She Drifted Alone: How a Dry Coffee Mug Started a Sixteen-Day Miracle

She Drifted Alone: How a Dry Coffee Mug Started a Sixteen-Day Miracle A single dry coffee mug on a porch stopped a meter reader cold and turned a private absence into a sixteen-day open-water survival and search. The missing vessel, a thirty-two-foot sloop named Calico Run, left Myrtle Grove Marina with 38.4 gallons of diesel and only three gallons of fresh water logged-how did that small discrepancy and a wet EPIRB alter everything, and who finally noticed the clues? In this episode, we follow the sequence of everyday details that transformed a routine welfare check into a full-scale search: the dry mug, the unwashed diner cup, the mast failure at sea, and the silent emergency beacon. How did navigation skills, a family history of fishing, and tiny overlooked items come together to keep Sherry alive and lead rescuers to her? Person: Sherry Bauer Age: 38 Boat: Calico Run, 32-foot sloop Departure Date and Time: January 2 at 6:40 AM (cleared marina at 6:45) Duration Missing: 16 days - Diane Perry noticed a dry chipped ceramic mug on a porch at 4412 Culver on the morning of January 14. - Sherry left Myrtle Grove Marina on January 2 at 6:40 AM; Victor Ames saw her clear the marina at 6:45 AM. - Diesel tanks held 38.4 gallons across two fills when Calico Run departed; a log showed an additional purchase of 3 gallons of fresh water that morning. - At 1:34 AM on January 3, a line squall produced 22-knot winds and the forestay toggle let go, sending the mast over the starboard side and punching a hull hole at the chainplate. - The registered 406 MHz EPIRB went into the water with the mast and stopped transmitting after the rigging dragged it overboard. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].