At 10 a.m. on Aug. 11 the 30-foot sloop Hiker ran aground on Hemlock Ledge off Eggemoggin Reach. Aboard was Dick Brooks, the owner, plus three guests. A crisis situation followed. Dick struck the bulkhead and broke his arm from the sudden stop and the boat was locked on the ledge with a tide going down and three amateurs to deal with the situation.

Then, like an organized military exercise, help arrived.

The owner at Bucks Harbor Marine in Brooksville heard our distress call. First the Maine Maritime Academy tug responded. Two of their crew came aboard with medical assistance and professional help.

Only moments passed when the owner and a helper from the Seal Cove Boatyard arrived with with more professional help. Next a passing sailboat captain came to our aid.

What was happening was like it had been rehearsed.

A young man with medic training that was a guest on the MMA tug kept Dick as comfortable as possible while the others did what had to be done: get the boat off the ledge.

The Coast Guard came along. The Medic ambulance from Blue Hill met us at the dock and transported Dick to the Blue Hill hospital.

When the dust settled and we wanted to say thanks and show our appreciation to all those wonderful people, they were gone as fast as they appeared. … Richard Jellison, Hampden Ralph Hand, Bangor Don Rejkowski, Cleveland, Ohio