Yet another near disaster

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Tue 20 Aug 2013 12:31
With Spring tides in the offing, at low water a couple of times I bounced off the bottom. Nothing too violent but not comfortable. More in hope than anything else I started the emergency elektrikery and started the engine in forward gear. We have movement. OK, up anchor and slowly motor round to the official anchorage. Dropped the hook but I swung too close to Inspiration Lady. No drama, give me five to get my breath back, put on some latex gloves to protect the by now open blisters from the mast climbing exercise . I asked for somebody to come and steer for me whilst I hauled up and re-spotted. Don from Inspiration Lady and right now I can't remember the name of the gent from Malalla came over. Started the emergency elektrikery again but this time no joy getting the engine going.

Sam (Sail Indonesia) called and said the rescue boat could tow me to a new spot. It came out, I gave them a line and away we went, me pulling the anchor up in slow time. The rescue boat started having some sort of problem but due to language problems we didn't know what. Then we both started drifting back towards the moored fishing boats and the rocks. A police boat which had previously declined to help cast off his moorings and came over. He promptly got a rope around a prop and he did go on the rocks. The rescue boat went to help, whatever problem he had seemingly gone. I continued to slowly drift back.

Dingies arrived. By now I was very close to the rocks and a fishing boat so I  let go the anchor. The rescue boat arrived back, again with some sort of engine problem and dropped his anchor right by mine and the fishing boat mooring. He then drifted behind me, his anchor line under Troutbridge. There we sat, swinging periodically very close to the rocks. Dingies were attached to me but we couldn't do anything until the rescue boat was clear. I was now unable to start the emergency elektrikery and so couldn't start the main engine.

The operator of the rescue boat went into a sulk and wouldn't attempt to communicate. Eventually a very disgruntled fisherman arrived in a small canoe and prepared to go fishing for the night, leaving his canoe on the mooring. Dingies powered the rescue boat clear and suddenly he powered up and was away with a derisive blast of his horn.

We now started moving Troutbridge clear but we discovered that my anchor had now fouled the mooring chain of the fishing boat. We started to drag the canoe along with us. That came loose and Norman went off t retrieve it. we managed to power Troutbridge into the spot that we had originally thought of and dropped the hook in 15 metres.

So, here I am with 4X scope wondering what will go wrong next. What should have been a simple exercise, and indeed started out that way, turned into a real drama. My sincere thanks for all the help and my apologies to those who didn't make the gala dinner because they were helping me. This is not a complete list but my thanks to
Inspiration Lady
Norsa
Camomile
Malalla

Blog Entries

2015 2014
Dec 2014 Nov 2014 Oct 2014 Sep 2014 Aug 2014 Jul 2014 Jun 2014 May 2014 Apr 2014 Mar 2014 Feb 2014 Jan 2014
2013
Dec 2013 Nov 2013 Oct 2013 Sep 2013 Aug 2013 Jul 2013 Jun 2013 May 2013 Apr 2013 Mar 2013 Feb 2013 Jan 2013
2012
Dec 2012 Nov 2012 Oct 2012 Sep 2012 Aug 2012 Jul 2012 Jun 2012 May 2012 Apr 2012 Mar 2012 Feb 2012 Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011 Nov 2011 Oct 2011 Sep 2011 Aug 2011 Jul 2011 Jun 2011 May 2011 Apr 2011 Mar 2011 Feb 2011 Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010 Nov 2010 Oct 2010 Sep 2010 Aug 2010 Jul 2010 Jun 2010 May 2010 Apr 2010 Mar 2010 Feb 2010 Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009 Nov 2009 Oct 2009 Sep 2009 Aug 2009 Jul 2009 Jun 2009 May 2009 Apr 2009 Mar 2009 Feb 2009 Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008 Nov 2008 Oct 2008 Sep 2008 Aug 2008 Jul 2008 Jun 2008 May 2008 Apr 2008 Mar 2008 Feb 2008