Stranded sailor helped by residents

When Sterling Stevenson’s boat was crushed by the drawbridge at Wrightsville Beach, so was he.

“It’s my home!” said Stevenson. “They destroyed my home!”

Stevenson has been living on his sailboat for the past 25 years. Two weeks ago, he was sailing through Wrightsville Beach when the drawbridge closed on his boat, causing more than $50,000 worth of damage. Stevenson would’ve been completely stranded — but residents here came to his rescue.

“I’ve never been treated so well by so many people in my life,” Stevenson said.

Since Stevenson arrived in the Port City, residents have paid for his meals, offered him money and most importantly, helped him fix his boat. After the accident, the boat was towed to Anchor’s Away Boatyard in Hampstead where co-owner Bill Lowe has been helping him with repairs.

“It’s just that I’ve done a lot of cruising and people have been very helpful to me and I’d just like to extend that to other people,” Lowe said.

Up until the accident, Stevenson was on his way to live in Guatemala. Now he’s reconsidering.

“I may change my plans and live here,” he said. “These people are wonderful!”

“To a large degree what we cruisers are looking for is utopia,” Stevenson added. “I found it right here.”

Stevenson filed a suit with the State Attorney General to be reimbursed for the damages. He’s still waiting to hear back.