Tribute to Laura
This page is intended to be an on-going tribute to the life of Laura Gainey, our shipmate and friend whose spirit and dedication inspired all who knew her.
If you would like to share your memories of Laura, please email us at castle@tallships.ca.
A Terrible Loss
On Friday, December 8, the Barque Picton Castle encountered gale force conditions while on passage from her homeport of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to the West Indies. At approximately 2200, the ship’s decks were overwhelmed by an unusually large wave and crew member Laura Gainey of Montreal, Canada, was swept overboard. The ship immediately stopped, deployed life saving gear, and employed all of its extensive emergency and communications equipment in the call for assistance.
Search and rescue efforts began immediately. Assisted by fixed wing aircraft from the Canadian and United States Coast Guard, as well as two merchant vessels, the Picton Castle, her captain and crew scoured the Atlantic for four days without respite in hopes of finding their shipmate. Their search was suspended December 12.
The Picton Castle is currently heading southward to calmer, safer waters where our crew can get some much-needed rest and the time and space to grieve. We are fiercely proud of their performance during this most trying ordeal. We pray the ocean, which has recently been so cruel, will also help them to heal.
The entire extended Picton Castle family extends its deepest sympathies to the family of our beloved shipmate Laura Gainey. Laura joined the Picton Castle at Cape Town, South Africa for the last 7000-mile leg of the ship’s fourth world voyage and was with us all summer on our recent trip in the Great Lakes.
We also express our heartfelt thanks to members of the Canadian and United States Coast Guard, as well as the crews of the merchant vessels who have worked alongside our crew in the search for Laura.
We have been comforted by the many messages and kindnesses extended to us by former shipmates, friends and supporters of Picton Castle, both near and afar. Your help in getting us all through this ongoing difficult time is immeasurable.
—Captain Daniel D. Moreland
****
This is from Laura’s friend Mikayla, age 12
“The PC search ends today the reports say. My head and brain understands but my heart is going to I think explode because I feel so bad for the PC family like crew on the ship right now and the PC office and all the PC family like crew not on the ship and me too and for the Gainey family. I am very proud of everybody and very sad for everybody. I just want to be able to do something…
I have been thinking and thinking and thinking and I thought the world was sure gonna be a terrible world because of the loss of Laura but now I am thinking the world will just have to be a better place because lots of us were so lucky to know her.
Laura who just sparkled, such a hard worker and always energetic and busy but always willing to help teach a sailor in training ‘learn the ropes’. She understood why I want to be a sailor because she loved it so much too. She was a bit shy and quiet too so we were kindered spirits. She also taught me how to make the best salad dressing ever, but I don’t know if I know how to make it for less than 40 people.
I am going to be a better person because she was my friend and she was a very good role model and the kindness she gave me. Laura wrote to me last Tuesday that I would be in her heart as she sailed the seas and that she would be honoured to sail with me one day.
My parents tell me that big things or sad things shape people and so I won’t ever be the same Mikayla.
I do feel some older already.
I am even more determined to be a sailor and to work even harder and I will have Laura in my heart as I sail the seas or on land the rest of my life.
Yours Truly,
Mikayla”
****
From a former shipmate:
“Keep watching the stars for the wonder of it all. Look north for a new
one soon to appear. Look closely, very closely and see the curls and
twinkling smile. Smile back and sail on.” Jeremy
****
Laura was the first one to attempt to teach me the names and coiling of the ropes. I personally was drawn to her immediately and spent many wonderful hours discussing her childhood, and I would always remind her to think of her future and finish college. My time with her was short but she gave 100% to the ship. I knew her love for the crew and ship had to be at a greater degree than I could comprehend and I know Laura will be sailing with you spiritually and guiding you all to a safe harbor.
Our deepest sympathy to her Dad and her immediate family members!
Sincerely,
Judy
****
I am writing to express my condolences to you, the crew of the Picton
Castle, and most importantly, to the family of Laura Gainey. This tragedy
has been incredibly to close to my heart, and has been in thoughts since the
moment I heard about it.
It was nine years ago that we, the crew of the first world voyage, set off
to make our own journey around the world. I had just turned nineteen, and
had recently discovered life aboard a square-rigger. I’m sure you remember
me as stubborn and strong willed, and a bit resentful of authority. I was
also determined that you weren’t leaving the dock without me. And I am so
glad you didn’t.
Laura and I have similar stories - I think that’s why her death has affected
me so much. I feel that it could have been me, nine years ago. In fact, my
parents received calls from people I haven’t heard from in years, wondering
if it had been me. Laura and I were probably on journeys. I lost my father
when I was twelve. I had a tough time as a teenager. And I spent some time
in university looking for something to feel passion for. Then I found the
Picton Castle.
My world has changed since two years on the Picton Castle. I now hold a
Master Intermediate license - the next in line to a Master Mariner. I have
worked around the world on other sailing ships, research vessels, offshore
supply vessels, and cargo ships. For the last two years I have been working
as a Marine Superintendent, operating a fleet of fifteen offshore supply and
support vessels. I am working on a Bachelor of Nautical Studies. I have a
wonderful honey, we own a house together, and will be starting a family
soon. I will encourage my children to follow their dreams. And if it
involves sailing square-riggers, I will support them 100 % of the way.
I have been struggling with how to make sense of Laura’s death. And the
only thing that makes sense right now, is that she needs to be celebrated.
Her dreams, her goals, need to be honored. She wanted to sail on the Picton
Castle, and I know how that feels. Although I was never fortunate enough to
have met Laura, I think she would probably encourage anyone to join the
ship.
It is with this in mind, that I would like to suggest starting a scholarship
in her name. I am not sure of the details - but they can be worked out. In
the meantime, a trust fund in her name could be set up at a bank in
Lunenburg, until decisions can be made on how the fund will be administered,
who will be chosen, etc. I’m sure her family would want to be involved, but
I would like to get the ball rolling. Please think about this, and let me
know your thoughts.
Big Hugs,
Becky
*****
To Captain Moreland and the Picton Castle Family:
It was with great sadness that I read of the loss of Laura Gainey. I have followed the voyages of Picton Castle’s for the last year and although not on board with you I’ve come to think of you with great fondness.
I can only imagine the sense of loss that you must feel. I feel compelled to write this message to tell you that your adventures have helped me through some grey days and I tell the stories I read of your ship and crew to my children so that they can believe in the beauty of the world and the spirit of the human soul.
I wish for the healing process to be a swift one for you all.
My sympathies and prayers.
Tom
*****
Letter to the Editor,
The loss of a young female crew member from Lunenburg¹s Barque PICTON CASTLE is a tragedy that every sailor will feel most painfully. Having a crew member and friend swept away by the irresistible force of an ocean storm is our worst nightmare, and I extend my strong sense of shared loss to the ship¹s crew and officers, and to the young woman¹s family, as must the whole
international family of seafarers.
The PICTON CASTLE has made a huge contribution to Canadian sail training for over a decade now, and will I¹m sure continue to be one of the preeminent members of our national square-rigged fleet for decades to come.
We at the Nova Scotia Sea School have enjoyed a close partnership with this vessel over the years, and have encouraged a number of our most promising graduates to pursue their blue water dreams under her tutelage. Many of them have gone on to successful professional sailing careers as a result of the training they received on her world voyages.
I look forward to seeing many more young Canadians undertake the rigorous training the PICTON CASTLE offers. It is an unsurpassed way to learn not only the ways of a ship but also the ways of the world. My confidence in the ship¹s program is undiminished by this tragic event.
I wish all her crew and officers the strength and compassion to carry on from this great loss, never forgetting their young shipmate or the fearsome power of the sea, but also never forgetting the power the sea has to teach us the skills and the truths of life, afloat or ashore.
With heartfelt sympathy, and a steady trust in the worth of voyaging under sail,
Crane W. Stookey, Founder
The Nova Scotia Sea School
*****
When Laura joined the Picton Castle in Cape Town, I really didn’t get the opportunity to get to know her until we reached the BVI (being on different watches, etc). The day that we spent on Sandy Key, Laura, Snelson and I hiked around the little Key, stopping a couple times just to rest and talk. I found that she was an open, honest, and sincere human being with a good soul. Being old enough to be her father, I thought about what it would be like to have her as a child, and I concluded that if she were my daughter I’d be mighty proud! She was smart; she had a good outlook on life; and, she had an adventuresome spirit. I have a strong feeling that her parents feel the same way, too. My prayers are with them at this difficult time. She touched me and she will survive in my memory for a long, long time.
Peace and love to all from St. Thomas,
Bruce
*****
Mr Michael Vogelsgesang,
Thank you very much for your email. I know the folks in the command
center appreciated hearing from you. These are the toughest cases we have
to prosecute. Everyone invested so much time and effort desperately
trying to find Laura and to not find her was heartbreaking to everyone. I
know it was even more difficult for your crew having lost a fellow
shipmate and then enduring the frustration of not being able locating her
after days of searching.
I know there is nothing I can say to ease the pain of the loss your crew
is going through. However, I want you to know and please pass on to your
crew, that because of their quick response and efforts with executing your man-overboard procedures. Your crew provided the CG valuable information
and afforded Laura a fighting chance for survival. In most of the cases
where people have gone overboard that I have worked over the years there
usually is just the person in the water for us to search for and often we
do not have a means to identify if we are searching in the right area.
The items your crew threw overboard proved invaluable throughout the
search to keep us on the right course. Your assistance on scene with retrieving and identifying items was equally as valuable. I know the
family appreciated the fact the Picton Castle crew remained out there searching even after we had suspended our search efforts.
Based on everything I have read and heard about Laura, I am sure she had
become a beloved member of your ships family and will be sorely missed.
As with the Gainey family our thoughts and prays are with you and your
crew as you continue on your voyage. Having been a fellow tall ship
sailor, I can think of no greater thrill in my life than that of sailing
the great Atlantic and looking out at that vast ocean from up in the
rigging. Based on the performance of your crew, I would be honored to sail
with them any day.
Fair Winds & Following Seas,
Captain David McBride, USCG
*****
Laura is a beautiful and passionate soul who decided to give shape to her dreams. Sailing the oceans aboard the Picton Castle was one of her most cherished desires. She had recently expressed how happy she was to be back on the ship and head for Eastern Caribbean. She enjoyed the hard work and lifestyle of a traditional sailor, especially climbing up the masts to furl sails. During our time as shipmates on the way from Cape Town to Lunenburg, I got the chance to share good times and memories with an inspiring and creative friend. We would often dream and talk about embarking for the next world voyage. She was excited and inspired about the possibilities of sailing the blue seas, seeing all the great places, meeting interesting people from different cultures, and especially, learn all about being a seaman. During these difficult circumstances, my heart, and I’m sure those of shipmates goes out to her family and friends. And thoughts and prayers are sent out at sea for Laura and her shipmates.
Joelle
*****
Laura’s shipmates
STV Picton Castle
The community of all who go to sea are feeling with you, and for you, the loss of Laura. We hope you find strength in each other and what comfort there can be as you deal with this tragic event. What you do calls for bravery and determination every day beyond the understanding of those who have never been to sea. Our thoughts, and our prayers, are with you, your fine ship, and the families and loved ones who care for you all.
Yours aye
Captain(N) Victor Suthren
Hon. Captain to the Chief of the Maritime Staff
National Defence Headquarters
Ottawa
*****
Please forward this message to Captain and Ship’s Company S/V PICTON CASTLE.
I am writing to express my Condolences on the loss of your shipmate Laura Gainey. I have experienced the loss of a shipmate who was lost overboard from a Canadian Naval Destroyer Escort just east of the Hawaiian islands almost twenty years ago. We stayed on station with our group for three days and then after the other ships proceeded on we spent another day searching. We stayed long past the point of possible survival but there was a hope to find his body. We left the area with empty hands.
It is a hard thing to do, to leave a shipmate like that, but you have to let go.
From the media description this awful accident was handled in the best ways possible, the quick response with living saving apparatus, the assistance of the Coast Guards and merchant vessel, all displayed a professional and trained approach to the situation.
Your people did their best.
Remember Laura for all her strengths and skills.
R. Fenton
Former LT. Cdn Navy
*****
From a former shipmate:
A Prayer for Laura
Sleep my little sister lost in the eternal womb of the sea.
Free from toil and strife, forever engraved in my memory
with the timeless beauty of one taken far too soon.
Journey my little sister lost to that undiscovered country
where the quick cannot land.
Your spirit soars at my masthead as the black crested seabird
showing me the way home.
Be at peace my little sister lost until that end of days when
all sailors are called home from the sea.
When once again we will rejoice in the company of shipmates
long departed and sorely missed.
Be at peace.
*****
Dearest shipmates and friends,
My deepest condolences to all on this tragic event. Like everyone, I have been shocked and saddened by what has occurred. However, the outpouring of support, kind words, real time updates and comments as the events of the past few days have unfolded has provided tremendous balance to the various versions we have heard and have offered real comfort throughout. I especially extend my condolences and heartfelt wishes to Bob Gainey and his family on their terrible loss-I have a daughter about the same age and can only imagine the grief something like this must entail-and of course my best wishes and support to the current crew and Captain of the PC who have lived this experience firsthand and fought through this mishap with professionalism, courage and resolve.
Laura always occupied a special place in my heart. On the way to South Africa to join the ship she was the first person I met, by chance, (and out of 450 people) at a standing area on a 747 where, much to the chagrin of about 50 people trying to sleep, we drank, chatted, laughed and shared backgrounds until told to go to our seats in no uncertain terms by an angry flight attendant. We were the only two people detained at customs in South Africa for about 4 hours because I guess they did not trust our story about some sailing ship (they let everyone else through!) and then we shared a safari adventure in Kruger-who knew some lazy lions on the side of the road could bring so much joy to a young woman’s face..
I was just in Montreal the past few days –where Laura was born and lived much of her life and where Bob Gainey is a hockey legend/icon. The outpouring of support, letters and newspaper articles in that city has been quite amazing and really show how well regarded and loved the family is. I think the whole city is taking the Gainey families loss as their own personal tragedy-I have never seen anything like it-it was quite incredible and moving.
A tragedy like this always reminds us how short and fragile life can be – but it also encourages us to pursue our dreams and live life to the fullest, in spite of the risks. Laura is an example of this to us all.
To everyone, especially at this time of year, I wish you and your families much health and a fair wind. To Laura,
“No one has ever served at sea without knowing that each day could be his last and no one would even know where at sea he lay. No one served a day at sea without the knowledge that the ship he sailed might not survive to sail another day. But no one at sea let these fears overcome him. He knew his shipmates were beside him to help stand the watch, to plot the course, and to be the family and support we all need to meet and survive another day. They were his shipmates.
You have completed your final watch, now rest in peace.”
Steve
*****
I am sending my love and support to all the crew aboard the Castle. One can’t imagine how they all have managed these past few days. Please let them know that I know everything possible was done. I have great admiration for Captain and crew. While I was aboard last summer I was impressed at the safety and care given to the crew and the ship. Please send my sincere good wishes to Laura’s family. I spent many hours with her and I believe she was one of the most beautiful people I have had the pleasure to meet. Her personal beauty was felt the first day I was on board and she and I planned to meet again in the 1,000 islands.
Again my deepest wishes for peace to the crew and captain.
Stephy
*****
I felt compelled to write to you after learning of Laura being swept overboard. My family and I were fortunate enough to have seen the Picton and meet some of the crew members last summer, as they made their way through the St. Lawrence enroute to a tall ship competition. One crew member made an especially lasting impression. That crew member was Laura.
Laura took the time to chat with my husband, our two daughters and I. Her excitement and pure joy of being with the Picton was quite evident. She shared thrill at being with the ship as well as her hopes of one day captaining herself.
My twelve year old daughter, Sarah, really enjoyed the time spent chatting with Laura. Laura gave Sarah her email address so that they could be pen pals whenever Laura was in port. Sarah did email Laura, but had not yet received a reply. Sarah is devastated, and wishes to express her sympathies to Laura’s family, friends and crewmates.
Our prayers are that some miracle will occur, but realistically we know that probably won’t happen. Please extend our families deepest sympathies to all.
Sincerely,
Kim
*****
This is to extend my condolences to you and the Picton Castle management team. The loss of Laura Gainey is deeply felt by all of us connected to her through our common bond with the ship and crew, both past and present.
To Captain Dan,
Dan, my sincerest condolences to you for your personal loss as creator and master of the good ship Picton Castle. As a sailor and former crewmember, and as a father, I’m deeply saddened by Laura’s untimely death. She was a seasoned sailor who knew what she was doing on deck in bad weather. Nevertheless putting to sea on a sailing vessel is a risk assumed.
As the architect of a tall ship training vessel you assume many risks, and I have always acknowledged that it takes courage to do so. And yet you have successfully completed four circumnavigations and facilitated square-rigger passage experience to hundreds of people eager for that rewarding adventure. Safety was always the first order of business aboard the Castle, and there’s no finer master mariner than Michael Vogelsgesang.
Sincerely,
Jim
*****
Now that the search has been called off, and the Gainey family and the PICTON CASTLE organization have to accept irrevocably that their daughter and shipmate is gone, decisions must be made about “what’s next” for the ship and her crew.
One response is to head immediately for the closest port of call, say Bermuda. Some might say that anything else would be a mark of disrespect for Laura. Others might say that the crew will be unable to cope or carry on, and that they will need grief counseling. But the traditions of the sea, and the realities of today’s modern media frenzy, suggest just the opposite. The crew of the PICTON CASTLE needs to resume their course for Grenada. They need to persevere.
The fundamental lesson at the heart of seafaring under sail is perseverance. For centuries men and women have tested themselves in the face of daunting weather, mechanical malfunctions, and physical and psychological hardship. It has never been a secret among seafarers that there is a degree of danger in the deep sea. It is fair to say that with anything worth doing, especially in the realm of physical challenge or outdoor activity, a certain risk exists.How we handle the situation in the unlikely event that someone is hurt, or lost, says a great deal about us. The PICTON CASTLE crew will terminate the search for Laura with a ceremony or celebration of her life — a life re-energized and given direction by sail training — and then they will sail on. They know that they must look forward; not back. They know that they need to steer for the horizon, for tomorrow’s challenge, rather than be incapacitated by today’s events, no matter how overwhelming they are.
Ships have always been a metaphor for stability in the flux of life. In the primal chaos of the ocean, a well-managed and well-navigated ship sails a course that provides direction for those aboard. It is no coincidence that after being disoriented by the hardship that life sometimes delivers, we say: “We need to get our bearings.” The crew of the PICTON CASTLE needs now to get their bearings, to resume their voyage. They sail with a new appreciation of the value of life, and what it means to take out-of-the-ordinary challenges. They sail with Laura in their hearts and minds. They will not forget her. But they sail to honor her dream. It is what she wanted to do.
Putting in at Bermuda, moreover, has costs that would far outweigh the benefits. I urge and caution you against such a plan. The crew would not be served well at this moment by a media frenzy. At its best, the media serves the public by providing the important news necessary to an informed citizenry. There is another side to media in this day and age, however, a day and age of 24/7 coverage, infotainment, 500 channels, and an overwhelming hunger for material to feed intense competition among media outlets. The crew of the PICTON CASTLE has endured a harrowing experience marked by personal pain and professionalism. It is an experience that they share as mariners. A scrum of reporters will not seek to honor them or their lost shipmate, but will, instead, desire a “story” to be shaped by the demands of distant producers and consultants. There is nothing to be gained by being the center of attention in such a story. They will also attempt to exploit the crew at their most vulnerable. This must be avoided at all costs.
By no means are the crew of the PICTON CASTLE, the ship’s captain, or the owners trying to hide anything. We expect that an investigation by competent maritime authorities will produce an official report about this tragedy. We welcome such a report. But we also recognize that there is a world of difference between a measured professional investigation pursued by knowledgable people using due diligence, and a hurried “human interest” story built for TV or print journalism on the tragedy of the moment.
So for the sake of the living and the sake of the dead, PICTON CASTLE will sail on. We treasure the memory of Laura, and we honor her life. But we persevere. What other choice do we truley have?
Jeff Bolster; Master Mariner
*****
Hi there, I’m a student from Peterborough, Ontario who had a chance to
> spend a month on board the Picton Castle this summer. During that period,
> I had enough time to befriend Laura. She was such an awesome person. When
> I heard about the accident I did not even clue in what ship and who it had
> happened too, until I saw her gorgeous smile on the front page of the
> local paper.
>
> I don’t even know if this is the right place to be sending this, but I’ll
> go ahead anyway because I know no better.
>
> I send my sincere condolences to Laura’s family, Captain Moreland and the
> Picton Castle crew whom I still remember so well.
> Al
*****
We who go to sea, whether to sustain or families or sustain our souls, know all too well the risks involved.
One step beyond the safety of our home at sea lies the relentless, unforgiving ocean.
No amount of training and preparation can completely safeguard against the whim of the elements.
Yet we do not fear.
When at rest, we are secure in the knowledge that our shipmates are using every ounce of skill, determination and energy to keep us safe.
Just as we, come the turn of the watch, do the same for them.
This forms a trust so implicit, so complete, that it can probably never be understood by anyone outside of our family at sea.
The bonds of friendship forged from this trust are of a kind that neither time nor distance can hope to sever.
Not even death.
The time has come for us to take the deck.
Rest now, Laura, it is well deserved.
Watch below.
Kjetil Dimmen, WV4
*****
To all members of the PC crew:
I am so sorry to hear about the recent loss of Laura. I know in all our hearts we will never forget Laura, and the wonderful times we spent with her aboard and ashore of the Picton Castle. I hope that all of you know what a brave thing you did to stay and continue you the search for as long as you did. Please accept my gratitude from the bottom of my heart.
Former Shipmate,
Andrew
*****
The Picton castle has changed my entire approach on life although my visit
was only brief. The crew is incredibly inspiring. My heart goes out to
those with immediate relations to Laura. She was an amazing individual. May
her spirit live on..
Sincerely,
Alex
*****
This was posted on Kelsey Timmerman’s blog; he sailed with us as a reporter during our Great Lakes trip this past summer.
(from http://travelin-light.blogspot.com/2006/12/more-thoughts-on-laura.html)
The Picton Castle never found Laura. They searched the waters long after hope for “small miracles” had faded. Now they continue on their sail to the Caribbean where they will continue to “live Laura’s dream.”
I first learned of this tragedy on my flight home from St. Thomas. And ever since, I’ve been following it closely. Initially I didn’t place Laura’s name and figured that the missing sailor was some newbie. When I saw her pic it hit me. I knew her.
She had a tattoo on her left shoulder of a tall ship – a silhouette. There was a red dot on one of the sails. I had no idea what the red dot was, but I was always curious about it - curious enough to steal glances, but never curious enough to ask.
Dimples dotted her smile.
Her hair was shorter than mine.
I didn’t know that her father was hockey hall of famer, and GM of the Canadiens, Bob Gainey. I haven’t read a story about her disappearance without the mention of this and it kind of burns me. They all read: “The daughter of Bob Gainey, hockey hall of famer…” To me she was just Laura. I didn’t know her last name. I had never heard of her father. Referring to her as “Bob Gainey’s” daughter makes her seems like she was a vulnerable little girl. She wasn’t. In fact, I’m pretty sure that if it came down to it, she could’ve whooped me.
In some of the reports I’ve read, experts are calling out for an investigation. But neither the Canadian nor the US governments can investigate because the Picton Castle is registered in the Cook Islands. These same experts did not expect one to be launched, but the Cook Islands just announced that they will be carrying out an investigation.
It’s not uncommon to have ships registered with a country far away from its homeport. This is the MO for about every cruise ship. Capt. Moreland the Captain of the PC says that the reason the ship is registered in the Cook Islands is to make it easier to employ sailors from all over the world, not to skirt regulations or safety procedures.
Being on a boat is dangerous. This is nothing new. It is especially dangerous when you are on a ship that requires you to work 10 stories above the deck on a rope ladder. It’s what made sailing on the Picton Castle such an experience.
I hope the investigation is carried out thoroughly to the satisfaction of all and that the PC can continue to do what it does. Because, as I mention in the conclusion of my story on the PC:
The Picton Castle haunts the dreams of those who know her. But even if they never see her again, they will find comfort and joy in the knowledge that somewhere out there, on Earth’s great waterways, she is afloat. That someone is on watch from her decks. Someone is aloft, greasing her masts.
My heart goes out to Laura’s family and the crew of the PC.
*****
The following tribute image is from the Clearwater Deep Sea Trawlers and Atlantic Shrimp Company.