With daylight and high tide quickly disappearing, it looked as if the Alabama would remain stuck until the following day. Just as I was about to leave, the tugboat Gwendolyn arrived, providing hope that the schooner would be freed shortly. When all else fails, bring in the big guns.
I was certain this was the solution; the tug had more than enough strength to pull the ship free. But the brute force of the tug could not overpower its weakest link. Three times, a towline was attached and the Gwendolyn dug in hard with all its might. Like the sound of a whip cracking, the towline broke all three times. The optimism was short lived.
The sun was down; the tide was ebbing; and the tug was out of rope. It was time to call it a day.
Black Dog Tallships: Alabama
Soundbounder: Alabama Aground I
Soundbounder: Alabama Aground II
New London Day: Schooner Runs Aground Near Mystic
Soundbounder: Alabama Aground IV
Soundbounder: Alabama Afloat
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