record of survival at sea ever found?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing journey of Rachel Wallace, whose meticulous logbook detailed her eight days alone on open water after her boat, the Meridian Clause, was caught in an unexpected current. We explore how a machine built to save her nearly cost her everything, and how the very thing that almost killed her was not the storm or the lost mast, but a current running exactly as it was supposed to.

Person: Rachel Wallace
Date: May 8th
Location: Pelican Basin Marina
Status: Survived
Event: Solo coastal passage

- Rachel Wallace, a 32-year-old marine surveyor from Sarasota, Florida, meticulously refitted her boat, the Meridian Clause, over 18 months.
- On May 8th, at 6:40 AM, Rachel untied her boat from slip 44 and motored out to open water.
- A storm anchor, a parachute drogue, held her boat stable for 14 hours while an unpredicted Loop Current carried it 61 miles northeast.
- After her mast came down around 2 AM on May 10th, Rachel spent 40 minutes in the dark cutting it free with a handsaw.
- She inventoried 12 gallons of fuel, 8 gallons of fresh water, 4 parachute flares, and 10 days of food, then rigged a sail that gave her 1.5 knots.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1117falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-glove-the-eggs-and-eight-days-adrift--73079598
Imagine a sailboat found adrift, engine running, with a warm breakfast on the galley table and condensation still clinging to a coffee mug. What could cause a seasoned sailor to vanish mid-meal, leaving behind a single green wool glove and an untouched emergency beacon?

In this episode, we uncover the baffling disappearance of Wendy Morgan from her sloop, the Calista Jo, and the chain of events that led to a frantic search and an unexpected survival story. We explore the critical details that sent rescuers in the wrong direction and the one omission that changed everything.

Person: Wendy Morgan
Boat: Calista Jo
Date: April 13-14, 2019
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina
Object: Green wool glove

- A bird-watcher spotted the Calista Jo turning slow arcs roughly 400 yards out from Pelican Flats Marina.
- The boat's engine was running at 700 RPM with a quarter tank of fuel when boarded by a deputy.
- A pan of scrambled eggs with diced pepper was found faintly warm on the skillet in the galley.
- Wendy Morgan held a United States Coast Guard captain's license and had completed an offshore safety course in 2016.
- Tom Eccles brought a six-person ocean life raft aboard the Calista Jo on the morning of April 13.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079598Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:55 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Glove, The Eggs, and Eight Days Adrift Imagine a sailboat found adrift, engine running, with a warm breakfast on the galley table and condensation still clinging to a coffee mug. What could cause a seasoned sailor to vanish mid-meal, leaving...
Imagine a sailboat found adrift, engine running, with a warm breakfast on the galley table and condensation still clinging to a coffee mug. What could cause a seasoned sailor to vanish mid-meal, leaving behind a single green wool glove and an untouched emergency beacon?

In this episode, we uncover the baffling disappearance of Wendy Morgan from her sloop, the Calista Jo, and the chain of events that led to a frantic search and an unexpected survival story. We explore the critical details that sent rescuers in the wrong direction and the one omission that changed everything.

Person: Wendy Morgan
Boat: Calista Jo
Date: April 13-14, 2019
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina
Object: Green wool glove

- A bird-watcher spotted the Calista Jo turning slow arcs roughly 400 yards out from Pelican Flats Marina.
- The boat's engine was running at 700 RPM with a quarter tank of fuel when boarded by a deputy.
- A pan of scrambled eggs with diced pepper was found faintly warm on the skillet in the galley.
- Wendy Morgan held a United States Coast Guard captain's license and had completed an offshore safety course in 2016.
- Tom Eccles brought a six-person ocean life raft aboard the Calista Jo on the morning of April 13.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1185falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-unexplained-bowl-of-fresh-water-on-a-ghost-ship--73079597
Imagine finding a ghost ship adrift in the vast Atlantic, completely empty, save for one baffling detail: a stainless steel bowl, half-full of pure, fresh drinking water, meticulously tied to the stern. This isn't a clue or a signal; it's something far stranger, a window into a harrowing survival story. What could explain such an anomaly on a deserted vessel?

In this episode, we delve into the mystery of the Callie Ann, a seventeen-foot sailboat found abandoned with no crew, no distress signal, and an inexplicable bowl of fresh water. We explore the lives of Julie Hayes, a seasoned marine electrician, and her nephew Connor, tracing their planned voyage and the unforeseen events that led to the boat's discovery.

Person: Edward Russo
Date: March 9, 2017
Location: Heron Shoal, Atlantic Ocean
Vessel: Callie Ann
Object: Stainless steel bowl with fresh water

- A sixteen-year-old spotted the Callie Ann drifting along the south dock of Heron Shoal.
- The Coast Guard boarding crew found a stainless steel bowl with fresh water lashed to the stern cleat.
- The water in the bowl was confirmed by the Coast Guard lab in Beaufort to be uncontaminated, like tap water.
- Julie Hayes was a 44-year-old marine electrician who owned the Callie Ann.
- Her 23-year-old nephew, Connor Hayes, was crewing the Callie Ann on their planned trip.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079597Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:52 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Unexplained Bowl of Fresh Water on a Ghost Ship Imagine finding a ghost ship adrift in the vast Atlantic, completely empty, save for one baffling detail: a stainless steel bowl, half-full of pure, fresh drinking water, meticulously tied to the...
Imagine finding a ghost ship adrift in the vast Atlantic, completely empty, save for one baffling detail: a stainless steel bowl, half-full of pure, fresh drinking water, meticulously tied to the stern. This isn't a clue or a signal; it's something far stranger, a window into a harrowing survival story. What could explain such an anomaly on a deserted vessel?

In this episode, we delve into the mystery of the Callie Ann, a seventeen-foot sailboat found abandoned with no crew, no distress signal, and an inexplicable bowl of fresh water. We explore the lives of Julie Hayes, a seasoned marine electrician, and her nephew Connor, tracing their planned voyage and the unforeseen events that led to the boat's discovery.

Person: Edward Russo
Date: March 9, 2017
Location: Heron Shoal, Atlantic Ocean
Vessel: Callie Ann
Object: Stainless steel bowl with fresh water

- A sixteen-year-old spotted the Callie Ann drifting along the south dock of Heron Shoal.
- The Coast Guard boarding crew found a stainless steel bowl with fresh water lashed to the stern cleat.
- The water in the bowl was confirmed by the Coast Guard lab in Beaufort to be uncontaminated, like tap water.
- Julie Hayes was a 44-year-old marine electrician who owned the Callie Ann.
- Her 23-year-old nephew, Connor Hayes, was crewing the Callie Ann on their planned trip.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1092falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mirror-that-traveled-900-miles-inland--73079596
Imagine finding a military-grade mirror 900 miles inland from the nearest saltwater, with Gulf of Mexico registration stamped on its back and condensation sealed inside. How did this small, two-by-three-inch mirror travel from the vast ocean to a road in Kellerton, Wisconsin?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing journey of Edward Watson, a methodical solo sailor whose delivery of the Celia Ann turned into a desperate fight for survival in the Gulf of Mexico. We explore the sequence of failures that left him adrift and how a single, deliberate choice about a mirror became his last hope.

Person: Edward Watson
Date: February 2011
Location: Gulf of Mexico / Kellerton, Wisconsin
Vessel: Celia Ann
Object: Military-surplus mirror

- A road-grader operator found the mirror on Route 9 in Kellerton, Wisconsin, 900 miles from saltwater.
- Edward Watson, 28, was delivering the 31-foot sloop Celia Ann from Pascagoula to Brownsville, Texas.
- The Celia Ann was knocked past 90 degrees by a refracted wave, causing the mast to punch a hole in the hull.
- Edward spent 40 minutes cutting the mast free and an hour patching the hole with a sleeping bag section and epoxy putty.
- All three flare kits failed due to a leaking locker seam, forcing Edward to rely on the signaling mirror.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079596Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:49 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Mirror That Traveled 900 Miles Inland Imagine finding a military-grade mirror 900 miles inland from the nearest saltwater, with Gulf of Mexico registration stamped on its back and condensation sealed inside. How did this small,...
Imagine finding a military-grade mirror 900 miles inland from the nearest saltwater, with Gulf of Mexico registration stamped on its back and condensation sealed inside. How did this small, two-by-three-inch mirror travel from the vast ocean to a road in Kellerton, Wisconsin?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing journey of Edward Watson, a methodical solo sailor whose delivery of the Celia Ann turned into a desperate fight for survival in the Gulf of Mexico. We explore the sequence of failures that left him adrift and how a single, deliberate choice about a mirror became his last hope.

Person: Edward Watson
Date: February 2011
Location: Gulf of Mexico / Kellerton, Wisconsin
Vessel: Celia Ann
Object: Military-surplus mirror

- A road-grader operator found the mirror on Route 9 in Kellerton, Wisconsin, 900 miles from saltwater.
- Edward Watson, 28, was delivering the 31-foot sloop Celia Ann from Pascagoula to Brownsville, Texas.
- The Celia Ann was knocked past 90 degrees by a refracted wave, causing the mast to punch a hole in the hull.
- Edward spent 40 minutes cutting the mast free and an hour patching the hole with a sleeping bag section and epoxy putty.
- All three flare kits failed due to a leaking locker seam, forcing Edward to rely on the signaling mirror.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1136falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-logbook-found-47-miles-inland-what-happened--73079595
Imagine a red notebook, warm from a transformer pole, found 47 miles inland in Kessler County, Georgia, with no marina nearby. This logbook, which had been at sea just thirteen days earlier, contained sun angles and a sketch of a steel deck cleat. How did it get there, and what secrets does it hold about a search that went wrong?

In this episode, we uncover the astonishing journey of a logbook and the three men aboard the sloop Cora Beth, whose voyage to Nassau, Bahamas, was interrupted by an unpredicted, massive wave. We explore the contradictions in a rescue system that searched the wrong ocean and the unexpected tool that saved a life.

Person: Vernon Russo
Date: January 4, 2004
Location: Brunswick, Georgia
Vessel: Cora Beth
Destination: Nassau, Bahamas

- A utility worker found a red-covered notebook wedged in a transformer pole bracket 47 miles inland.
- The notebook contained drawings of sun angles and a steel deck cleat.
- The search for the vessel was suspended three days before the survivor was found.
- The rescue beacon (EPIRB) drifted 30 miles in the wrong direction.
- A 30 to 35-foot wave struck the Cora Beth on January 6, 2004, at 6:40 PM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079595Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:46 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Logbook Found 47 Miles Inland: What Happened? Imagine a red notebook, warm from a transformer pole, found 47 miles inland in Kessler County, Georgia, with no marina nearby. This logbook, which had been at sea just thirteen days earlier,...
Imagine a red notebook, warm from a transformer pole, found 47 miles inland in Kessler County, Georgia, with no marina nearby. This logbook, which had been at sea just thirteen days earlier, contained sun angles and a sketch of a steel deck cleat. How did it get there, and what secrets does it hold about a search that went wrong?

In this episode, we uncover the astonishing journey of a logbook and the three men aboard the sloop Cora Beth, whose voyage to Nassau, Bahamas, was interrupted by an unpredicted, massive wave. We explore the contradictions in a rescue system that searched the wrong ocean and the unexpected tool that saved a life.

Person: Vernon Russo
Date: January 4, 2004
Location: Brunswick, Georgia
Vessel: Cora Beth
Destination: Nassau, Bahamas

- A utility worker found a red-covered notebook wedged in a transformer pole bracket 47 miles inland.
- The notebook contained drawings of sun angles and a steel deck cleat.
- The search for the vessel was suspended three days before the survivor was found.
- The rescue beacon (EPIRB) drifted 30 miles in the wrong direction.
- A 30 to 35-foot wave struck the Cora Beth on January 6, 2004, at 6:40 PM.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1196falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nine-days-adrift-the-notebook-s-silent-scream--73079594
Imagine finding a waterlogged notebook, its 200 pages completely blank, yet bearing the ghost of frantic writing. This isn't just a lost item; it's a silent scream from the deep, a record of a terrifying ordeal at sea where every word was erased by the ocean. What harrowing events could have led to such a profound loss of a ship's log?

In this episode, we uncover the story of Marcia Griffin and Pete Schofield, who embarked on a seemingly straightforward boat delivery that quickly turned into a fight for survival against an unexpected storm. We explore the critical missteps and unfortunate coincidences that hampered rescue efforts, leaving a young, experienced sailor adrift.

Event: Harlan B. delivery run
Date: December 10, 2014 (departure)
Location: Kellner Point to Tampa Bay
Vessel: Harlan B., 32-foot sloop
Persons: Marcia Griffin (mate), Pete Schofield (crew), Frank Romano (discoverer)

- Frank Romano found a composition notebook eight feet from the waterline at Kellner Point on December 22, 2014.
- The notebook, intended as the ship's log, had 200 pages, all written on but rendered blank by seawater.
- The Harlan B. departed Kellner Point on December 10, 2014, but an unexpected front hit on December 11, 2014.
- Pete Schofield went overboard when the Harlan B. broached, due to a corroded snap shackle on his tether.
- An EPIRB transmitted for only four minutes on December 12, 2014, reporting a position 140 miles northwest of the actual wreck site.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079594Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:44 +0000Creator at ObomediaNine Days Adrift: The Notebook's Silent Scream Imagine finding a waterlogged notebook, its 200 pages completely blank, yet bearing the ghost of frantic writing. This isn't just a lost item; it's a silent scream from the deep, a record of a...
Imagine finding a waterlogged notebook, its 200 pages completely blank, yet bearing the ghost of frantic writing. This isn't just a lost item; it's a silent scream from the deep, a record of a terrifying ordeal at sea where every word was erased by the ocean. What harrowing events could have led to such a profound loss of a ship's log?

In this episode, we uncover the story of Marcia Griffin and Pete Schofield, who embarked on a seemingly straightforward boat delivery that quickly turned into a fight for survival against an unexpected storm. We explore the critical missteps and unfortunate coincidences that hampered rescue efforts, leaving a young, experienced sailor adrift.

Event: Harlan B. delivery run
Date: December 10, 2014 (departure)
Location: Kellner Point to Tampa Bay
Vessel: Harlan B., 32-foot sloop
Persons: Marcia Griffin (mate), Pete Schofield (crew), Frank Romano (discoverer)

- Frank Romano found a composition notebook eight feet from the waterline at Kellner Point on December 22, 2014.
- The notebook, intended as the ship's log, had 200 pages, all written on but rendered blank by seawater.
- The Harlan B. departed Kellner Point on December 10, 2014, but an unexpected front hit on December 11, 2014.
- Pete Schofield went overboard when the Harlan B. broached, due to a corroded snap shackle on his tether.
- An EPIRB transmitted for only four minutes on December 12, 2014, reporting a position 140 miles northwest of the actual wreck site.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1080falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-suit-on-the-fence-ten-days-adrift-three-dead--73079593
A bright orange dry suit, neatly zipped and smoothed, found hanging on a fence 40 miles from water, held a chilling secret: the label inside read NCAN. This seemingly random discovery in Harwick, Louisiana, was a direct link to a harrowing maritime disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, where a sailboat vanished and three lives were lost. How did this suit travel so far inland, and what untold story did it carry from the open sea?

In this episode, we uncover the chain of events that led to the disappearance of the 31-foot sailboat Calvert and the ten-day ordeal of its survivors on a life raft. We explore the critical role of one woman's meticulous preparation and the compounding ordinary failures that turned a routine offshore passage into a fight for survival against a dark, unseeing tanker.

Event: Sinking of the Calvert
Date: November 9, 2014
Location: Gulf of Mexico, 83 miles offshore
Vessel: Calvert, 31-foot sailboat
Survivors: 4

- A 42,000-ton tanker, the Rena Farris, struck the Calvert at 2:47 AM.
- The Calvert sank in less than four minutes, with six people initially on the life raft.
- Kathleen Duncan, a "student" with extensive deep-water experience, had a dry bag with a compass, headlamp, emergency blanket, and 1.5 liters of water.
- The life raft's certified kit included 4 liters of water, a desalination pump, flares, smoke signals, and a VHF radio.
- Survivors rationed 200 milliliters of water per person per day for nearly ten days.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079593Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:41 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Suit on the Fence: Ten Days Adrift, Three Dead A bright orange dry suit, neatly zipped and smoothed, found hanging on a fence 40 miles from water, held a chilling secret: the label inside read NCAN. This seemingly random discovery in Harwick,...
A bright orange dry suit, neatly zipped and smoothed, found hanging on a fence 40 miles from water, held a chilling secret: the label inside read NCAN. This seemingly random discovery in Harwick, Louisiana, was a direct link to a harrowing maritime disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, where a sailboat vanished and three lives were lost. How did this suit travel so far inland, and what untold story did it carry from the open sea?

In this episode, we uncover the chain of events that led to the disappearance of the 31-foot sailboat Calvert and the ten-day ordeal of its survivors on a life raft. We explore the critical role of one woman's meticulous preparation and the compounding ordinary failures that turned a routine offshore passage into a fight for survival against a dark, unseeing tanker.

Event: Sinking of the Calvert
Date: November 9, 2014
Location: Gulf of Mexico, 83 miles offshore
Vessel: Calvert, 31-foot sailboat
Survivors: 4

- A 42,000-ton tanker, the Rena Farris, struck the Calvert at 2:47 AM.
- The Calvert sank in less than four minutes, with six people initially on the life raft.
- Kathleen Duncan, a "student" with extensive deep-water experience, had a dry bag with a compass, headlamp, emergency blanket, and 1.5 liters of water.
- The life raft's certified kit included 4 liters of water, a desalination pump, flares, smoke signals, and a VHF radio.
- Survivors rationed 200 milliliters of water per person per day for nearly ten days.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1208falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-logbook-and-the-hatch-nobody-opened--73079592
Imagine finding a logbook from a vessel lost at sea, bone dry and intact, with a chilling final entry: "J still breathing. Do not open the forward hatch." What could compel a seasoned sailor to write about himself in the third person, and why the urgent warning about a hatch?

In this episode, we delve into the sixteen-day ordeal aboard the Celia Anne, a forty-one-foot sloop that departed Garibaldi, Oregon, with two men and no satellite phone. We explore the perplexing details surrounding its disappearance and the single survivor's return, uncovering a series of events that defy easy explanation.

Person: John Griffin
Vessel: Celia Anne
Departure Date: October 3, 2011
Departure Location: Garibaldi, Oregon
Crew: Two men

- The logbook was found bone dry, not salt-crusted or tide-stained, despite drifting for five and a half hours in the North Pacific.
- The final legible entry in the logbook read: "J still breathing. Do not open the forward hatch."
- The Celia Anne's EPIRB was incorrectly registered to a twenty-six-foot vessel from Depoe Bay, leading searchers eighty miles in the wrong direction for four days.
- John Griffin, 62, had been sailing the Oregon coast for eighteen years, delivering boats for owners.
- The watermaker failed on October 4, leaving the crew with only thirty-one liters of fresh water, enough for approximately eight days at strict rationing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079592Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:38 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Logbook and the Hatch Nobody Opened Imagine finding a logbook from a vessel lost at sea, bone dry and intact, with a chilling final entry: "J still breathing. Do not open the forward hatch." What could compel a seasoned sailor to write...
Imagine finding a logbook from a vessel lost at sea, bone dry and intact, with a chilling final entry: "J still breathing. Do not open the forward hatch." What could compel a seasoned sailor to write about himself in the third person, and why the urgent warning about a hatch?

In this episode, we delve into the sixteen-day ordeal aboard the Celia Anne, a forty-one-foot sloop that departed Garibaldi, Oregon, with two men and no satellite phone. We explore the perplexing details surrounding its disappearance and the single survivor's return, uncovering a series of events that defy easy explanation.

Person: John Griffin
Vessel: Celia Anne
Departure Date: October 3, 2011
Departure Location: Garibaldi, Oregon
Crew: Two men

- The logbook was found bone dry, not salt-crusted or tide-stained, despite drifting for five and a half hours in the North Pacific.
- The final legible entry in the logbook read: "J still breathing. Do not open the forward hatch."
- The Celia Anne's EPIRB was incorrectly registered to a twenty-six-foot vessel from Depoe Bay, leading searchers eighty miles in the wrong direction for four days.
- John Griffin, 62, had been sailing the Oregon coast for eighteen years, delivering boats for owners.
- The watermaker failed on October 4, leaving the crew with only thirty-one liters of fresh water, enough for approximately eight days at strict rationing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1191falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-water-wing-eleven-miles-inland-no-ocean--73079591
A faded orange water wing, smelling of diesel and brine, appeared on a nature trail in Prevost, Louisiana, eleven miles from the nearest saltwater. This seemingly impossible discovery would reopen a federal investigation and reveal a night that claimed one life and nearly three others. How did a water wing from the open Gulf end up so far inland?

In this episode, we explore the mysterious journey of a water wing found in an unlikely location and the harrowing maritime disaster it connects to. We delve into the lives of the four individuals aboard the Marguerite D. and the chain of events that led to a catastrophic fire at sea, leaving survivors clinging to life in the Gulf of Mexico.

Location: Prevost, Louisiana
Date: September 14, 2019
Object: Faded orange water wing
Vessel: Marguerite D.
Crew: Frances Berry, Warren Fitch, Doug Ellerbe, Nina Ellerbe

- The water wing was found on a nature trail in Prevost, Louisiana, eleven miles from saltwater.
- The trail's Sable Creek begins behind a livestock auction house and ends in a retention pond.
- Frances Berry held a Coast Guard captain's license for vessels under one hundred tons.
- The Marguerite D. departed Cocodrie Marina at 6:00 AM on September 11, 2019.
- The EPIRB activated at 12:18 AM, sending a GPS fix accurate to one hundred meters.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079591Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:36 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Water Wing: Eleven Miles Inland, No Ocean A faded orange water wing, smelling of diesel and brine, appeared on a nature trail in Prevost, Louisiana, eleven miles from the nearest saltwater. This seemingly impossible discovery would reopen a...
A faded orange water wing, smelling of diesel and brine, appeared on a nature trail in Prevost, Louisiana, eleven miles from the nearest saltwater. This seemingly impossible discovery would reopen a federal investigation and reveal a night that claimed one life and nearly three others. How did a water wing from the open Gulf end up so far inland?

In this episode, we explore the mysterious journey of a water wing found in an unlikely location and the harrowing maritime disaster it connects to. We delve into the lives of the four individuals aboard the Marguerite D. and the chain of events that led to a catastrophic fire at sea, leaving survivors clinging to life in the Gulf of Mexico.

Location: Prevost, Louisiana
Date: September 14, 2019
Object: Faded orange water wing
Vessel: Marguerite D.
Crew: Frances Berry, Warren Fitch, Doug Ellerbe, Nina Ellerbe

- The water wing was found on a nature trail in Prevost, Louisiana, eleven miles from saltwater.
- The trail's Sable Creek begins behind a livestock auction house and ends in a retention pond.
- Frances Berry held a Coast Guard captain's license for vessels under one hundred tons.
- The Marguerite D. departed Cocodrie Marina at 6:00 AM on September 11, 2019.
- The EPIRB activated at 12:18 AM, sending a GPS fix accurate to one hundred meters.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1160falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lifering-found-adrift-the-disappearance-of-judith-carlson--73079589
Imagine finding a perfectly dry life ring, eleven miles offshore, bearing the name of a vessel no one reported missing. This isn't just a mystery; it's a chilling puzzle that began when Rebecca Novak discovered a barnacle-crusted lifering from the "Marguerite" with no distress call logged. What could this solitary clue reveal about the fate of its owner, Judith Carlson, a meticulous marine surveyor?

In this episode, we delve into the perplexing disappearance of Judith Carlson in the Gulf of Mexico, tracing the events from the discovery of her life ring to the critical details that redirected the entire search. We explore the character of a woman whose competence was her religion and how her precise nature might have played a role in her final, desperate actions.

Person: Judith Carlson
Date: August 19, 2011 (lifering found)
Location: Gulf of Mexico, 11 miles offshore
Vessel: Marguerite (32-foot fiberglass sloop)
Profession: Marine surveyor

- Rebecca Novak found the life ring 11 miles offshore while pulling longline gear.
- The life ring was stenciled with "MARGUERITE / PORT SULPHUR" and was dry inside.
- Judith Carlson, 46, was a marine surveyor for two decades out of Port Sulphur, Louisiana.
- Her EPIRB was registered and tested, and the life ring had been re-sealed two seasons prior.
- On August 14, Judith deployed the life ring as a sea anchor, tied to 50 feet of dock line.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079589Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:33 +0000Creator at ObomediaLifering Found Adrift: The Disappearance of Judith Carlson Imagine finding a perfectly dry life ring, eleven miles offshore, bearing the name of a vessel no one reported missing. This isn't just a mystery; it's a chilling puzzle that began when...
Imagine finding a perfectly dry life ring, eleven miles offshore, bearing the name of a vessel no one reported missing. This isn't just a mystery; it's a chilling puzzle that began when Rebecca Novak discovered a barnacle-crusted lifering from the "Marguerite" with no distress call logged. What could this solitary clue reveal about the fate of its owner, Judith Carlson, a meticulous marine surveyor?

In this episode, we delve into the perplexing disappearance of Judith Carlson in the Gulf of Mexico, tracing the events from the discovery of her life ring to the critical details that redirected the entire search. We explore the character of a woman whose competence was her religion and how her precise nature might have played a role in her final, desperate actions.

Person: Judith Carlson
Date: August 19, 2011 (lifering found)
Location: Gulf of Mexico, 11 miles offshore
Vessel: Marguerite (32-foot fiberglass sloop)
Profession: Marine surveyor

- Rebecca Novak found the life ring 11 miles offshore while pulling longline gear.
- The life ring was stenciled with "MARGUERITE / PORT SULPHUR" and was dry inside.
- Judith Carlson, 46, was a marine surveyor for two decades out of Port Sulphur, Louisiana.
- Her EPIRB was registered and tested, and the life ring had been re-sealed two seasons prior.
- On August 14, Judith deployed the life ring as a sea anchor, tied to 50 feet of dock line.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>956falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notebook-that-sailed-200-miles-alone--73079588
Imagine surviving 23 days adrift in the open ocean with no food, no compass, and no GPS, only to be found 200 miles from where you were last seen. How did a waterlogged spiral notebook, last seen in the Florida Straits, end up in a Georgia tidal marsh 23 days later, and what secret did it hold about a man's impossible survival?

In this episode, we uncover the astonishing story of John Whitley, a diesel mechanic whose precise routines and an extraordinary astronomical observation, made with two broken ribs, guided him to safety after his boat capsized. Discover the critical error in official search efforts and the unique current that defied all operational charts.

Person: John Whitley
Date: August 1, 2014
Location: Georgia coast
Status: Found alive
Object: Spiral notebook

- Emily Henderson found a spiral notebook embedded in mud in a Georgia tidal marsh.
- The notebook was last seen 212 miles away, 23 days earlier, in the Florida Straits.
- Loose paper in open saltwater typically becomes pulp in 72 hours.
- John Whitley was found 30 yards from the notebook, conscious, after 23 days in the water.
- The official search for Whitley was conducted 200 miles in the wrong direction.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079588Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:30 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Notebook That Sailed 200 Miles Alone Imagine surviving 23 days adrift in the open ocean with no food, no compass, and no GPS, only to be found 200 miles from where you were last seen. How did a waterlogged spiral notebook, last seen in the...
Imagine surviving 23 days adrift in the open ocean with no food, no compass, and no GPS, only to be found 200 miles from where you were last seen. How did a waterlogged spiral notebook, last seen in the Florida Straits, end up in a Georgia tidal marsh 23 days later, and what secret did it hold about a man's impossible survival?

In this episode, we uncover the astonishing story of John Whitley, a diesel mechanic whose precise routines and an extraordinary astronomical observation, made with two broken ribs, guided him to safety after his boat capsized. Discover the critical error in official search efforts and the unique current that defied all operational charts.

Person: John Whitley
Date: August 1, 2014
Location: Georgia coast
Status: Found alive
Object: Spiral notebook

- Emily Henderson found a spiral notebook embedded in mud in a Georgia tidal marsh.
- The notebook was last seen 212 miles away, 23 days earlier, in the Florida Straits.
- Loose paper in open saltwater typically becomes pulp in 72 hours.
- John Whitley was found 30 yards from the notebook, conscious, after 23 days in the water.
- The official search for Whitley was conducted 200 miles in the wrong direction.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1232falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-epirb-worked-they-looked-in-the-wrong-ocean--73079587
Imagine surviving two brutal storms at sea, activating your emergency beacon, and then learning rescuers were searching hundreds of miles away in the wrong ocean. This is the harrowing true story of a competent solo sailor, a 31-foot sailboat, and a perfectly working rescue system that sent help to the wrong place. How could a life-saving device lead searchers astray?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible survival tale of a 53-year-old woman whose routine sailing trip turned into a desperate fight for life after her boat was dismasted. We explore the technical glitch that caused a critical misdirection in her rescue, and the improbable series of events that ultimately led to her discovery.

Person: Marie Mason
Date: June 8-15, 2019
Vessel: Doris Ann (31-foot sloop)
Location: Marroway Key, Palmetto Crossing, Florida
Equipment: Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

- Marie Mason had been sailing alone for eleven years on her 31-foot sloop, the Doris Ann.
- She departed Palmetto Crossing Marina on June 8, 2019, for Cordero Bay, a 60-mile trip.
- Her EPIRB, tested according to manufacturer schedule, transmitted correctly but had a firmware error.
- The error redirected her distress signal registration to a different vessel, the Warbler, registered 400 miles away in Beaufort, South Carolina.
- After two storms, Marie Mason cut the mast free with a hacksaw and bolt cutters, then activated her beacon.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079587Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:27 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe EPIRB Worked. They Looked in the Wrong Ocean Imagine surviving two brutal storms at sea, activating your emergency beacon, and then learning rescuers were searching hundreds of miles away in the wrong ocean. This is the harrowing true story of...
Imagine surviving two brutal storms at sea, activating your emergency beacon, and then learning rescuers were searching hundreds of miles away in the wrong ocean. This is the harrowing true story of a competent solo sailor, a 31-foot sailboat, and a perfectly working rescue system that sent help to the wrong place. How could a life-saving device lead searchers astray?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible survival tale of a 53-year-old woman whose routine sailing trip turned into a desperate fight for life after her boat was dismasted. We explore the technical glitch that caused a critical misdirection in her rescue, and the improbable series of events that ultimately led to her discovery.

Person: Marie Mason
Date: June 8-15, 2019
Vessel: Doris Ann (31-foot sloop)
Location: Marroway Key, Palmetto Crossing, Florida
Equipment: Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

- Marie Mason had been sailing alone for eleven years on her 31-foot sloop, the Doris Ann.
- She departed Palmetto Crossing Marina on June 8, 2019, for Cordero Bay, a 60-mile trip.
- Her EPIRB, tested according to manufacturer schedule, transmitted correctly but had a firmware error.
- The error redirected her distress signal registration to a different vessel, the Warbler, registered 400 miles away in Beaufort, South Carolina.
- After two storms, Marie Mason cut the mast free with a hacksaw and bolt cutters, then activated her beacon.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1189falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-birthday-cake-that-sailed-alone--73079585
Imagine a birthday cake, perfectly intact with five candles, floating ashore after a ferry disaster. How did this symbol of celebration survive a shipwreck that claimed lives, and what secrets did its improbable journey reveal about the tragedy?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Arden Crossing ferry, which capsized in 22 seconds, and the unexpected role a child's birthday cake played in the subsequent investigation. We explore the chain of events, from a seemingly routine favor to critical maintenance oversights, that led to the disaster.

Event: Arden Crossing ferry capsize
Date: May 8
Location: Between Pelham and Dunmore Island
Vessel: Arden Crossing
Passengers: 26

- The Arden Crossing rolled onto its side in 22 seconds at 9:37 PM.
- A four-year-old girl, wearing a life jacket, was among the 26 passengers who went into the water and survived.
- A birthday cake traveled four miles through Altamaha Sound in 14 hours, arriving intact on Braden Flats.
- An entry in the vessel's maintenance log from April 27 noted a fault in the automatic float switch on the bilge pump.
- Approximately 400 gallons of water, equivalent to the weight of four adult men, had accumulated in the hull, unregistered by instruments.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079585Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:23 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Birthday Cake That Sailed Alone Imagine a birthday cake, perfectly intact with five candles, floating ashore after a ferry disaster. How did this symbol of celebration survive a shipwreck that claimed lives, and what secrets did its improbable...
Imagine a birthday cake, perfectly intact with five candles, floating ashore after a ferry disaster. How did this symbol of celebration survive a shipwreck that claimed lives, and what secrets did its improbable journey reveal about the tragedy?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Arden Crossing ferry, which capsized in 22 seconds, and the unexpected role a child's birthday cake played in the subsequent investigation. We explore the chain of events, from a seemingly routine favor to critical maintenance oversights, that led to the disaster.

Event: Arden Crossing ferry capsize
Date: May 8
Location: Between Pelham and Dunmore Island
Vessel: Arden Crossing
Passengers: 26

- The Arden Crossing rolled onto its side in 22 seconds at 9:37 PM.
- A four-year-old girl, wearing a life jacket, was among the 26 passengers who went into the water and survived.
- A birthday cake traveled four miles through Altamaha Sound in 14 hours, arriving intact on Braden Flats.
- An entry in the vessel's maintenance log from April 27 noted a fault in the automatic float switch on the bilge pump.
- Approximately 400 gallons of water, equivalent to the weight of four adult men, had accumulated in the hull, unregistered by instruments.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1173falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nine-days-adrift-the-logbook-that-shouldn-t-exist--73079583
Imagine surviving nine days alone on the Gulf of Mexico, only for a single database entry to nearly erase your existence. How did a waterlogged logbook, found tangled in mangrove roots, become the sole witness to a harrowing tale of survival against impossible odds?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible journey of Laura Jones, a marine surveyor who faced a burning trawler, a fouled engine, and a rescue system searching 200 miles in the wrong direction. Discover the critical chain of errors and accidents that kept her adrift and the methodical mind that documented every moment.

Person: Laura Jones
Date: April 6, 2019
Location: Gulf of Mexico
Status: Adrift
Boat: Perseverance (34-foot ketch)

- Laura Jones, 29, was adrift for nine days after her trawler, the Wendell M., caught fire four miles west of Clearwater.
- She evacuated the burning trawler in under four minutes, grabbing her logbook, handheld VHF radio, and dry bag.
- Her EPIRB, registered and current, failed to provide her correct location due to a 200-mile database error.
- Laura had only two liters of water and approximately 1.5 gallons of diesel after her engine failed.
- Her grandmother, Nell, noticed her absence after Laura missed their regular Wednesday visit on April 10.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079583Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:20 +0000Creator at ObomediaNine Days Adrift: The Logbook That Shouldn't Exist Imagine surviving nine days alone on the Gulf of Mexico, only for a single database entry to nearly erase your existence. How did a waterlogged logbook, found tangled in mangrove roots, become the...
Imagine surviving nine days alone on the Gulf of Mexico, only for a single database entry to nearly erase your existence. How did a waterlogged logbook, found tangled in mangrove roots, become the sole witness to a harrowing tale of survival against impossible odds?

In this episode, we uncover the incredible journey of Laura Jones, a marine surveyor who faced a burning trawler, a fouled engine, and a rescue system searching 200 miles in the wrong direction. Discover the critical chain of errors and accidents that kept her adrift and the methodical mind that documented every moment.

Person: Laura Jones
Date: April 6, 2019
Location: Gulf of Mexico
Status: Adrift
Boat: Perseverance (34-foot ketch)

- Laura Jones, 29, was adrift for nine days after her trawler, the Wendell M., caught fire four miles west of Clearwater.
- She evacuated the burning trawler in under four minutes, grabbing her logbook, handheld VHF radio, and dry bag.
- Her EPIRB, registered and current, failed to provide her correct location due to a 200-mile database error.
- Laura had only two liters of water and approximately 1.5 gallons of diesel after her engine failed.
- Her grandmother, Nell, noticed her absence after Laura missed their regular Wednesday visit on April 10.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-chart-nine-days-lost-at-sea--73079582
Imagine finding a perfectly dry tide chart on a roadside, knowing the boat it belonged to had been missing for nine days in waters 140 nautical miles away. This impossible discovery was the first clue that a desperate search for three lost souls was looking in the entirely wrong direction. How could a dry chart lead rescuers to two survivors against all odds?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Ardent Grace, her experienced captain Philip Carver, young crewman Marcus Webb, and biology teacher Denise Bishop, who vanished at sea. We explore the critical decisions, overlooked warnings, and a crucial change in course that led to a search effort miles off target, leaving two people fighting for survival in 34-degree water.

Person: Kevin Petersen
Date: March 14, 2019
Vessel: Ardent Grace
Location: Harwick
Status: Two survivors

- A laminated tide chart was found dry in gravel beside Route Nine, 140 nautical miles from where its boat was lost.
- The Coast Guard spent five days searching the ocean based on an incorrect position.
- Captain Philip Carver, 58, had worked out of Harwick for 30 years and checked weather multiple times.
- Marcus Webb, 26, had flagged a worsening shaft seal leak twice before it failed completely.
- Denise Bishop, 54, a biology teacher, volunteered as crew and found "therapy" in fishing trips.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079582Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:17 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Chart: Nine Days Lost at Sea Imagine finding a perfectly dry tide chart on a roadside, knowing the boat it belonged to had been missing for nine days in waters 140 nautical miles away. This impossible discovery was the first clue that a...
Imagine finding a perfectly dry tide chart on a roadside, knowing the boat it belonged to had been missing for nine days in waters 140 nautical miles away. This impossible discovery was the first clue that a desperate search for three lost souls was looking in the entirely wrong direction. How could a dry chart lead rescuers to two survivors against all odds?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Ardent Grace, her experienced captain Philip Carver, young crewman Marcus Webb, and biology teacher Denise Bishop, who vanished at sea. We explore the critical decisions, overlooked warnings, and a crucial change in course that led to a search effort miles off target, leaving two people fighting for survival in 34-degree water.

Person: Kevin Petersen
Date: March 14, 2019
Vessel: Ardent Grace
Location: Harwick
Status: Two survivors

- A laminated tide chart was found dry in gravel beside Route Nine, 140 nautical miles from where its boat was lost.
- The Coast Guard spent five days searching the ocean based on an incorrect position.
- Captain Philip Carver, 58, had worked out of Harwick for 30 years and checked weather multiple times.
- Marcus Webb, 26, had flagged a worsening shaft seal leak twice before it failed completely.
- Denise Bishop, 54, a biology teacher, volunteered as crew and found "therapy" in fishing trips.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1125falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-watch-that-kept-time-underwater-for-109-hours--73079580
Imagine being adrift in the Atlantic for four days, battered by February swells, only to find your watch still ticking with perfect accuracy. A Seiko on a young woman's wrist kept time for 109 hours straight through a capsized boat ordeal, becoming the sole stable point in a world turned upside down. How could a simple timepiece endure such an extreme test?

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing story of the Celia Rue, a 32-foot sloop that capsized in less than four seconds off the Georgia coast in 2011. We explore the events leading up to the disaster, the survival of two individuals, and the unexpected role a waterproof watch played in holding their story together.

Event: Celia Rue capsizing
Date: February 4, 2011
Location: Off the Georgia coast
Vessel: Celia Rue, 32-foot sloop
Survivor: Jean Farrell

- The Celia Rue went down in under four seconds.
- Jean Farrell's Seiko watch kept perfect time for 109 hours while submerged.
- Jean Farrell was 22 years old and worked at a maritime insurance firm.
- Marcus Webb, 51, owned the Celia Rue for six years.
- Derek Voss, 28, worked as a dental technician and had sailed the Celia Rue twice before.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079580Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:15 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Watch That Kept Time Underwater For 109 Hours Imagine being adrift in the Atlantic for four days, battered by February swells, only to find your watch still ticking with perfect accuracy. A Seiko on a young woman's wrist kept time for 109 hours...
Imagine being adrift in the Atlantic for four days, battered by February swells, only to find your watch still ticking with perfect accuracy. A Seiko on a young woman's wrist kept time for 109 hours straight through a capsized boat ordeal, becoming the sole stable point in a world turned upside down. How could a simple timepiece endure such an extreme test?

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing story of the Celia Rue, a 32-foot sloop that capsized in less than four seconds off the Georgia coast in 2011. We explore the events leading up to the disaster, the survival of two individuals, and the unexpected role a waterproof watch played in holding their story together.

Event: Celia Rue capsizing
Date: February 4, 2011
Location: Off the Georgia coast
Vessel: Celia Rue, 32-foot sloop
Survivor: Jean Farrell

- The Celia Rue went down in under four seconds.
- Jean Farrell's Seiko watch kept perfect time for 109 hours while submerged.
- Jean Farrell was 22 years old and worked at a maritime insurance firm.
- Marcus Webb, 51, owned the Celia Rue for six years.
- Derek Voss, 28, worked as a dental technician and had sailed the Celia Rue twice before.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1057falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/six-days-adrift-the-logbook-s-impossible-secret--73079579
A distress beacon activated off the Georgia coast, signaling a woman lost at sea with a disabled vessel and no GPS. What made this search different for a twenty-two-year veteran search-and-rescue coordinator was that every correct assumption about her location was also wrong. How did a meticulous, experienced sailor vanish from a predictable search grid?

In this episode, we uncover the documented account of Michelle Thorpe's six days alone in the Atlantic after her mast, GPS, and primary radio were lost. We explore the critical details of her preparation, the unexpected event that changed everything, and the baffling logbook entry that held the key to her fate.

Person: Michelle Thorpe
Age: 41
Vessel: Ardent, a 42-foot sloop
Event: Distress beacon activated
Date: January 4th, 11:58 AM

- Michelle Thorpe was an ABYC-certified marine inspector with 27 years of sailing experience.
- She departed Wassaw Sound on January 2nd, provisioned for five days with 40 liters of water and backup equipment.
- On January 4th, a breaking sea hit her vessel, taking down the mast and critical navigation equipment.
- The distress beacon activated at 11:58 AM, sending the Coast Guard into action.
- A logbook, sealed and dry, washed ashore ten days later with coordinates and a cryptic reference to a Tuesday.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079579Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:12 +0000Creator at ObomediaSix Days Adrift: The Logbook's Impossible Secret A distress beacon activated off the Georgia coast, signaling a woman lost at sea with a disabled vessel and no GPS. What made this search different for a twenty-two-year veteran search-and-rescue...
A distress beacon activated off the Georgia coast, signaling a woman lost at sea with a disabled vessel and no GPS. What made this search different for a twenty-two-year veteran search-and-rescue coordinator was that every correct assumption about her location was also wrong. How did a meticulous, experienced sailor vanish from a predictable search grid?

In this episode, we uncover the documented account of Michelle Thorpe's six days alone in the Atlantic after her mast, GPS, and primary radio were lost. We explore the critical details of her preparation, the unexpected event that changed everything, and the baffling logbook entry that held the key to her fate.

Person: Michelle Thorpe
Age: 41
Vessel: Ardent, a 42-foot sloop
Event: Distress beacon activated
Date: January 4th, 11:58 AM

- Michelle Thorpe was an ABYC-certified marine inspector with 27 years of sailing experience.
- She departed Wassaw Sound on January 2nd, provisioned for five days with 40 liters of water and backup equipment.
- On January 4th, a breaking sea hit her vessel, taking down the mast and critical navigation equipment.
- The distress beacon activated at 11:58 AM, sending the Coast Guard into action.
- A logbook, sealed and dry, washed ashore ten days later with coordinates and a cryptic reference to a Tuesday.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1263falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-nine-of-spades-a-message-from-the-drowned-zone--73079576
Imagine a playing card, the nine of spades, found completely dry inside a sealed bag, sixty miles from a missing boat's last known position. This mysterious card carried a crucial navigational fact that eluded a sixteen-day Coast Guard search, leading them to a zone every drift model marked as empty. What secret did this single card reveal about the fate of the Callie Rose?

In this episode, we uncover the chilling details of the Callie Rose disappearance, a routine delivery that veered into disaster due to an uncharted current. Learn how a seasoned captain, a reliable crewman, and an aspiring officer faced a sudden crisis in the Gulf, and the desperate measures taken when their emergency beacon failed.

Case: The Callie Rose disappearance
Vessel: Forty-one-foot ketch
Crew: Monica Holt (Captain), Dennis Farr, Amber Solis
Date of departure: December fourth
Location: Isla Perdida to Cayo Blanco

- Linda Stevens found the foam and playing card on December nineteenth at Harrowfield Marina.
- The Coast Guard search for the Callie Rose had been ongoing for sixteen days when the card was found.
- The Callie Rose departed Isla Perdida at 7:45 AM, with water temperature at 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dennis Farr went overboard at 10:15 AM, and Monica Holt had him back aboard in under four minutes.
- The Callie Rose sank at 11:22 AM, leaving three people on a life raft twelve nautical miles from shore.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079576Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:09 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Nine of Spades: A Message from the Drowned Zone Imagine a playing card, the nine of spades, found completely dry inside a sealed bag, sixty miles from a missing boat's last known position. This mysterious card carried a crucial navigational...
Imagine a playing card, the nine of spades, found completely dry inside a sealed bag, sixty miles from a missing boat's last known position. This mysterious card carried a crucial navigational fact that eluded a sixteen-day Coast Guard search, leading them to a zone every drift model marked as empty. What secret did this single card reveal about the fate of the Callie Rose?

In this episode, we uncover the chilling details of the Callie Rose disappearance, a routine delivery that veered into disaster due to an uncharted current. Learn how a seasoned captain, a reliable crewman, and an aspiring officer faced a sudden crisis in the Gulf, and the desperate measures taken when their emergency beacon failed.

Case: The Callie Rose disappearance
Vessel: Forty-one-foot ketch
Crew: Monica Holt (Captain), Dennis Farr, Amber Solis
Date of departure: December fourth
Location: Isla Perdida to Cayo Blanco

- Linda Stevens found the foam and playing card on December nineteenth at Harrowfield Marina.
- The Coast Guard search for the Callie Rose had been ongoing for sixteen days when the card was found.
- The Callie Rose departed Isla Perdida at 7:45 AM, with water temperature at 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dennis Farr went overboard at 10:15 AM, and Monica Holt had him back aboard in under four minutes.
- The Callie Rose sank at 11:22 AM, leaving three people on a life raft twelve nautical miles from shore.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1273falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sealed-bottle-s-secret-she-never-explained-why--73079522
Imagine finding a sealed bottle from the U.S. Coast Guard, washed ashore 60 miles from where three people fought for survival, one of whom didn't make it. This mysterious bottle, found four days after survivors were rescued, held the only message from a boat that vanished. What secret did its contents reveal about a decision made in the final minutes aboard?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Calliope Gray, a 32-foot sloop that departed Beaufort Inlet for Jacksonville, only to encounter an early cold front. We delve into the lives of the three individuals aboard and the series of events that led to a dismasted boat, a tragic death, and a beacon that sent rescuers 220 miles in the wrong direction.

Event: Calliope Gray disappearance
Date: November 13-19, 2017
Vessel: 32-foot sloop
Location: Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Cape Lookout
Status: One fatality, two survivors

- Paul Slater found an orange plastic bottle with U.S. Coast Guard markings on November 19, 2017.
- The Calliope Gray left Beaufort Inlet on November 13, 2017, for a delivery run to Jacksonville.
- The cold front arrived 14 hours early, hitting 40 nautical miles southeast of Cape Lookout at 2 AM on November 15.
- Connie Peterson, 25, cut the rig free with a hacksaw and bolt cutter in 31 minutes after the mast came down.
- The EPIRB, activated at 4:40 AM, transmitted correctly but sent rescuers 220 miles in the wrong direction.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079522Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:06 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Sealed Bottle's Secret: She Never Explained Why Imagine finding a sealed bottle from the U.S. Coast Guard, washed ashore 60 miles from where three people fought for survival, one of whom didn't make it. This mysterious bottle, found four days...
Imagine finding a sealed bottle from the U.S. Coast Guard, washed ashore 60 miles from where three people fought for survival, one of whom didn't make it. This mysterious bottle, found four days after survivors were rescued, held the only message from a boat that vanished. What secret did its contents reveal about a decision made in the final minutes aboard?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of the Calliope Gray, a 32-foot sloop that departed Beaufort Inlet for Jacksonville, only to encounter an early cold front. We delve into the lives of the three individuals aboard and the series of events that led to a dismasted boat, a tragic death, and a beacon that sent rescuers 220 miles in the wrong direction.

Event: Calliope Gray disappearance
Date: November 13-19, 2017
Vessel: 32-foot sloop
Location: Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Cape Lookout
Status: One fatality, two survivors

- Paul Slater found an orange plastic bottle with U.S. Coast Guard markings on November 19, 2017.
- The Calliope Gray left Beaufort Inlet on November 13, 2017, for a delivery run to Jacksonville.
- The cold front arrived 14 hours early, hitting 40 nautical miles southeast of Cape Lookout at 2 AM on November 15.
- Connie Peterson, 25, cut the rig free with a hacksaw and bolt cutter in 31 minutes after the mast came down.
- The EPIRB, activated at 4:40 AM, transmitted correctly but sent rescuers 220 miles in the wrong direction.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1176falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-recorder-41-hours-adrift-300-miles-lost--73079521
A small yellow dictaphone, crusted with salt and with a bent carabiner clip, was found on a hiking trail on Hatteras Island, 300 miles from where it should have been. It contained 41 hours of audio from a marine surveyor lost at sea, but how did it end up so far from its owner?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of Lori Hamilton, a meticulous marine surveyor who embarked on a solo voyage from North Carolina to the Bahamas. Her journey took an unexpected turn when her catamaran, the Callie Mae, suffered a catastrophic structural failure, leaving her adrift and recording her ordeal.

Person: Lori Hamilton
Vessel: Callie Mae
Date of Departure: October 4, 2019
Location of Departure: Beaufort Marina, North Carolina
Duration of Recording: 41 hours, 17 minutes

- Lori Hamilton, 48, was a marine surveyor for nearly two decades along the Carolina coast.
- She filed a float plan with Sandra Okafor at Beaufort Marina, listing Robert Fitch as her emergency contact.
- The emergency contact number on file was disconnected, a detail that went unnoticed for four days.
- The catamaran's crossbeam failed in under four seconds on the night of October 8, 2019, bringing down the mast.
- The EPIRB activated at 11:47 PM, but its antenna was damaged, sending corrupted coordinates 60 miles off Lori's actual location.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73079521Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:00 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Recorder: 41 Hours Adrift, 300 Miles Lost A small yellow dictaphone, crusted with salt and with a bent carabiner clip, was found on a hiking trail on Hatteras Island, 300 miles from where it should have been. It contained 41 hours of audio from...
A small yellow dictaphone, crusted with salt and with a bent carabiner clip, was found on a hiking trail on Hatteras Island, 300 miles from where it should have been. It contained 41 hours of audio from a marine surveyor lost at sea, but how did it end up so far from its owner?

In this episode, we uncover the harrowing story of Lori Hamilton, a meticulous marine surveyor who embarked on a solo voyage from North Carolina to the Bahamas. Her journey took an unexpected turn when her catamaran, the Callie Mae, suffered a catastrophic structural failure, leaving her adrift and recording her ordeal.

Person: Lori Hamilton
Vessel: Callie Mae
Date of Departure: October 4, 2019
Location of Departure: Beaufort Marina, North Carolina
Duration of Recording: 41 hours, 17 minutes

- Lori Hamilton, 48, was a marine surveyor for nearly two decades along the Carolina coast.
- She filed a float plan with Sandra Okafor at Beaufort Marina, listing Robert Fitch as her emergency contact.
- The emergency contact number on file was disconnected, a detail that went unnoticed for four days.
- The catamaran's crossbeam failed in under four seconds on the night of October 8, 2019, bringing down the mast.
- The EPIRB activated at 11:47 PM, but its antenna was damaged, sending corrupted coordinates 60 miles off Lori's actual location.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1522falsefull