I sit and write this as it howls 25 to 30 knots outside. Paul & I have had a good breakfast (cheese & pepper omelet, ham & toast), plenty of hot tea, & we are now warm & cozy after this morning's frightening wake-up alarm.
Here's the story:
At sunrise, Paul turned on the single-side band radio for the morning Bahama's net weather report. As I came up to the salon from below to turn on my iphone to record the report, Paul was anxiously peering forward over our bow, with the short-wave radio mike in one hand.
The large trawler who was anchored upwind of us, was dragging anchor and bearing down on us, thankfully with his engines on. He was calling another boat on the radio who was not responding, as Paul repeatedly called to him. Finally, he responded to Paul and immediately accepted Paul's offer for assistance.
Paul jumped in the dinghy, as I handed him the "Look bucket" & he headed up against the wind, current & chop to better assess the situation around the dragging trawler. It seems he could not raise his dragging anchor (all chain) due to a windlass failure, so Paul helps him release his second anchor, it does not grab, and now both his anchors are dragging. (Most of us are currently anchored with 2 anchors because of the wind direction change overnight).
Next thing I know, I hear our chain vibrating and rattling, & conclude that he has now snagged our chain, which is right now got all the load holding Independence in place. By the way, on one side of this channel in which we are anchored, is a rocky shore, and on the other side a shallow, hard, bar.
I hail Paul with the dinghy over to alert him & confirm what he already suspected. He jumps back on Independence, starts up the engines, and tries to tell the other captain to release all of his main anchor into the water. At this point, his second anchor has grabbed (however tentatively) & his boat starts swinging on that anchor perilously close to our bow. If that anchor gives & he moves in any direction, he will uproot our chain & anchor, & we both go!
Now Bruce & Debi have arrived in their dinghy to assist—Paul has shed his wet clothes for a wetsuit (it's chilly, & the water is warmer than the air), & with fins & snorkel, jumps in Debi's dinghy while Bruce & I stay on Independence with fenders & ready to drive the boat if we come loose. Paul dives the entangled chains, in the very strong current, and manages to free them from each other, at the same time the guy's second anchor releases it's hold, & the boat swings within spitting distance of our bow, poised to ensnare our second anchor rode on the other side!
He guns it forward, and thank goodness, our chain is now clear and we are once again 2 separate units. Now Bruce has jumped in the dinghy that Deb is driving to go to that boat and assist with pulling up his chain & anchors. He is joined by Paul & they both haul up both anchors manually, & finally help him reset both back where he started. The poor couple are in virtual shock (especially his wife), as the boat is new to them, and with the equipment failure, they were at a loss with just the 2 of them. He was very grateful & promised Paul to "pay it forward" & help the next guy who is in trouble.
And so… "the code of the sea"—we all look out for each other.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
No comments:
Post a Comment