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What could possibly go wrong?

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sailboat
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/02/2013 : 09:40:27

Saturday January 26, 2013, my youngest son, Steven, and I moved "Chariots of Fire" from Yachtfish Marine in Port Orchard, Wa back to her slip at Bremerton Yacht Club, Bremerton, Wa. The day was overcast with a cieling of maybe 1500 feet and ten miles visibility. The temperature was 41 degrees F with winds out of the south, south west at 3-5 mph. The trip was four miles with the first leg 2 miles east, 1.5 miles north under two bridges, and a half mile west to the slip.

Well as we passed under the second bridge motoring against a fading 1+ knot ebb the motor quit. I restarted it but it would only idle, just barely enough to keep us away from the bridge pillars. The wind had increased to maybe 5 or 6 mph so I thought, "Hey,this is a sailboat I'll just raise the genoa". Up to the bow I go. The zipper on the brand new jib bag was a bit stubborn but after a few tries it unzipped. Back to the mast to release the jib halyard and raise the sail. Halfway up something jams. Back to the bow and the flogging sail. The lower hanks were stuck on the forestay swaged fitting...a few tugs and they release. Back to the mast and continue to raise the sail. While cleating off the halyard I notice the brand new $78 jib bag blow overboard.

Jeez. Steven, is still at the tiller and I go below to get the boat hook. Wind is picking up. I take the tiller and give the boat hook to Steven and commence maneuvering to get the bag. Let the sail flog but the sheet jams and backwinds the sail...the boat hook slides across the bag. Pass number two...same result. Third pass I run over the bag. Where is the silly thing? Hmmm sutck on the keel I,m sure. I back down the bag pops up. The ebb and backwinded sail and barely idleing motor and Steven says, "Dad, getting pretty close to shore". Steven suggest I back down to the bag so I can see it better. Good call.

Fourth pass Steven abandons the boat hook and grabs the bag which is now full of water. Steven who was 5' 10" is now 6' 2" as he stretched to haul the bag aboard.

Now to get away from the shore and start sailing. The jib is fouled on the forestay and after several moments Steven has it clear. I sheet the jib and we are drawing nicely away from the shore. She sails so nicely. A lone observer on the shore claps slowly.

The wind shifts, right on the nose. Motor still idling I crank it up a bit. I fall off, notor sailing nicely.

Ok, just have to round the point 1/4 mile away and it is 300 yards to the slip. The wind dies. Making 1 kt against the ebb. We round the point and nice wind. We look great. We sail for 200 yards, I douse the jb, Steven backs into the slip.

Another great day on the water.

Mike
Chariots of Fire
1981 Cat-25. sail number 2230
SR/SK Dinette Version

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 09:54:36

Thanks for the story and a few laughs..I think we've all been there.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 13:02:56

Great story...thanks...and well done

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TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 14:44:49

So...what went wrong? Sounds like a great day on the water, complete with boat gremlins.

Thanks for sharing, great story.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 14:49:30

Sounds like a good job staying cool... Congratulations!

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 15:25:37

Gotta tell you these are "typical" sailing trips... Stuff happens! It's always good to tell it like it is...
Some observations.
Your motor usage is too, high (sail more!), obviously the motor was tired, good idea to give it a break.
Sailing efficiently, includes a mandatory monthly MAN OVERBOARD drill, smart move to include a REAL subject for your drill.
Sailing into your slip, is a great way to test your skill, and an emergency skill to know how to do... brilliantly executed!

OK, so next time you won't need to do any of those "practices with MOB, and boat hook, and docking under sail."

Carry on.

We've all been there, you handled it all brilliantly!

Edited by - on

sailboat
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 16:48:46

I have to chuckle about the motor. The first sailboat I had was a 1977 Columbia 8.7 (28')with an Atomic 4 gas engine. It purred like a kitten and was quiet as a flashlight. It only quit three times and all three times it was when a bridge opened to let me through. I was moving the boat from Newport, RI to Jacksonville, FL. Maybe the engine was scared of bridges. This one might have the same phobia. Im' sure it is the filter that has to be cleaned.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2013 : 12:41:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sailboat
 I have to chuckle about the motor. The first sailboat I had was a 1977 Columbia 8.7 (28')with an Atomic 4 gas engine. It purred like a kitten and was quiet as a flashlight. It only quit three times and all three times it was when a bridge opened to let me through. I was moving the boat from Newport, RI to Jacksonville, FL. Maybe the engine was scared of bridges. This one might have the same phobia. Im' sure it is the filter that has to be cleaned.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sounds like a job for Racor... That's a helluva trip Sailboat! Having made that passage a few times myself, I am guessing you went outside until Cape May and then thru the C&D.

sten

Edited by - on

sailboat
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2013 : 16:26:00

That is exactly what I did. I spent a sleepless night anchored outside the east end of the C&D canal then transited the next morning. My crew departed in Annapollis then I soloed to Norfolk where my pregnant wife and my two boys, both under three, joined me. Tiller, no autopilot, first boat...yes it was an adventure. Hard to believe that was in 1984. Ultimate destination, Jacksonville, Fl. Wow. Still married (happily) four children, three grandchildren, own my fourth sailboat and helping my daughter with her nifty C-25, Chariots of Fire. She (the 1980 C-25) looks younger each day.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2013 : 12:41:30

Ha! Sounds like a great adventure. No GPS either. Some serious brass ovaries your wife has... Love it!

Sten

Edited by - on

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2013 : 08:05:34

Great story! Been there!

Edited by - on

sailboat
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2013 : 20:25:40

What a beautiful boat. Nice fish. I want to go sailing. Absolutely terrific work.

Edited by - on

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