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Troll Rescue!
On June 10th, Sail Chicago’s SCRIB was scheduled to head from Canal Street Marina to DuSable Harbor. Although it was a bridge lift day for sailboats heading to the lake, the lifts were canceled mid-lift, forcing boats to turn back. Canal Street asked Sail Chicago to clear SCRIB from the docks to make room, but an incoming storm prevented the team from heading to the lake.
Just before 4pm, the storm cell hit Monroe Harbor. The Harrison-Dever Crib recorded 52.5 knots sustained, gusting to 73.7. Word came in that several Colgate jibs had come unfurled and were flapping loose. Worse, Troll, one of Sail Chicago's Rhodes 19s, had been knocked down and hadn't come back up. Help was urgently needed.
A brief window between cells let SCRIB leave Canal Street and head down to the Harbor, with Ben Tucker and James Wyeth navigating.
Meanwhile, Tim Rice, Troll's boat manager, headed out to inspect the damage. He found her knocked down and got her upright — but she was flooded and close to sinking. SCRIB arrived and picked up Maureen Gies to help. With big pumps needed, the team called in the Chicago Police Marine Unit, and Troll was soon back in service.
Maureen Gies, Tim Rice, Ben Tucker, and James Wyeth went above and beyond that night — surveying the fleet, furling loose jibs, and bringing Troll back upright and afloat.
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