Tow-BoatUS tow sailboat into Blue Heron Bridge Florida breaking mast, refuse to accept Responsibilty or Liability.

After months of preparation, Penelope and Bazza set sail from home port Nassau, to cruise the US Eastern Inland Waterway.

Day 2 of proposed 360 day cruise the engine gave a warning and was turned off, after checking the engine it would not restart.

Being member of Tow-BoatUS we contacted them by cell phone when in range of a tower and asked for assistance as we could not enter a port without an working engine.

Tow-BoatUS/Palm Beach picked us up off Fort Lauderdale and towed us to Palm Beach.

On entering Palm Beach inlet the Tow-BoatUS Captain towed us into the Blue Heron Bridge at approx 6 knots, breaking the mast and completely disabling the boat.

Immediately after being towed under the bridge the Tow-BoatUS Captain and his land based Senior Captain admitted Responsibilty and Liability, saying that we were not to worry and that they would fix everything.

2 days later the local Tow-BoatUS Owner/Operator came and said that he would not accept any Responsibilty or Liability for the accident. He made a comment that on the day and time the accident occured the Moon was closest to the Earth and the tides were the highest they had been in 18 years.

We contacted the US Coast Guard the next day and were asked to file a report of the incident as Tow-BoatUS had not reported the incident to them as required by Law.

The published clearance at the "Blue Heron Bridge" Lake Worth Inlet is 65ft. 

My sailboat Mast Height above the water line is 64ft, with tri-light.

The engine problem was a faulty reconditioned starter motor which was replaced by a spare starter carried on board.