A very sorry tale...5
Bernard Johnson (slithytove@earthlink.net)
Mon, 26 Apr 1999 19:18:36 -0700
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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This period of time is a little bit hazy - I had probably overloaded my
brain by playing "airplane" - but I can't remember whether the boat had
gone completely upside down at this point. Common sense would argue that
it hadn't, after all it was in shallow water, there certainly wasn't
enough depth to accommodate a 15 ft. mast. Yet I am pretty sure that
when this guy was asking me how to help there was nothing for him to
hook on to. If the boat had been on it's side the cockpit rails would
have been easily reachable, and if he had hooked onto there, he could
have pulled the boat directly backwards, away from the rocks. Possibly
the boat was upside down at this point, with the mast already broken, (I
have an idea how that could have been). Anyway, for whatever reason, I
felt that my only option was to suggest that he connect to my painter,
and thus pull on the bow sideways to the breakwater, and gradually swing
the boat around, pivoting on the stern. This they did, and perhaps this
is when the mast got broken, I really don't know. They seemed to have a
remarkably difficult time towing the boat, and all I could think was the
reason was the mast ends were digging into the bottom like a glorified
anchor. A bloody expensive one! After a while, I glanced toward the
harbor entrance, and stopped, right there facing in my direction, was a
huge power boat with official looking markings....I thought it was maybe
an aircraft carrier, or at the very least a coast guard cutter. I could
almost hear the kettle drums like in "2001", or that deep throbbing
noise like when the mother ship arrived in "Close Encounters..". It just
sat there, awful in it's majesty. It didn't do anything! Just sat there!
Surely IT doesn't want me to do tricks? I'm all airplaned out! After a
while though, it began steam (the only fitting word) toward me...
Slowly, slowly, but that's O.K. was enjoying the sight.....Maybe get
helicopters soon! Marines rappelling down! Submarine might surface!
Exciting stuff this! Gets halfway to me. Stops! Can't believe it!
Backing up! Should have done tricks! Keeps on backing up. Goes back to
where it was before. Think " Go on then, aright, will do tricks!" Guys
still struggling with my boat, have been gradually working north, AWAY
from harbor! Look back at mother ship. Unloading (what's that in
nautical talk? and I know....boats don't "back up") where was I?
Unloading one of those blow up things with a motor on it from it's
stern. Bloody 'ell! Here comes Jaques Cousteau??? No. Just a nice young
fellow, but he starts cruising past me. I think he was more interested
in what was going on with my boat rather than me. Turns blow up thing
around and comes toward me again..Gets fairly close, figure better say
something, Shout " How about a lift? You are going my way!" He knew I
wasn't joking though. Like I said he was a really nice chap, didn't ask
for tricks, brought inner tube right up to rocks and helped me off.
Right about this time, the harbor patrol boat comes racing around the
corner. More nice fellows! If boat wasn't being beat up, and wasn't
freezing cold, would have enjoyed it all! We take off after harbor
patrol boat, first two guys figure they have done all they can and take
off. Wave thanks. (Nice fellows). Harbor patrol boat and us in blow up
thing take up where they left off. There is a 1/2 inch, 25 ft. dock line
loose in the water close by. I grab it, and we inch up to the boat. I
lean out as far as I can (nearly fall in again), try to tie to cockpit
cleat. No good. Tie to motor mount instead. hand line to harbor patrol
guys. They pass over a lovely big thick blanket for me.I get wrapped up
and we take off to mother ship. The mother ship is actually the
California Fish and Game department's boat "Yellowtail". I really don't
know how big it is, I'll make a wild guess at 50 ft.....
Got to go now....