BLAME NOT THE WIND

Very occasionally a tragedy turns into a triumph This wonderful searing book is such a moment Rush to read it & be thankful Miriam MargolyesLast night Ben phoned from Bermuda collect as usual I d asked though heaven knows why as we avoid soppy talk if he still loved me He had said Course I do He would be home for a visit once the race was over He could not say exactly when but would keep in touch It is early June the third day of June to be precise and a day I will never forget Something feels wrong Better get up Shirley s sixth sense was all too real tragedy had struck Ben s ship Marques The government announced that it was a freak accident But something did not add up On 2 June 1984 the British registered tall ship Marques left Bermuda Harbour cheered on by watching crowds With other sailing vessels from across the world the barque was heading for Halifax Nova Scotia having won the first leg of the internationally famous Tall Ships Race As they sailed out to sea there was not a cloud in the sky But by midnight the weather had changed and the seas became violent Just 80 miles from Bermuda things took a turn for the worse the ship lurched and water poured in through the wide open hatches In 40 seconds the Marques had vanished Of