John Campbell’s North Pacific Rescue

When a North Pacific gale rolled April Alice, John Campbell relied on preparation, an inReach SOS, and expert rescue seamanship to stay alive.

By
Pamela Bendall
-
11
Disabled April Alice. (Photo/ U.S. Coast Guard)

Clip on your safety tether. Far out in the North Pacific, solo sailor John Campbell was about to face the kind of ordeal most mariners hope never to encounter. The Vancouver Island, British Columbia sailor was voyaging from Hilo, Hawaii, to Vancouver aboard his Vancouver 27, April Alice, when an otherwise familiar passage became a nightmare. I have heard and read many accounts of survival at sea; few compare with his.

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Pamela Bendall
Pamela Bendall
https://www.pamelabendall.com/
Pamela Bendall has an extensive nautical background with over 200,000 miles of ocean adventures since she began sailing in 1980. In 1986, Pamela and her former husband and two young boys ages 4,10 circumnavigated the Pacific to New Zealand and Japan and most of the islands in between using only a sextant and mathematical reduction tables. She began sailing offshore solo in 2008, taking her boat Precious Metal from Victoria, Canada to Mexico, Peru, Galapagos and throughout Central America. Pamela has her Masters 60 ton Captains license, CYA Seamanship and Navigation Certification, and owned and operated her own sailing charter business Precious Yacht Charters in northern British Columbia and Alaska. She has extensive ocean racing experience including the Victoria-Maui Race and Marblehead and was Chairperson of the Vic-Maui from 2002-2008. She has authored two sailing-related books: Kids for Sail, and What Was I Thinking: Adventures of a Woman Sailing Solo. Pamela and her partner Henry Robinson are currently living aboard their Fountaine Pajot 43-ft. catamaran in Central America and Mexico for Canadian winters and aboard their 40-ft. Ocean Alexander Quetzal in British Columbia, during Canadian summers.

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11 COMMENTS

  1. Well written and a frightening story. I’ve sailed from Maui to Victoria and encountered 35+ knot winds just off Vancouver Island. But at least I was one of three on board in a 38 ft boat. I don’t want to imagine doing that in a Vancouver 27. Stoutly built boat, and ideal for off-shore work single handed, but not my cup of tea anymore. Bravo to Jim for enduring.

  2. Such amazing seamanship and human kindness and compassion from the crew of Silver Whisper. I surely hope the ship’s crew received some sort of commendation from the Coast Guard or someone. Amazing endurance from Jim and I’m happy he was so well prepared. This story has prompted me to consider Garmin inreach as an essential piece of safety equipment.

  5. While I recognize the legal obligation to assist, in addition to the two brave crew who jumped to assist, the captain, the entire crew, and the passengers of that ship deserve our respect and gratitude. While it was in no way comparable to Mr. Campbell’s suffering or risk to life, the diversion into that storm likely wrecked their cruise.

  6. My hats off to the captain and crew of the Silver Whisper, especially the two crew members that jumped aboard with Mr. Campbell and got him back alive. Job well done and well beyond the call of duty!! Silver Seas deserves an atta-boy for hiring such great personnel. It elevated their organization on my list of cruise companies. I’ll definitely consider them for a Alaska cruise.