Pete Bethune, the skipper of Earthrace, posted the account of their last days in Guatemala. The judge listened to the prosecutor and the defense quickly coming to the conclusion that this was an unfortunate accident ... releasing the captain and crew. Before Earthrace left, they finally had the chance to meet with the families ... quite an emotional time. Here's a bit shared by Pete:

It was earlier in the day when we’d finally managed to meet with the families. All were there except for Gonzalez, the man still in hospital. I start to speak to the group and there’s already a sore ache in my throat. Thirty seconds later and I start to cry, and that just sets of a chain reaction amongst almost everyone there. Ryan across from me is struggling, and he’s got tears rolling down his left cheek. Most of the family members are struggling to contain themselves, as I explain how dreadfully sorry my crew and I are with what has happened, and that we know what a tragic loss it has been for them. In my mind I had ideas of remaining composed, but in the end I just lose it. We’re meeting in a busy fast food restaurant, and many of the patrons are staring at this blubbering group. Eventually we settle down, and the group start asking questions through our Translator. “When my husband cried out, why did you not rescue him”? This is the poor lady widowed by the accident. I explain that Gonzales was struggling under the skiff, and that because he was closer, I helped him first. By the time I’d swum over to where her husband was, he was gone. It’s a thought I’ve had many times since the accident. If I’d swum over to the third fisherman first, I’m sure I’d have rescued him. And my crew would have rescued Gonzalez because he was visible right behind us. But I didn’t. I just made my decision at the time and it’s something I’ll have to live with. “Would you mind if we put your husbands name on Earthrace as a small tribute to him”, I ask the widow. There’s a hush amongst the group, and they all look at her. She’s been crying like many of us and her eyes are red, but now fresh tears start rolling down her cheeks. “I would be honoured if you would do that for us”, she says. Her daughter shows us a photo of him on her cellphone. And they tell us of his nickname. “Pajarito”. Or little bird. Maybe we’ll put that on the boat as well I think to myself. Later in the day we pay a visit to Gonzalez, who is still recovering in hospital. His family from the meeting earlier in the day are there already, and they greet us as we walk in. He’s a tiny little man, but there’s a certain wiry strength about him. I remember lifting him on the stretcher and being amazed at how heavy he was. We go through a question and answer session with him. It turns out he actually went under the main hull of Earthrace as we rode over the skiff. He takes his shirt off to reveal a massive scar from his sternum, all the way down his belly. He’s seems quite proud of it really. His belly was cut open by Surgeons to repair his stomach, intestine, and fractured sternum. Then Ryan sees the scars on his back. “Hey check these wicked scars out Pete.” We never saw these cuts on the night. But there they are. Two big curved scars, one across each shoulder blade, and by the look of them, probably matching our propeller blades. We take a few photos, hug and wish each other well, and we’re off. “You know”, say Ryan, “I’m stoked to have finally met these people today.” I am too. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a day, but one that we’ll never forget. For some of us, this probably helps with a little bit of closure. The families were left in no doubt that we were sorrowful for what had happened, and that we did our best on the night to rescue the fishermen. These people are poor, but there’s also a great sense of community and family spirit amongst them. And I know they’ll be OK.