We made the most ungraceful exit from the marina! Hooeee, it was bad! And we knew it was going to be. Yesterday, we watched another Morgan sailboat (remember they don't go backwards in any direction reliably) try to get into the slip across from us, miss it and careen about fending off from other boats while trying to get back out. This morning, the wind was going at a good clip and the tide was running out. We knew that we had to back out and get the bow pointed into wind quickly or we'd be pushed down the channel or into other boats.
The thing with getting into or out of slips is it is entertainment for the whole marina. Forget television, who needs it when you've got two people trying to control a 27,000 pound sailboat as it gets ever nearer to millions of dollars of other boats. Everyone comes out into their cockpits to watch or stands around on the dock waving their arms or offering 'helpful' advice.
We eased out of the slip and almost had the bow turned into wind, but when you're turning right with this boat the 'prop walk' (propeller pushing the stern) also pushes the stern to the right. So I'm trying to turn the bow to the right and the stern is moving to the right too. In reverse, the prop walk pushes the stern to the left which helped as I was turning the bow to the right. Back, make progress, bow turns a bit to the right. Forward, no progress, bow stays pretty much in place as we drift closer to the boat of the French gentleman next door - who is starting to get excited now. At one point Steve was pushing off his boat with a boat hook while politely assuring him that we would not hit his boat. Eventually we got back far enough to swing the bow around and headed out the channel. By this time I think everyone in the marina was out and watching.
But, you know what? We didn't hit a thing, not one touch anywhere. Ungraceful, definitely, but also successful and that's all that counts. And Steve thinks I earned respect from the Morgan guy who couldn't get into the slip yesterday. I'm getting a lot more comfortable with driving this big ole thing.
A side note, when Steve and I used to go on the group motorbike tours, there were always a few women riding their own bikes and inevitably I'd end up being asked why I didn't ride my own bike, rather than being a (mere) pillion. The reason was and is that I like being a pillion because I don't have to pay any attention to the driving and I can take pictures / watch the scenery to my heart's content. But now I want to be asked that question again so I can say, "He drives the bike, I drive the boat."
After that eventful exit, we left Bimini and SAILED to Cat Cay where we put the anchor down and had a restorative snorkle.
(Another side note: We realised this morning that the clocks have changed, when did that happen?)
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment