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It was three years before the Ernestina
returned to the United States. In 1951 she was dismasted in heavy seas
sailing between Fogo and Santiago while taking two American girls to
Dakar for visas. The falling spar nearly killed Henrique.
A small boat was was rowed ten miles to Brava by crewmember,
Antonio Fernandez, to obtain help. An SOS was then telegraphed
to other islands and the Madalan
rushed to tow her safely to port. The Senhora da
Areias then towed Ernestina to Mindelo where she waited
nine months for new masts from Portugal. When they finally
arrived, George Karontonis, a Greek who had settled in Cape
Verde, arranged for Ernestina to go alongside a visiting
Danish ship and use her booms to raise the masts. The two masts
were transported over by Coal
Barge no. 49 of the Miller Company and within one day both masts
were stepped; one before lunch and one in the afternoon. |
Ernestina
alongside in Mindelo waiting for masts
Photo by Marcelino |
Pedro Evora, who up until then had been
Ernestinas captain, had a disagreement with
Henrique Mendes, so Lucino Fortes was made skipper on the
day the new masts were raised. Capt. Fortes subsequently
took the Ernestina to Dakar with cargo and
passengers during a calm voyage where passengers could
remain on deck. Upon his return, Capt. Fortes was offered
a permanent position with the Shell Company, which he
accepted.
In late 1952 Ernestina, working
again, took students from Fogo and Brava to the high
schools in Praia and Mindelo; but it was too late to make
a trip to the United States.
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