Megayacht Legacy finally free

[charmc]

A great story, and credit to Peter Halmos for persisting in saving his yacht, while doing it the right way. He will continue to pay for sea grass restoration, so the flats will be restored to pre-disaster conditions.

Credit to government officials, also, for recognizing that the stranding was an "act of God" and refraining from fining Mr Halmos. An all too rare case of common sense prevailing.

Story of the final removal:

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/zebra/...egulations.htm

For those who forgot or do not know the background:

http://tkcollier.wordpress.com/2007/...till-marooned/

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/06/St...and_his_.shtml

This will be a good book someday. He and his crew lived aboard and in adjacent houseboats for 2 1/2 years to protect his interests from government, salvors, and outright pirates.

The pirates showed up a few times after dark in small boats with guns, like Somalia. One group wasn't too bright, though. They said they were from FEMA. Question: did he chase them off with a shotgun because he thought they were pirates, or because he believed that they really were from FEMA?