A sorry tale, Part 2...you asked for it!

Bernard Johnson (slithytove@earthlink.net)
Thu, 15 Apr 1999 20:01:42 -0700


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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When last we saw our "hero" (dummy?), he was wondering if maybe he had
had a "close encounter", crossed over into a parallel universe or
something.....................

I HAD hit bottom! It was ironic that the keel was lashed down (since I
am very aware of the danger posed by an unrestrained keel, and also, as
I have mentioned, I had been planning to sail outside the harbor, in
fairly rough weather). Since the keel couldn't lift, it needs must stand
on the bottom - not a very stable platform for a boat and it's occupant.
The boat was in effect trying to perform a balancing act, like a drunk
standing on one leg while being given a sobriety test.
Hey, am I holding your interest? Naturally it wasn't very adept at this
since (in all fairness) it hadn't had much practice. Now, if you were a
boat, teetering on one leg, which side would you choose to fall toward?
I would fall to the side where the center of gravity was (the same side
as my human occupant)! Said human occupant was sitting on the windward
side (having retained that amount of sailing lore from learning to sail
in Sidney Sabots in Ventura harbor in 1973 under the tutelage of Leo
Robbins, and having received a certificate to that effect), so, the boat
leans to windward. At the time of said leaning, I had still not realized
that I had hit bottom. As far as I knew I was serenely cruising in at
least 6 ft. of water. I think most people would find this a little
disconcerting. In my case, being of an orderly mind, and being a firm
believer in Newtonian physics, I was completely disoriented. Let me put
that another way...it blew my mind! Within seconds though, I was smart
enough to figure out what was happening! What to do? Get keel up. First
get hatch undone and open so can get in cabin so can get at keel gear.
(Cabin all nicely closed up because of previous anticipation of going
outside). Get to keel gear, frantically undo lashing, pull on line, keel
won't budge. Always has done before, won't now. Should do! Won't! Don't
believe this! Pop out of cabin, mean rocks...UGLY rocks. Got to get keel
up, start motor, get away from nasty, nasty, horrible, mean rocks! Back
in cabin, haul viciously on keel line, keel comes up, why? Why not
before? Didn't it realise I was in a hurry? Anyway, still have time to
save the situation, will use motor, should be able to get it started
before drift last two feet to nearest ugly black thing. Motor
starts!!!!! Hurray! Goody, goody! I'm outa here! No I'm not. Nothing
happening, but motor revving good!?? Ah, dipstick, it's not in gear!!!
Hurry, hurry, throw in gear. Still not moving, increase
throttle....nothing! Utter disbelief! Banging, grinding
noise...bow....rocks....disaster!!!! Give up on motor, more urgent
matters to take care of now! Got to get the boat off the rocks at all
costs. Will rampage through Nissan corporate offices later.... One part
of brain trying to process all the things that have gone wrong and
shouldn't , trying to come up with explanations however unlikely.
Another part of brain wallowing in self pity at the immense unfairness
of it all. Biggest part of brain useless, overwhelmed by panic, emotion!
Awful, awful rocks....leave my boat alone!

To be continued......