Very unfortunate news to report from Royal Star today. Immediately upon arrival of the previous six day voyage, our Starboard main engine suffered a mechanical failure. While the nature of the failure is not entirely uncommon, after fifteen hours of wrangling and desperately seeking parts, our options for salvaging this voyage as a six day were exhausted. This morning, with a near full group of anglers, we were faced with a very difficult decision - continue charging pell-mell in an effort to save the voyage as a five day, or throw in the towel and repair the damage properly with appropriate spare parts and time to fully evaluate the engine's performance before committing to a voyage.

With another full day and night at the dock likely necessary to effect the proper repair, and the option of making a run to Alijos Rocks eliminated, for the first time in my long range fishing career anglers were faced with the reality of a voyage being unable to depart due to a mechanical failure. It was not a pleasant decision to consider. With a multitude of possible negative variables, the ability to fully resolve the problem still uncertain, and the reason the majority of this group chose this voyage - to catch quality 40 - 100# tuna off the table, most anglers decided to scrap this effort in favor of another day; or in this case another voyage. Of course we are dedicated to any and every accommodation our anglers decide upon.

Needless to say it is a terrible day for Royal Star as we have never been faced with such circumstances. Our maintenance regimen is impeccable and our service record flawless. Both of our main engines were replaced in March 2009. There are near brand new by our standards. Even more disheartening is the fact that we replaced our machinery in March 2009 specifically to avoid the ever increasing likelihood of something like this happening. Our aging machinery was replaced for the most advanced, reliable models available. This was not supposed to be a possibility short of disaster. Needless to say many questions will be answered during the week as we dedicate our entire effort to repairing the engine to perfect standards in advance of the upcoming Baja Fish Gear seven day voyage departing Saturday the 25th.

In the meantime we extend our most sincere apologies to our anglers inconvenienced and severely disappointed by this occasion. This is a disaster for our business that will be felt for a long time to come. Always forward however. In the end we feel our decision to eliminate the trip was in the best interest of our anglers on this voyage, and on excursions to come. Recognizing that we could not provide the voyage they signed up for, we put their interests forward. It by far was the most painful position we have been in since purchasing Royal Star in April, 1996. No good times to report today. We are sick with grief and disappointment.

I will continue with updates on our progress and include a few photos of the project as it unfolds. In closing, thank you to all of our anglers who recognized that this profound anomaly was not the result of a lack of attention or effort on our part. Your patience and understanding is flattering and appreciated. We failed you, but not from a doing of our own. Bad luck is what it is. Bad, very unfortunate luck - for all of us. We hammered away at the engine until well past midnight, and were back at it at 0530 before realizing that we had arrived at the point of diminishing return. Rest assured that we will be hard at it during the week returning her to service in perfect condition for the upcoming fall and beyond. Our most sincere apology.


Tim Ekstrom
Randy Toussaint
Brian Sims
Tracy Toussaint
Gregg Tanji
Blake Wasano
Sean Bickel
Steve Gregonis
Paul Caramayo
Drew Rivera
Jeff Grant
Justin Jackson