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ometimes it’s the boat that calls to you, but sometimes it’s the crew. Thiago Samir (Brazil), Emma Davies (New Zealand), and Zach Fontes (California) are hard to miss. They’re young… they are from all over the planet. TownDock.net visited the crew aboard Good Run, a 36 ft yawl currently docked at Sea Harbour.

Zach, Thiago, and Emma.

The Good Ship Good Run

The trio have been docked in Oriental for a couple weeks, making repairs to Good Run before setting out for their final destination, southwestern Haiti, where they plan to assist with humanitarian aid in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Down below onboard Good Run

When Matthew struck Haiti in late 2016, at least 1,300 people were killed and an estimated 35,000 were left homeless. Many still have no access to clean water, let alone drinking water. Good Run’s water maker has the capacity to produce up to eight gallons of fresh water per hour. This is one of the many ways in which the crew states they plan to help.

The boat is part of International Rescue Group’s (IRG) fleet of vessels offering coastal disaster relief in the region. The crew say they will contribute their labor to building and gardening projects in Haiti and are bringing the needed supplies with them, ranging from First Aid kits to toiletries, children’s clothing, and seeds for planting. Anyone who wishes to donate either supplies or money can do so via Good Run’s Go Fund Me page.

North Carolina by Way of New York

Thiago, 28, is the ship’s captain and owner. After traveling the world and crewing for the past five years, he ended up in northern California, where he met Zach and Emma two years ago. Last year, while searching online for a sailboat of his own, he found Good Run, a Swedish yawl docked in New York.

The boat has experience offshore. Its owner had sailed it up the East Coast, and the owner before that had sailed it from Europe across the Atlantic and down through Central and South America.

When Thiago bought it, Haiti was already in the back of his mind. He had been reading about the effects of Hurricane Matthew and thought that instead of traveling only for pleasure, it would be nice to instead offer an exchange.

“I’ve sailed to very remote places,” he said, “and sometimes it feels like you’re just taking from there, you know, and not adding too much to the place.”

Emma, who is 35, met Thiago by chance in California. At the time, she had recently left New Zealand to work on a farm in the northern part of the state. Soon after meeting Thiago, she met Zach, who was also working on the farm. A photographer and videographer, the 25-year-old is from Southern California. Zach and Emma have been dating for the past year and a half, and prior to embarking on this journey spent months traveling through New Zealand together, exploring the country and camping out in their car.

Last year, when Thiago asked them to join him on his passage to Haiti, they jumped at the opportunity. They do not have sailing experience, but “they were keen for the adventure,” said Thiago. “I knew I would regret it if I didn’t go,” Zach added. Together, the three have a lighthearted and easy companionship. They’ve spent the past couple weeks making small repairs on board, fixing up a salvaged Zodiac dinghy, and familiarizing themselves with Good Run’s electronics. The boat’s manual, written in Swedish, has offered little help.

Almost Underway

In December and early January, Good Run was docked in Broad Creek, but getting around was difficult without a car, so the three motored to Oriental.

On a whim, they decided to attend a town rotary meeting. The minute they arrived, introductions were made and news of their journey spread. They were even offered a slip, and have at numerous points welcomed locals who have shown up at Sea Harbour with donations.

Thiago and Town Commissioner Allen Price, who stopped by to donate a box of toiletries.

Good Run started with four crew members, but one, a man from Uruguay, had to bow out. They are currently looking for one more member, someone with sailing experience, and are projected to get underway later this week. Anyone interested can get in touch by email at svgoodrun@gmail.com.

“A lot of people here have helped us,” said Emma. And when the crew has been in need of something, whether it be a dinghy or an outboard motor, they have trusted in the synchronicities of life – that whatever it is, it will show up in time.

So far it has.

Zach, Emma & Thiago, almost ready for departure.

“This is a pretty special place,” Thiago said of Oriental. “But now it’s time for us to go.”

Related Links:

Good Run GoFundMe page

Good Run email: svgoodrun@gmail.com

Posted Wednesday February 1, 2017 by Lynn Crothers

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