2.15S 108.56E
JENNY
Alan Franklin/ Lynne Gane
Tue 4 Nov 2008 01:36
|
Hi All
The day before yesterday as we were en-route to
Singapore Jenny had a radio call abut 8.30pm from another BWR yacht to say they
had hit a pile of debris in the water which had stopped their engine.They were
surrounded by this mass of vegetation and could not move.
Jenny woke me up its pitch black and no moon and we
turned round and went back to the stricken yacht to assist contacting them on
the radio to advise.They are a husband and wife team and the oceans are a pretty
lonely place sometimes especially when you have trouble.Fortunately time wise it
only took us a few hours to arrive at their position it was complicated as we
had to ferret our way through about 10 fishing boats all with nets out waiting
to snag our propeller.
After a chat it was decided to wait until first
light 5am this was then midnight so we dropped our anchor kept up our watches
and waited.At first light Alan and Chris had volunteered to go over in the
dinghy and assist both of them being expert divers so off went our
heroes.
Returning 2 hrs later having with the husbands and
wife's help cleared the obstruction without damage to the boat.
It is not easy and not without its dangers to dive
under a boat which is constantly moving up and threatening to bump your head or
cut you on the propeller so its all credit to Alan and Chris for their help.Had
the husband gone over on his own and been knocked out by the boat moving up and
down with only his wife to help it could be a different story,there by the grace
of God.
Needless to say a well deserved thanks went out to
Alan and Chris.
Mind you our ready offer of help had nothing to do
with the fact that they gave us a bottle of Gin 2 days before as our stocks were
getting low
And people say Ocean sailing is
boring.
|