[mervetheswerve]

I have the book, its called "The Strange Voyage of Donald Crowhurst" published in 1970. The authors were Nicholas Tomalin and Ron Hall. In it there is a picture of the trimaran being offloaded from the RMV Picardy on arrival at Santo Domingo.
What a sad end to a very complex and disturbed man.

Hi. I was the Radio Officer on board RMS Picardy when we picked up the Trimaran Teignmouth Electron.
From what I remember. The Yacht was hauled on to no 2 Hatch. We dropped it off in Kingston Yacht club. The Picardy, then went on to Nassau in the Bahamas, where I was interviewed by a reporter from the Nassau Tribunal. I got in to a bit of bother with Captain Box at the time. I don't recall going to Haiti.

Regards,

Mervyn Boone.

 

[mervetheswerve]

Please,

1. Can anybody remember the name of the Royal Mail ship which found the derelict Teignmouth Electron and

2. Where the derelict was landed?

Was the ship Eleuthera? Or Loch Something? I have a vague recollection of being aboard the ship shortly afterwards (inward bound for the Mersey -and probably the Manchester Ship Canal) but I cannot for the life of me recall whether she still had the derelict on board.

My recollection of being aboard the ship is clear enough. It is whether she was still carrying Crowhust's boat which is unclear. Was it landed somewhere in USA?

Maybe a bit late to reply, but the ship was the Picardy. Royal mail ship. I was the Radio Officer on board at the time, when we found the Teignmouth Electron. She was floating about 700 miles southwest of the Azores. We put the Yacht on top on no 2 Hatch and dropped her off in Kingston Yacht club in Jamaica.

Please,

1. Can anybody remember the name of the Royal Mail ship which found the derelict Teignmouth Electron and

2. Where the derelict was landed?

Was the ship Eleuthera? Or Loch Something? I have a vague recollection of being aboard the ship shortly afterwards (inward bound for the Mersey -and probably the Manchester Ship Canal) but I cannot for the life of me recall whether she still had the derelict on board.

My recollection of being aboard the ship is clear enough. It is whether she was still carrying Crowhust's boat which is unclear. Was it landed somewhere in USA?

 

[Spammer]

Hi. I was the Radio Officer on board RMS Picardy when we picked up the Trimaran Teignmouth Electron.
From what I remember. The Yacht was hauled on to no 2 Hatch. We dropped it off in Kingston Yacht club. The Picardy, then went on to Nassau in the Bahamas, where I was interviewed by a reporter from the Nassau Tribunal. I got in to a bit of bother with Captain Box at the time. I don't recall going to Haiti.

Regards,

Mervyn Boone.

Mervyn:

I too was on board the Picardy, I was third engineer, and was the one who first sighted her on the bridge as I was filling in the log. I was also the "seaman" who's photographs were published in the Daily Express and subsequently the book. One correction I may make however is, that we dropped her off in Santa Domingo not Kingston, as that is where the Daily Express took my film from my camera. I do not know how she traveled from Santa Domingo back to the UK. It wasn't on the Picardy for sure.

Cheers:

Geoffrey Ashton

 

[michael charters]

Hi Michael. Did you take over from Stuart> Can't remember his second name. I was the Radio Officer on the Picardy, when we picked up the Teignmouth Electron.
Mervyn Boone.

Peter Marshallwas the electrician I Relived

 

[Spammer]

Please,

1. Can anybody remember the name of the Royal Mail ship which found the derelict Teignmouth Electron and

2. Where the derelict was landed?

Was the ship Eleuthera? Or Loch Something? I have a vague recollection of being aboard the ship shortly afterwards (inward bound for the Mersey -and probably the Manchester Ship Canal) but I cannot for the life of me recall whether she still had the derelict on board.

My recollection of being aboard the ship is clear enough. It is whether she was still carrying Crowhust's boat which is unclear. Was it landed somewhere in USA?

The ship was the RMS Picardy and we dropped her off in Santa Domingo.

 

[Spammer]

#6

Hi, Geoff,

My recollection of events is that the Royal Mail ship hoisted Crowhurst's boat on board, rather than took her in tow.

I seem to recall a photograph, in one of the books, showing the hoist taking place, at sea.

Was it Nicholas Tomalin's book?

The ship might even have been the Somers Isle. Will need to check my own log book - presently in the loft!

PS

Got it (via Google)! It was the Picardy.

PS, yes that was the photograph I took, I still have it in the Daily Express return envelope.
It was a strange episode for sure.
Cheers

 

[mervyn.boone]

Please,

1. Can anybody remember the name of the Royal Mail ship which found the derelict Teignmouth Electron and

2. Where the derelict was landed?

Was the ship Eleuthera? Or Loch Something? I have a vague recollection of being aboard the ship shortly afterwards (inward bound for the Mersey -and probably the Manchester Ship Canal) but I cannot for the life of me recall whether she still had the derelict on board.

My recollection of being aboard the ship is clear enough. It is whether she was still carrying Crowhust's boat which is unclear. Was it landed somewhere in USA?

Hi Barry,
The ship was RMS Picardy.
I was the Radio Officer on Board the ship, when we spotted the Yacht, the Teignmouth Electron floating in the distance.
We were heading from Liverpool to the Bahamas. In 1969 there wasn't a lot of Yachts in the Ocean.
The TE was found 700 miles Southwest of the Azores. The Captain (Box) ordered the ship over to say hello.
We took the Yacht on board on to no 2 Hatch and headed off.
There were telegrams coming and going. We didn't know who the Yacht belonged to for some time.
We were told to drop it off in a Yacht club in the Carribean. I thought it was Kingston, others said it was Haite. We left it there and carried on with our voyage to Nassau in the Bahamas.
I was interviewed by a girl reporter who put an article on the front page of the Nassau Tribube.
It wasn't a good article. I got into trouble over it and had to leave the ship when we returned to Liverpool.
Regards. Mervyn Boone,

 

[pygmalion]

Hi Barry,
The ship was RMS Picardy.
I was the Radio Officer on Board the ship, when we spotted the Yacht, the Teignmouth Electron floating in the distance.
We were heading from Liverpool to the Bahamas. In 1969 there wasn't a lot of Yachts in the Ocean.
The TE was found 700 miles Southwest of the Azores. The Captain (Box) ordered the ship over to say hello.
We took the Yacht on board on to no 2 Hatch and headed off.
There were telegrams coming and going. We didn't know who the Yacht belonged to for some time.
We were told to drop it off in a Yacht club in the Carribean. I thought it was Kingston, others said it was Haite. We left it there and carried on with our voyage to Nassau in the Bahamas.
I was interviewed by a girl reporter who put an article on the front page of the Nassau Tribube.
It wasn't a good article. I got into trouble over it and had to leave the ship when we returned to Liverpool.
Regards. Mervyn Boone,

Hi Mervyn,

I am a 22 year old from the north of England. Though I've never been to sea, I have become very interested in Crowhurst and the Electron recently.

Your comment about your interview piqued my interest too. If you don't mind, why wasn't your interview "good" and why did you get into trouble upon arrival back home? I'd love to hear more.

Best,
Archie Hutchison

 

[mervyn.boone]

Hi Mervyn, I am a 22 year old from the north of England. Though I've never been to sea, I have become very interested in Crowhurst and the Electron recently. Your comment about your interview piqued my interest too. If you don't mind, why wasn't your interview "good" and why did you get into trouble upon arrival back home? I'd love to hear more. Best, Archie Hutchison

Hi Archie, When the Picardy arrived in Nassau, most crew went ashore. I had work to do up on the Monkey Island doing Cables and Batteries etc. A girl reporter came all the way up to the top deck of the ship. She introduced herself. She asked me a few questions, which I replied to. The next day, on the front page of the local newspaper (I think it was the Nassau Tribune) it had an article which said "the ship RMS Picardy which found the Yacht Teignmouth Electron of Donald Crowhurst. The only officer on board was the Radio Officer who was in his Swimming Trunks" I can't remember the exact wording of the article. The Captain (Box) called me down to his Cabin. He told me I had broken the secrecy act and he was going to sue me for defamation of character. I was a little perturbed to say the least. the girl reporter should not have been able to get on board the ship. There is supposed to be a watchman at the Gangway. That was the first thing. Telling her about the Yacht was okay. I didn't break the secrecy act, but Captain Box was raging, as it made the ship look in a bad light saying I was the only officer on board. That probably was why he took a hissy fit. he had a copy of the newspaper. I have tried for years to try and get that article, but to no avail. When we headed back to Liverpool. The captain called me into his Cabin. He said, I have decided not to press charges against you, but I want you off the ship. When we got into Liverpool, I went to the Marconi office and explained what had happened. They said not to worry. I went home for a couple of Weeks and then back out on another Ship. Hope that clears things up. Best wishes, Mervyn

 

[mervyn.boone]

Mervyn: I too was on board the Picardy, I was third engineer, and was the one who first sighted her on the bridge as I was filling in the log. I was also the "seaman" who's photographs were published in the Daily Express and subsequently the book. One correction I may make however is, that we dropped her off in Santa Domingo not Kingston, as that is where the Daily Express took my film from my camera. I do not know how she traveled from Santa Domingo back to the UK. It wasn't on the Picardy for sure. Cheers: Geoffrey Ashton

Hi Geoffrey, I believe you are right. I was in touch with Stuart Davenport, who was the Electrician on board the Picardy at that time. I have been searching for an article that was printed in the Nassau tribune about the finding. Maybe you have a copy? A girl reporter came aboard and found her way all the way up to the Monkey Island. I was working on Aerials and Batteries and as it was roasting, I was in my Swimming trunks. She introduced herself and asked me a few questions. I thought nothing more about it. The next day Captain Box called me down to his Cabin. He was furious he said I had broken the secrecy act and was going to sue me for deformation of Character. I was only 20 yo. The article went something like the Teignmouth Electron sailed by Donald Crowhurst was found abandoned by RMS picardy in the Atlantic. The only officer on board was the Radio Officer, who was in his Swimming trunks. I have been searching for that article for years and have had no joy. However, nice to be in contact with another member of the Crew. Hope you are keeping well. Best wishes, Mervyn.

 

[Spammer]

Hello Mervyn, good to hear from you. That whole Picardy episode was such a long time ago but fun to look back on. I got my photos in the Daily Express which was a “wow” for a fourth engineer back then. Can’t say I saw the article you spoke about, and I am lucky I wasn’t called to see the old man. All is well with me I am retired and live in Carmel California. Life is good.

 

[mervyn.boone]

Hi, Thanks for the reply. Must be lovely out there. All we have here is cold and Rain. I live in Belfast. I still am in touch with Stuart Davenport (the Electrician) on Board the Picardy at that time. I told him what happened about the newspaper article and my getting admonished by Captain Box, but he doesn't have a copy of the newspaper. Enjoy Carmel. Did you see Clint Eastwood? wasn't he the Governor at one time? Best wishes.

 

[Spammer]

Thanks Mervyn, Clint was our Mayor for a while but he still lives here and is seen often around the town. It was Arnold Schwarzenegger who was the Governor, but he is down in Los Angeles a good 350 miles from me. I will keep eye out for your newspaper article it may turn up.

 

[mervyn.boone]

Hi Geoffrey,
I actually have the book "the strange voyage of Donald Crowhurst". I never read it, but look up some of the articles. There was the Photo of the Yacht being hoisted aboard the Picardy.
Also it said in the book the Yacht was off loaded in Santo Domingo. Maybe I should have taken more notice of the information in the book.
I did see the film "The Mercy" with Colin Firth and the Electrician Stuart Davenport was talking to him as regards the Picardy.
Would like to see the film again. There was a previous film not sure what it was called, think it was Deep water, but can't be sure.
Best wishes.
Mervyn.

 

[Spammer]

Hi Geoffrey,
I actually have the book "the strange voyage of Donald Crowhurst". I never read it, but look up some of the articles. There was the Photo of the Yacht being hoisted aboard the Picardy.
Also it said in the book the Yacht was off loaded in Santo Domingo. Maybe I should have taken more notice of the information in the book.
I did see the film "The Mercy" with Colin Firth and the Electrician Stuart Davenport was talking to him as regards the Picardy.
Would like to see the film again. There was a previous film not sure what it was called, think it was Deep water, but can't be sure.
Best wishes.
Mervyn.

Mervyn:

Yes those photos were the ones I took and the Express got them from me. I also took photos of the three logs he kept, the false one, the real on and the radio log but they never used them.
The film was good and very true and the recreated us picking the yacht up with the jumbo very well. The book is with a read as well.
Hope you are keeping well.

Cheers.

 

[mervyn.boone]

Mervyn:

Yes those photos were the ones I took and the Express got them from me. I also took photos of the three logs he kept, the false one, the real on and the radio log but they never used them.
The film was good and very true and the recreated us picking the yacht up with the jumbo very well. The book is with a read as well.
Hope you are keeping well.

Cheers.

Thanks Geoffrey.
Must make an effort to read the Book. I have had it about 30 years. I love books and buy them, but they just ac***late in my book shelf. I left the sea in 1979.
Lovely to hear from you.
Best wishes.
Mervyn.