Stuck

Lane Degregory: GULFPORT

When the bruised sky became black and the winds whipped up to 50 mph and waves began breaking across the side of his sailboat, John "Captain Jay" Burki decided to head for open water. • He thought he would be safer out there, away from seawalls and docks and things to smash into. He couldn't risk losing his boat, Promise, which is also his home. • But his boat's engine wouldn't work, and the gusts were too strong to raise the sail. So on June 24, as Tropical Storm Debby churned offshore, Burki, 66, called a tow boat to take him away from Gulfport's pier.

He dropped four anchors in the middle of Boca Ciega Bay — then went below deck to ride out the storm with his…