On 25 October 2017, the USS Ashland (LSD 48), an amphibious vessel based in Sasebo, Japan, provided assistance to two pleasure craft in distress. Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiaba - originally from Honolulu - had left Hawaii last spring to join Tahiti with their two dogs. They had suffered engine damage on May 30 due to bad weather and thought they could continue their sailing trip.
After two months of sailing without being able to reach Tahiti and well after their estimated date of arrival, they began to issue distress calls. They continued to do so every day, but were too far away from other ships or coastal stations.
On 24 October 2017, the two women were spotted 900 miles southeast of Japan by a Taiwanese fishing vessel. The Taiwanese fishing vessel contacted the Guam Coast Guard Sector, which dispatched Rescue Coordination Centres in Taipei, Japan and Honolulu.
Operating near the area as part of a routine deployment, Ashland arrived on the scene at 10:30 a.m. on October 25. After determining that the sailboat was unseaworthy, the U.S. vessel picked up the two women and their dogs.
Chief of Command Gary Wise welcomes aboard Jennifer Appel - U.S. Navy picture
"I'm grateful for their service to our country, they saved our lives. We felt so proud and happy when we recognized the Navy. It was pure relief", said Appel.
The two women said they survived on a water desalinator and a one-year food reserve, consisting mainly of dry products such as oatmeal, pasta and rice.
Why did you wait so long to start sending out distress signals? Why didn't you just keep sailing? And why did you bring food for a year's sailing? Questions that remain unanswered... And for which we have no answers yet...
