Friday, May 25, 2012
The Associated Press
HONOLULU - Three family members attempting their first voyage across the Pacific in a sailboat were left adrift in rough seas hundreds of miles from land when their mast broke in high winds.
Just when they thought they were being rescued, seven hours later, the swell from the arriving cargo ship capsized the smaller vessel, tossing the trio into the cold water.
As the sailboat was destroyed, 9-year-old West James prepared for the worst, "'We're gonna sink. We're gonna die,"' the boy said.
Brad James, 32, said Thursday he tried to keep his son calm as they were in the Pacific for about two hours. They were wearing lifejackets and were able to stay afloat as they awaited help.
The father and son, along with Brad's younger brother Mitch James, hit a series of storms while sailing from Mexico to Hawaii.
They contacted the Coast Guard and officials directed a massive cargo ship to the stranded 38-foot vessel.
"They were adrift with no hope of survival," said James Kelleher, the ship's captain.
Things might have seemed to be improving, but instead the nearly 900-foot containership flipped the trio into the ocean in the dead of night. The crews were quickly able to get Mitch James out of the water using ropes. But the father and son were drifting away.
After several failed attempts, the crew threw a rope into the water that Brad James was able to catch.
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