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DocBrauer · 24-12-2020, 21:48

Mike and Marie are sailors who are friends of ours. We have met them many times while travelling around the world. Mike Gee is from the UK and Marie is from the Philippines.

Dear friends. Does anyone have a contact that can help Mike and Marie in the Solomon Islands? Sailor friends, please share this. Thanks and Merry Christmas! Thom

SUPPORT FOR SAILORS DETAINED IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AFTER SEEKING REFUGE WITH ENGINE AND WATERMAKER FAILURE

Christmas is going to be tough for many people this year, but the situation Mike and Marie find themselves in is exceptionally distressing - locked up in a jail cell, no contact with the outside world, the whereabouts of their pet cat unknown, and their boat and floating home impounded and unattended in an unsafe anchorage.

Mike and Marie were on passage from Fiji towards Indonesia on their UK registered sailing boat 'ROKE' earlier this month when they suffered an emergency with engine and watermaker failure while located near The Solomon Islands. They had decided to leave Fiji before cyclone season fully got going and make their way back to Marie's home country of The Philippines to complete their circumnavigation. Despite his best attempts, Mike was unable to make the repairs at sea, and as the route ahead would be plagued by calms, decided it would be unsafe to continue without mechanical propulsion or sufficient drinking water and that they needed to seek shelter to try and effect proper repairs before continuing. Mike was aware that due to the COVID pandemic and limited health resources, the Solomons were in a state of emergency, but was hopeful a safe haven would be granted to his vessel in distress for a short period of time. They had no intention of going ashore and were no health risk to the local population as they had been at sea for 2 weeks.

All effort was made to notify the authorities in the Solomon Islands in advance about their equipment failure and to ask for permission to enter the territorial water and carry out the repairs in the safety of a protected anchorage. With only a Garmin Inreach onboard, Mike was able to send a message to his friend in Fiji who then emailed the authorities in the Solomon Islands on his behalf. Mike also continued to try and reach the coastguard via VHF as they approached the coast and made sure their AIS was transmitting. No replies were received to any of the requests.

After anchoring in a protected bay with their Norwegian buddy boat alongside, they were later escorted by the police to an unprotected anchorage off the town of Honiara and prevented from leaving. In the weeks since they have been kept detained while under investigation for entering the country illegally. Assistance has been provided by the British Deputy High Commissioner who managed to organise a local SIM card and a drinking water delivery to them on board at anchor. Mike has successfully made the repairs and SV ROKE is ready for sea. Unfortunately, a few locals tried to board the boat in the middle of the night last week but Mike managed to stop them.

Having provided several negative COVID test results, Mike and Marie have now been summoned to court. The British Deputy High Commissioner continues to try and assist them, but the future is very uncertain.

The latest update I received from Mike a few hours ago is as follows:

* They have been taken off the boat and are now detained in jail (see photos) while they wait for the court case to be heard in several days time.

* Their boat has been impounded and is left unattended in the unprotected anchorage off Honiara. Mike fears the worst now they are not on board.

* He is unsure if they will be able to afford the lawyer's fees and concerned the case will be negatively affected by local media speculation

* Their phones are about to be confiscated so they will not have any contact with the outside world for the time being.

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The situation Mike and Marie find themselves in this Christmas has escalated quickly and turned into a nightmare. Mike has asked me to share their story to try and raise some publicity in the hope it might help them in their plight. I have pieced this account together from the sporadic messages Mike and Marie have managed to send me and other friends over the last couple of weeks and it is correct to the best of my knowledge. I am currently unsure of the status of their Norwegian friend on the buddy boat.

Perhaps someone that reads this has a contact in the area that could help them, particularly at this stage on practical matters like keeping an eye on their boat. Any other legal assistance is also appreciated. There is a real risk they will lose not only their floating home but also their freedom. Thank you in advance.