August 15, 2014 - The day we should of stayed home!

Every once in awhile you get the feeling that you should of stayed home...Well today was that day!

Today, Adam Chee... Hank cardiac health fitness instructor, came out for an afternoon sail. The plan was to sail around Passage Island, and give him a sample of what I (Tarka) can do...sailing! :)

After they had lunch, we came down to the docks and got me ready to depart. Little "Tarkie" (my dingy) still tied to my stern, had about 5 buckets of rain water in it. Hank decided to take Tarkie along for the sailing trip, but WITHOUT emptying with water in her hull; BIG big mistake! Lets see... one bucket weights about 40 lbs (18.2 kilograms) times 5 buckets = 200 pounds of water. Oh well... Hank knows best eh!

Backing out of my slip proved to be a bit of a problem, with "Tarkie" not helping. We did however, just made it out safely.

Now motoring out to sea...ready to impress Adam.

"Tarkie" was a really BIG drag; very noticeably slowing us down. Hank decided to see if he could lift "Tarkie" up onto my transom... her usual spot! Well his first attempted proved to be fruitless... He tried, but with all the water in Tarkie hull, it was just too much. Oh well, lets put up with it and just drag her behind!

Now under full sail , heeled over at 25 degrees, good 15 knots wind... doing only 4.5 knots! Needless to say Hank and I was not impressed due to "Tarkie". Time to see if we can lighten the load.
Lets bring Tarkie long-side and empty the water, Hank can throw a bucket into Tarkie's hull and empty the water... good plan, but after numerous attempts it did not work! to much wave and winds...Time to say "f..k" it.

As Tarkie drifted behind my stern, somehow her tow lines got caught underneath her hull... now towing Tarkie in reverse. Needless to say, now she really is a drag!

As Hank rounded me up into the wind, my genoa sheets got wrapped around my fore-stay, causing more problems for Hank to deal with. Ya, rolling up the genoa may help untangle the mess... it some how worked. Hank manged to flip the tow line underneath... Tarkie now towing the proper way... bow first. :)

Adam having a great sail ? I wouldn't think so.

Not very happy... heading for home.

Upon arrival back at the Marina, Just as we were going into the moorage slips, at the end of the break water-dock, Hank noticed a rental boat right at the entrance, paddling his boat. Needless to say, Hank had to throw me into reverse, or we would of ran over him.

This is where it got exciting... dingy in tow, non-propylene rope (this rope sinks) in the water, now going full reverse... Rope got caught, wrapping around the propeller and shalf... this stalled the engine.

Here we are now 100 feet from the rocks, right in-front of the ferry traffic, caught in the ferry wash. Hank appears to be in a major panic!! Hank sees me on the rocks, or worst... drifting in-front of the ferries.

If short form of events that followed:

• Hank called VHF channel 66 (marine station) ..three times., hoping to get the marina staff to give assistance, NO answer! 
• Hank takes his cell phone to call the marina... NO phone number in his cell phone! Now drifting closer to the rocks 75 ft away! 
• Hank flags a passing by rental boat asking for a tow to the dock... but due to the currents, his boat and the driver were NOT able to help us! now 50 ft away from the rocks and drifting fast.
• By luck, a Tour boat seen us and came to assist. But he too does not know what to do, but he was able to push us away from the rocks. He called into the marina for us.. and got someone to come out
• Eric Sewell, came out with the marina boat...he is extremely experienced in towing a vessel... Hank was beginning to look a bit relaxed to some degree. Eric gave great instructions and towed us right into our slip!! :))) perfect landing!
• Now resting after a great day outing? :)
• Adam left for home, having a great learning day I bet!
• Hank untied Tarkie off my stern, and used her to help unwind the rope wrapped around my prop. This took some time... thanks for the warm water (72 degree F)
• Hank started my motor and put it into gear... all works! but he noticed a bit of a wobble in the dripless water bellow; possible damage to my propeller shaft strut. Hank will check this next week.

Lesson learned from this...

1. Do not put off what you should do now.
2. Empty water out of Tarkie before you set out for sail.
3. Hook-up Tarkie on my transom before you set out.
4. Have the marina phone number on your favorites in your cell phone.
5. Get ready to drop anchor just in-case you get too close to land.

Tarka now resting after this experience. 

Tarka out!