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our most embarrasing moment

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/01/2002 : 00:04:53

please tell me that this has happened to someone else besides us. we have only been sailing
about 5 years. we have a 99 c250 wk that we bought new. we have NEVER had a problem getting off of or onto our slip. last week a brand new CUSTOM BUILT $200,000 31 foot lobster boat became our new neighbor for the summer. it is too big to be on this particular dock. but since there were no other available slips, the marina put him into the slip beside us. he hangs off the finger about 4 feet, which doesn't give us much room to manever. we were so worried about sliding into this new boat that we did not pay as much attention to the turn as we should have backing out. we had a strong current and a strong wind that was against us. having the high freeboard that we have, we caught both the current and the wind and ended up sideways between docks. DID WE EVER LOOK LIKE THE BIGGEST FOOLS IN THE WORLD. thank god that there were friends around to help catch us and no dammage was done, except for our egos, but what a harrowing experience. i wonder if i will EVER feel confident getting off the dock again.

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

Edited by - coldducks on 08/01/2002 00:14:55

Edited by - coldducks on 08/01/2002 00:22:49

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 09:15:00

Cold Ducks

Some of the best advice an old salt ever told us was "I can tell you anything you want to know about sailing, but, until you screw up on your own, you will never learn.
<ul><li>I've run out of gas on a trip that we knew there wouldn't be any wind until 9 that night... (forgot to check and The guy I own the boat with took it out that morning and motored around the bay) </li>
<li>Did something similar to you backing the boat out of the dock, no current but huge wind and got pushed around the marina because we were worried about hitting someone else more than what we should have been paying attention to</li>
<li> ran out of beer</li>
<li>Put a spinaker up upside down (not to dry it out either)
Ran aground 8 feet from the dock (just a little too long to jump) trying to sail in when we forgot to put the keel up. (early in season prior to dredging)</li>
<li> connected the battery wrong in the dark one night (reversed polarity) and blew out the charger</li>
<li>Attempted to put the boat in the water with 30 degree weather 30 knot winds and horizontally driving snow, only to have our motor crap and get pushed into the rocks.</li>
<li>Put the spinaker up with a green crew in some pretty gusty weather and put a hole in it.</li>
<li>Did I mention we Ran out of beeronce .</li></ul>

Some of these were in front of people, invited guests, comrades on the dock or at sea, one or two in the presence of the guy who gave me the advice. I am quite certain we looked like idiots, (more so than normal at least) and our egos were definitely bruised...but... I'll guarantee you this : We've learned to talk through manuevers with new crew, know our limitations and our equipment, give everything a frequent check (including the gas can), always pack our own sails....and keep a spare six pack on the boat.

They are not really mistakes, they are lessons. One other thing we've learned, less people really notice or care than you think.

The best thing you can do is get right back up on that horse.

dw

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b1ce23b3127cce9b043565af3d0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 09:32:03

thanks Duane, i sure needed that pep talk. i know you are right about others not thinking twice about it. we have seen others have similar problems, we simply go and help them and tell them not to worry about it, that it happens to eveyone once in a while, BUT, WHEN IT WAS US, we had trouble believing that. and you are also right about it being a lesson learned. from now on, we will hang and extra bumper or two on the other side of the boat and concentrate on ourselves. thanks again for sharing your little "lessons learned"...

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

Edited by - on

Spain
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 09:44:55

These things happen only when you have an audience.

One thing Duane left off is running out of gas right at the dock. We back into our slip and to get in the area of the pier, between piers and blocking the ramp that is on the shore in between - to run out of gas at that time, just as you put the motor in reverse is very embarrassing.

Lee Spain
"Margareta"
'79 C25 SR FK

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 10:48:53

My most embarassing moment (apart from when we sunk the boat...)was single-handing the C22 and sailing into the slip (which was on the inside of a channel between two docks, which had no exit at the other end, and no room to do a 180). I was beam reaching along the channel, blew the jib halyard at the appropriate time - and it jammed! I hollered and a friend ran to my slip and as I came in waaayyy too hot he grabbed the bow pulpit and bent over backwards lifting the bow! I only put a 1" dent in the dock and chipped some gelcoat on the bow...thank heaven for strong friends!
Derek (we now are told we have to wait for the water level to drop to 920' - 24' lower than present) before we can start sailing again)
<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 12:30:19

We did something similar to Duane. I use to crew for a Doc out of Cleveland. We put the racing spinnaker up for the first time (new boat, new crew) in 15 MPH winds plus gusts. We were screaming across Lake Erie when a big gust hit us from behind. It felt like the boat was going to stand on its bow. That's when the Doc said "I think it's time to put to spinnaker away" Well duh! Then someone let the spnnaker halyard out faster than we could pull the sail in and the next thing you know it goes over the bow and under the boat! The boat was still traveling at a pretty high rate of speed . . . in short, we ended up pulling the spinnaker into the cockpit from the stern! Brand new sale with ablative bottom paint on it!
Must be a Cleveland thing.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 12:56:13

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
These things happen only when you have an audience.

Lee Spain
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I've noticed that! When you perform the maneuver flawlessly, there's never anyone around to be suitably impressed.

Last year my brother and I were coming in to La Conner, WA, a narrow channel with a good current. All sources told us that the dock space fills up fast in the afternoon and we were running late.

Coming in against the current, looking for dock space, a man on a U shaped dock yells to us that there's one space left on the inside of the U. I was so thrilled I just turned the corner.

Now I'm on the inside of a short dead end going with the current. First reaction - Oh, S**t! Second reaction - reverse hard! No good. Third reaction - a 180! Half way through the 180 - BAM! Pinned up against the bow of a 60' steel cutter (maybe the pun is intended, but wasn't funny at the time. Oh, we'll laugh about this later! Huh Huh).

We finally got a line to the people on the dock and peeled ourselves off the docked boats. Later learned the nickname of the steel boat - Can Opener - cause that's what it does to nearly everything it hits. Fortunately no damage, except to my ego - it was pretty bruised <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>.

You can bet I pay close attention to the currents now.
Of course, I haven't been back to La Conner either <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.

John Mason - Ali Paroosa
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 13:28:15

I have been sailing for 20yrs and that sort of stuff happens all the time. usually as a result of too much beer and trying to entertain guest aboard instead of watching what I am doing. There is an old adage about running aground which could also be applied to running into piers; there are 3 types of sailors, those who have run aground, those who are going to run aground, and those who lie about running aground.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

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Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 13:35:37

I've decided if, while coming in or leaving the dock, nothing sunk and no one was hurt it was an excellent trip!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>When you perform the maneuver flawlessly, there's never anyone around to be suitably impressed.

John Mason <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Tony Dillon
Mental Floss

Edited by - on

Gary
1st Mate

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58 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 13:54:36

Sailing is easy, docking is hard. May the sailing gods forgive us all!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 13:56:10

Coldducks... Thanks for sharing that! I'll have to do some thinking to pick out the best of my "moments"... As for people not noticing, I have to admit I'll never forget when a friend I was sailing with hoisted his jib upside-down (all the way up) right next to a fleet of J-24s that were heading out to race... <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> But that goes in a whole different category from bumping docks!

From some of those moments, however, I learned that when maneuvering around docks in wind and current, there are times when it's best to just let the wind or current push your nose around in the wrong direction, and then just back out (or in) from there. It could look funny to some passers by, but the real boaters will be impressed with your inginuity! I also always have a boat hook ready when leaving or approaching the slip.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 14:10:39

we always have the boat hook out too. i always thought to myself "what in the world can this little hook do do help me in a case like this?" i found out the hard way that it really is a usefull tool. i was able to fend of the other boats with it, THANK GOD. as for letting the bow spin around and back out, that is what we THOUGHT we might be able to do. i even yelled to some people on the dock. "i guess we are backing out today" but the wind and current were so strong that after we turned, we just slid to the other side of the docks and said "Hello" to everyone that was there.. hahahahahahah! thank you to all of you that have responded with your little stories of horror. it helps to know that we are not alone in goofing up once in a while...NOW, IF I CAN JUST BRING MYSELF TO GET BACK ON THAT HORSE!!!!

COLDDUCKS
FANTASY #409 C250WK

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 14:11:32

Okay Steve, I sail for a Doc too, and we once scrubbed our bottom with the spinaker....plus we've done a lot of other stupid things....

Whats the docs last name?

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b1ce23b3127cce9b043565af3d0000004010" border=0>

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 14:13:18

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Sailing is easy, docking is hard. May the sailing gods forgive us all!

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

We call it a systematically controlled crash!

Edited by - on

Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 14:17:14

My boat hook is my best friend when I'm near the dock!

Tony Dillon
Mental Floss

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 16:21:47

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
My boat hook is my best friend when I'm near the dock!

Tony Dillon
Mental Floss
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Don't even have one....I suppose if we moored more often it would be useful.

Can you guys give me some examples of how you use it?...

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b1ce23b3127cce9b043565af3d0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 16:40:10

My most embarrassing moment was being caught (by this Association) sailing with a fender out.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1617

About the only time I use fenders is to keep my dinghy from damaging my Cat 25 (or is it to keep my Cat 25 from damaging my dinghy<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>).

However, in this case I was headed to a party...

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d620b3127cce9f0409386b3c0000001410" border=0>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 17:02:59

Richard: They're WAY TOO CUTE--all three of them!

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 17:31:09

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Richard: They're WAY TOO CUTE--all three of them!

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Yeah Dave...and look at the size of the Wine glass the little one on the left has... That puts a tear of joy in my eye...

dw

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2002 : 23:35:41

My most embarassing moment (apart from when we sunk the boat...)...

I loved that!
Let's see, I have Polaroids of my C22 on the beach. Caught a bow mounted anchor on a cleat, been towed in, missed the dock while jumping off the boat, halyards at the top of the mast, and have dropped untold hundreds of dollars into the drink. Not sure if these are embarassing or just part of the learning curve...

Doug - #1913 Noeta

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2002 : 04:24:40

If you want to see some really good stuff, just stop at the local boat ramp and you won't have to wait long.

Mine was when I was launching Desi (C-22) and I was solo as usual. The breeze was fresh and straight off the stern. As I back off the trailer and tried to get around the L of the dock to tie her off she somehow got blown backwards onto the trailer again<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Also have had to solicit onlookers to drive my tow vehicle up the ramp while I pick up the trailer with all my might because I had backed it went off the end of the ramp!

Got a couple of hours sailing in yesterday after work as the wind was blowing, but it was hot even at sundown.

<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/PoB.jpg" border=0>
"The Pride of Baltimore 2" comes to downtown Jax

<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/PoBhelm.jpg" border=0>
me at the helm

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk

Edited by - Ben - FL on 08/02/2002 11:04:55

Edited by - on

Nancy Cole
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2002 : 07:08:41

Greetings Coldducks

Last month I got new neighbors in my slip. Some very nice folks bought a 30 ft Island Packet - beautiful boat. I'm very good at getting in but one morning on my way out, the wind caught me and I wacked right into my neighbors new boat. I gouged out a piece of teak from a stern rail. I was so mortified.

I left them a note and had a great sail. These things happen but

Edited by - on

Steve
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2002 : 09:51:48

Ben,

Cool picture of you on the boat. We had about 10 tall ships come to Mobile for the 4th, including the Coast Guard "Eagle", but the "Pride of Baltimore" was my favorite. What a ship.

"Damn the torpedo's and full speed ahead"

Steve
87 WK TR
"Island Time"
Mobile Bay

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2002 : 11:20:59

Ahoy Steve,

The Admiral works in one of the high rises close by and she heard a lot of booming. So everyone in the office went to the windows to see P O B 2 firing her cannons as she came into port!

What piqued my interest was reading an article in Reader's Digest some years back about a Pride of Baltimore going under in the deep Atlantic. Eight suvivors were rescued. The captain was last seen in the waves facing away from the life raft. The demise was attributed to wind shear. The same that was causing airliners to drop out of the sky at take-off

PS. sorry about the thread drift

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk

Edited by - on

Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2002 : 02:01:05

A friend of mine had just bought a new Lido 14 and wanted to sail in some races held by the Morro Bay Yacht Club. I was very flattered when he asked me to crew with him on his first race. I've had some racing experience so I felt that I was up to the task. The first two races he had the helm and I ran the head sail. We did ok but having had no starting experience of his own the timing thing was our worst effort. The next race he gave me the helm and I was very lucky in setting us up for the lead at the start. We held the lead and were pulling away (I felt<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>) to the first mark. We went pointing as tight as we could get, fighting the wind and the tide. Now I knew that the tide was coming in against us, so I set up to make our mark to the port on a starboard tack giving (what I thought was plenty of room). Well as soon as we made the tack the sail filled nicely but, and this is where I wished for a leaded keel, we had no forward momentum to carry us past the barnacle incrusted channel marker. So sideways we slid until 'CRUNCHHH' the tide pinned us square against it.
Now this sort of thing happens I know, but this was not my boat, it was brand new and this race was about 50 yards from a very active embarcadero with lots of people watching and shopping and enjoying the race. As we slid (more like scrapped) off of the pole (did I say it was encrusted with barnacles<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>) I could hear the crowd clapping and someone yelled out "way to go Gilligan". We made a penalty rounding (so as to be legal) and went on to finish the race.....not only last but we were so late the race committee had removed the finish markers and all had gone inside.
My friend (yes he forgave me) looked at me and all he said was "great start" <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Mark-
<img src="http://personal.jax.bellsouth.net/jax/l/c/lchaplin/unkarock/usflagwav.gif" border=0>
'Impulse'
C25 #533 DINN/FIN ~_/)~

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2002 : 03:13:17

Seems that some of my most embarrasing sailing moments, thank god you are confining this thread to the water, have to do with boat ramps. Wehn I got the new trailer for the C25, Just remember it was big bucks, I followed all the procedures to get it in the water safley. Oh I did forget the one about having two lines on the trailer and car.
Of course all the jet skiers were there, as well as all the members of the club to watch me holding on to the saftey chain trying to stop the beast from sinking, shouting throw me a line. The people on the launching dock said hey there are a bunch of bubbles. This allowed us to find it and swim down to tie a line. Standing on the higest part of the trailer my head was just under the water so getting a line on it was not the easiest thing on in the world for a overweitht old fellow like me. Fortunatlly there were some young jet skiers ther to swinm down for me.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

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