For all of you in the USA...This Thursday (21st) night at 7:30 EST, watch the Weather Channel's program, Storm Stories. This story is about the Gloucester pilot boat "Can Do" and it's captain, Frank Quirk, and crew. The "Can Do" went down with all aboard during the February Blizzard of '78, while responding to a mayday call from the ship "Global Hope".
Captain Quirk (with the "Can Do") pulled our 36 ft. sailboat off Front Beach in Rockport after it had washed ashore during a northeaster, Sept. 1977. He was a true gentleman, knew his job well, and never flinched when someone was in need of assistance. The "Can Do" was his pride and it was evident when we visited aboard. A magnificently maintained vessel.
Last February, I went to a lecture and book signing by Michael Tougias, author of "Ten Hours Until Dawn", The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do. A riveting account of that fateful night without resorting to sensationalism. During the lecture, the tapes of the actual communications from the Can Do were played. It was tough to listen to that again. Most of us were listening to our scanners the night the Can Do and crew were lost. Many calls were about the whereabouts and condition of the Can Do and crew. Actual one on one communications were limited to just a couple radio operators onshore, but messages were being relayed from those people to others and to the Coast Guard in Gloucester.
Remember to watch....Thursday, Dec 21 at 7:30 on the Weather Channel's Storm Stories.
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