What was to be a sailing holiday for a Shuswap man morphed into a misadventure and a grueling test of survival skills.

With decades of sailing experience behind him, Don Cavers, 77, left Colombia solo in early December, his intention to meet his son in Puerto Rico and spend the winter in the Caribbean islands on the way to Bermuda.

Colombia has no marine industry, however, so he had been unable to get anyone to inspect the sailboat he had purchased essentially sight unseen.

Cavers, retired, lives in Blind Bay and was the former owner of the Golden Ears Farm and Fruit Stand in Chase.

On the second day of his fateful trip, he encountered four to four-and-a-half metre seas and the boat began taking on water. The bilge pump failed so, over the course of that night, he had to bail several hundred gallons of water in 12-foot seas.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing what the body will do when it has to B次元官网网址� it really is,B次元官网网址� he said.

The next day the boatB次元官网网址檚 whole electrical system failed, so he was left with no communication, no navigation, no nothing.

He hand-steered for two days, B次元官网网址渓ong, long, long hours.B次元官网网址�

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When Cavers reached somewhat calmer seas B次元官网网址� two to three metres, he was able to go below on the boat and get the auto pilot working. He turned his attention to the rest of the system, but wasnB次元官网网址檛 successful.

And then, B次元官网网址淚 basically fell into an exhausted sleep at a very bad time, as it turned out.B次元官网网址�

Cavers was rudely awakened in the pitch darkness when the sailboat crashed onto a reef.

At first he thought he could get it off the reef when the motor started with help from an auxiliary battery. However, the rudder caught and tore the stern open.

B次元官网网址淭hen it went down pretty quickly.B次元官网网址�

As was apparent throughout the trip, Cavers did not panic B次元官网网址� although he admits the next hour was particularly dicey.

B次元官网网址淚f the life raft had got torn on the reef it would have been a very different situation.B次元官网网址�

He had time to grab a bag, a handheld radio, an emergency locator beacon, a little bit of food B次元官网网址� nacho chips and crackers B次元官网网址� and lots of water. He launched his dinghy and the life raft, hoping to stay with the boat. However, the boat was thrashing around too much and the waves were too big over the reef so he was at the mercy of the winds. He also had to cut the line to the dinghy when it snagged on the reef.

Cavers had spent three days floating in the raft when he discovered the beacon hadnB次元官网网址檛 been sending out a satellite signal, but he was able to fix it. It was around that time his oldest son Tristan and his daughter Annelise had been making queries to Search and Rescue at CFB Trenton and Boatwatch.org. Both were helpful and, as it turned out, Trenton was able to locate his signal.

Cavers was unaware at that time the odds of anyone being found in similar scenarios are apparently exceedingly low.

B次元官网网址淥ne in a hundred they actually have a successful rescue.B次元官网网址�

Asked how he was feeling at that time, he said he knew he would eventually get to land the way the winds were blowing, and he knew he had enough water to get there. He was glad it was warm because he just had the shorts and T-shirt he was wearing, plus a rain jacket he had grabbed. It was a challenge to stay dry and he had been wet for 12 days when he was rescued.

B次元官网网址淭he biggest worry was that I knew people would be worrying about me. And the fact I didnB次元官网网址檛 have a clue where I was,B次元官网网址� he said, pointing out he had been sailing for six days with only a compass.

He was also concerned he might end up drifting down the whole length of the Gulf of Mexico, which could take two more weeks.

Having finished the nacho chips and with just a few crackers left, he was pleased to figure out how to catch little fish with the drogue or sea anchor that stabilizes the raft. He had six fish for breakfast on the fifth day.

B次元官网网址淟ittle fish, mind you, but fish.B次元官网网址�

On the sixth day he was dozing when he heard a shipB次元官网网址檚 whistle, usually a signal for smaller vessels to get out of the way.

He grabbed his radio and some flares, telling the huge 225-metre bulk carrier which appeared that he couldnB次元官网网址檛 get out of its way.

And this part of the experience has been the hardest for him to talk about without emotions pausing the story.

B次元官网网址淭hey said, thatB次元官网网址檚 OK, weB次元官网网址檙e here to pick you up. Which was pretty welcome news.B次元官网网址�

Cavers remarked on the incredible seamanship of the Filipino crew, who brought the vessel, which was longer than a football field, right alongside so they could drop a rope to him. With some difficulty, his weak legs were able to carry him up a rope ladder to the deck.

There he was welcomed and fed well B次元官网网址� delicious chicken and gravy, as well as sashimi that day.

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Cavers said he lost about 15 pounds in 12 days, which included time spent on the boat when he wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to cook.

B次元官网网址淚 was doing more work than I was wanting to be doing on a holiday. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great way to lose weight and, if you ever need to soften up your toenails, itB次元官网网址檚 the perfect solution,B次元官网网址� he laughed.

Asked if he ever gave up hope, he said, nope. B次元官网网址淏ecause if you do, youB次元官网网址檙e not going to do smart things anymore. I never got to that point.B次元官网网址�

He said the experience has left him with a new appreciation for his family and how valuable each day is.

Cavers has lived through a few misadventures in his lifetime, one many years ago when he was a private pilot. Then, a fuel line on his plane broke and he emergency-landed in a vacant lot in Kelowna.

This time, his adventure ended at the airport in Kelowna, where his family picked him up. He said with a smile that his daughter is not too mad at him anymore B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚 think sheB次元官网网址檚 calmed down a bitB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� and he will be enjoying his grandchildren and taking it easy for a while, at least for the rest of the winter.