Loss of S/V Fantome 

(From the memorial website to the Fantome, no longer online...)

It is with a heavy heart that I relay the news of the loss of S/V Fantome and 31 of her crew members to Hurricane Mitch on October 27, 1998.

Computer models of Hurricane Mitch's track had it moving north toward the Yucatan, Captain Guyan March, a seasoned skipper, and the officers at Windjammer determined that taking cover south of the island of Roatan, would be the safest option  to shield Fantome and her crew from the heavy waves such a storm produces.  However, after reaching what was thought to be a relatively safe position south of the island, Hurricane Mitch defied the experts and took an unexpected turn to the south directly into Fantome's position.  We lost radio contact with Captain Guyan and Fantome at 4:30 pm, October 27.   Mitch remained stationary for nearly 48 hours, hampering any rescue attempts. On October 29th the U.S. Coast Guard along with the British Navy ship H.M.S. Sheffield and private search planes hired by Windjammer began their search.  The  exhaustive search continued for nearly two weeks revealing no sign of the ship or her crew.  All that was found on the island of Guanaja were two of Fantome's life rafts, five of the ship's lifejackets and a set of stairs from the top deck.

The loss of Fantome and her crew has dealt a devastating blow to the Windjammer family, both to those working for the company and to our loyal shipmates who have vacationed with us over the years.  One of the charms of a Windjammer cruise is the crew.  Many of the men and woman have served aboard Windjammer ships for many, many years.  Captain Guyan had been with us for over ten years.  His first mate, Brasso, had been with us for over twenty.  And Onassis, Fantome's second mate, hoped to be promoted to captain once he had logged enough sea time.  There are even generations of families working in the fleet, passing on the traditions and honor of a life at sea from father to son (and daughter).  We will never forget Fantome's brave and loyal crew.  They weren't just bosuns, engineers, deck hands and mates to us, they were close family.  They will be sorely missed.

We'd like to thank everyone who have called and sent kind notes of encouragement. These calls and letters have touched us deeply and have given us the courage to carry on during this very painful time. Each person who chooses a life at sea knows there are risks as well as rewards.

We pray that God now has our crew in his caring arms.  Join us in offering a prayer for these brave men lost at sea and for those who continue in the time-honored maritime tradition.

This tragic event was a devastating blow to the families of the crew, the Windjammer family and the loyal shipmates who have vacationed with us over the years.

We appreciate and thank all of you for the support, prayers and memories that were kindly shared.

She sailed with amazing grace and now sadly, she is gone... in the end, she lost her battle with the seas that once cradled her. She did not go alone... thirty-one heroic men were her defenders, thirty-one heroic men forever loved and mourned. All were consumed by the forces of nature their stories will never be told. We now join together  to remember the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers... wives, sons and daughters.