Queen City To the Rescue

Today was to be the start of our cruise South, then north. But it didn't happen. We are back at the Outstation with a bilge full of oil (none in the engine), following what sounded like a small explosion in our starboard engine. We came back on one engine and the help of many, many wonderful QCYC members. Here's what happened: All gauges were normal, until we noticed that the rpm gauge on the bridge wasn't functioning, followed by what sounded like pressure being released. Larry went down to investigate, turned the engine down, then opened the engine room door and was greeted by the explosion. He was not hurt. We believe oil hitting the hot engine caused copious smoking, which set off the fire alarms. None of our other alarms went off, and we have a lot of them. Calmly, Larry told me to come down, explained the situation and asked me to call the CG to advise them of our situation. As soon as I called Pan Pan on the radio, the Coast Guard responded immediately, as did three QCYC yachts that were in front of us: Chuck and Jan Gould, Dick and Teri McGrew, and Mike and Aileen Paull, all turned around from their course and hovered around us ready to help. After determining we had no fire and were not taking on water, Larry started the port engine to return to the OS. Chuck escorted us to Restoration Point, and was then relieved by Dale and Susie Roberts, who escorted us into the harbor. In the meantime, telephone calls were going back and forth to set things up for us at the OS. Big Brivet doesn't dock well on 1 engine. She's big and heavy and doesn't want to turn the way we needed to turn.. At the OS, we were met and assisted by Denny Ward, who helped push us into the dock with his dinghy, and Terry Schock, Mike Hillman, Bill McGillin, and Kyle Bixby with boathooks and helping hands. They all did a great job, and the experience for us was truly a Queen City moment, for which we are very grateful. Thank you all. Larry and Dorothy Dubia Big Brivet