Getting beyond a joke
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Mon 11 Feb 2013 05:27
Columbine had dragged and hit me. Jack, the owner, had gone ashore earlier. Luckily Paul Calypso had his dingy in the water and came haring over. We fended Columbine off and she started drifting upstream on the flood. Jack is a nice guy so we couldn't just abandon her. I climbed on board and once we were clear of Calypso (I just know that got your attention Maureen) I tried to let out more chain. Jack has a strange arrangement on the bow roller, probably OK once you know it but I didn't. Paul secured the dingy and got on board. He was able to release a pin and I paid out all the chain then about five metres of rope. Columbine stopped. In the meantime Michel and his good lady who's name escapes me just for the moment came blasting over. We sat for a few minutes until we were happy that Columbine was secured and they undertook to try and contact Jack. They did and whilst I was ashore he returned post haste and re-anchored.
I went ashore and did what I had to do. Granted they haven't renewed my visa yet, interview tomorrow but so far all the officials I've encountered have been a) friendly and b) efficient. The last time that happened was over two years ago in NZ. Officials in Fiji were friendly and in New Caledonia they were were French. Back to the boat. Lunch. THUD!!!
Bloody Wharram had dragged and hit me (again). Peter rowed over. Jack rowed over. Paul blasted over. I thought about putting a line on the damn thing but I'm not certain my ground tackle would hold two boats. Yes I have two anchors down but there must have been a good four knots of current. Peter got on board the Wharram and 'sailed' it off me using the rudders while I steered the other way. It's still way too close but I'm fendered up.
I called Brisbane Harbour on channel 12 and reported it. They undertook to pass the message on so presumably something will be done. If not I swear I will put a line on the bloody thing. I know it can happen to anybody (and frequently does) so most people in the river accept that there will be the odd drama but this guy has a history and nobody has a good word to say nor does anybody have any contact details for him. I can't remember offhand what the salvage laws/percentages are. I don't want to do it because it could be me next time and at some stage all of us have required assistance a a bit of understanding but like I said, it's getting beyond a joke.
Why can't Trouters be a 'babe magnet' instead of a 'boat magnet'?
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