Freeboard, windage, novice accident in Texas

Tom Bodine (tbodine@seasick.sps.mot.com)
Thu, 15 Apr 1999 08:47:51 -0500 (CDT)


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Hi
In order to commiserate with Bernie, although my incident
wasn't so disastrous, let me relate my accident.

It was the first weekend of March and I had arisen at sunrise
to sail home. I was on lake Travis a man-made lake that
snakes its way southeast ward, northwest of Austin Texas. I
had attended a camp-out retreat at Krause Springs which is
close enough to the lake that I was able to sail to the
campsite.

The day before had been partly cloudy and warm, a pleasant day
for sailing. I had to beat half way to the camp and then I
was able to run the rest of the way. The winds were a
comfortable 5-10 MPH.

This morning a cold front was heading down from the rockies
and at that time 7:00 am was probably just passing El Paso,
900 some odd miles to the west. The wind had freshened and
turned towards the East.

I had beached Frimi on the western edge of an inlet which lead
into Spice wood creek. The inlet is in the shape of an L with
the top pointing south-southeast. I was beached on the
westward pointing leg of the L. The wind was blowing from
almost due east down the center of the inlet. The southern
edge is a soft alluvial meadow. The Northern and eastern edge
was gray hard rock. The northern shore is picturesque with a
jumble of stones lining a normally dry wash.

I started the motor, boy I love that motor. So far she's
started on the first or second pull with no problems. I
pushed Frimi off with the intention of motoring to the center
of the inlet so I could put down the center board and maybe
raise the sails.

As I motored out, Frimi started turning to port towards the
now threatening rocks. I pulled the tiller and motor to port
in an attempt to turn her away from the rocks, but the wind
had her and she continued drifting towards the rocks.
Fortunately I had the presence of mind to run forward grab the
anchor and throw it over. With the anchor down Frimi drifted
over the rocks. She floated just a foot from a large sharp
one just waiting to scar her new finish and perhaps cause even
more damage.

I panicked. I couldn't think. I got out and stood in that 53
degree Fahrenheit water trying to gather my wits while holding
her off . Thinking about how could I get Frimi out of this
situation. I tried pulling her up to the anchor, so I could
pull it up, run back and then motor out, but I knew the wind
would blow me up on the rocks before I could get safely away.

After twenty minutes of standing in the cold water, I finally
got the idea of throwing out another anchor. I carry three
anchors, A mushroom, a grappling, and a danforth. The
danforth was holding Frimi and I off the rocks. I pulled out
the grappling anchor and put the only line I could find that
wasn't tied to something else to it. This line was only about
20 feet long. I tied the anchor line to the bow pulpit and
threw out the anchor. I pulled and it set immediately. I
pulled up the danforth. Now Frimi drifted at a different
angle behind the rock which earlier threatened her fan tail
and in deeper water.

I started that motor I love on the first pull. Then I powered
out over the anchor, intending to motor out to the center,
drop the Danforth, retrieve the grappling, lower center board,
and motor out of there. Just then the grappling anchor
snagged a submerged tree.

Standing there on the bow I thought should I swim in 50 degree
water to retrieve an $11.00 anchor, when I still have to sail
to the ramp about two hours away in 55 degree weather? I
decided not to and untied the anchor from the bow pulpit,
leaving the prize there for someone else when the lake level
is lowered later this year.

I drifted back to where I started my whole adventure. I
beached Frimi and made a cup of coffee. I thought about how
much I LOVE sailing. I ruminated angrily about those
fishermen floating around me. I was thankful that they didn't
offer to help since it would of hurt my sense of self
reliance. But I was angry that they didn't realize I was in
trouble, and didn't offer to help despite this.

I started my lovely motor again. Pushed off and headed out.
This time I hugged the lee, alluvial, soft shore until the
wind was on my beam. I lowered the center board, thereby
achieving the stability I could have used earlier. I raised
sail and sailed home the wiser and happier that I had come
through this little trauma just one anchor poorer.

Later that day I stopped by the chandelery and bought another
grappling anchor for $7.00.

# Regards Tom Bodine @
# Skipper "Frimi" P-19 #1019 ,-+-'
# Dancing to the music life has given me. A