Complete Disaster!
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 7:17 am
I had not been sailing since Feb 11, 2020. I have been out to the boat many times to check on pump working, dock lines tight etc but I had not been on the water. I decided yesterday enough was enough.
When I got to the dock the wind speeds were between 8 and 13 kts, frankly right on the edge of my comfort zone. The temps were in the mid 70's and completely cloudless. I decided to go out banking on the winds dying somewhat as the day went on.
The lake I sail on is overgrown with hydrilla this year and will not be sprayed until next January but there was a clear channel out and around the beds. Once in the middle of the lake it was clear. Anyway, I went out, keeping Monkey Island to my starboard and had no problems. Once in the middle of the lake the boat performed well and even with the increased winds (now up to 15 to 18 kts) it was easily to handle. Suddenly the winds increased once again and were now touching on 20 to 25 kts. I was about 3 or 4 miles from the marina by this point and decided to head back. Well, the old girl decided to play games and not allow me to come about. No matter what I did she simply would not allow me to reverse course. I turned on the trolling motor only to discover either a dead battery or a bad connection because it would not run! I decided the only thing to do since I was too far from another ramp or shallow water to keep going forward was to jibe. Although I had pulled in most of the main sheet and had the mainsail centered it still whipped over at a high rate of speed when it reversed heeling the boat completely down to the gunnel with water beginning to come into the cockpit. I quickly clawed my way to the high side and hiked out to get the boat back on its feet. Fortunately it worked and now I was headed back to the marina in 20 plus kt winds. I knew I was going to have to tack in or at worst paddle since the motor was out. However the wind kept pushing me back toward the center of the lake, right into the hydrilla bed, which I now could not see. I soon found myself right in the middle of the "Sargasso Sea of Lake Harris" and was unable to move. It was now getting late and would soon be dark. I had to arrange for a Sea Tow to pull me out of the weeds and take me back to the marina (I had to pay for his trip back anyway and this was much faster). All in all it cost me $500.00 for the tow since there was no one else on the water right then. By the time the Sea Tow got to me I had actually drifted out of the hydrilla and probably, had it been daylight, could have sailed back but it was dark and the winds were still high.
So, yes it was a disaster that could have been averted if I had not decided i was a better sailor then I actually was and if I had insured the motor and battery were operational. I am now off to the marina to properly put The Lusty Slogger to bed (I just threw everything in the cockpit and made sure the dock lines were secure and went home!)
I need to pay more attention to the weather report, not only for rain but for high winds as well.
When I got to the dock the wind speeds were between 8 and 13 kts, frankly right on the edge of my comfort zone. The temps were in the mid 70's and completely cloudless. I decided to go out banking on the winds dying somewhat as the day went on.
The lake I sail on is overgrown with hydrilla this year and will not be sprayed until next January but there was a clear channel out and around the beds. Once in the middle of the lake it was clear. Anyway, I went out, keeping Monkey Island to my starboard and had no problems. Once in the middle of the lake the boat performed well and even with the increased winds (now up to 15 to 18 kts) it was easily to handle. Suddenly the winds increased once again and were now touching on 20 to 25 kts. I was about 3 or 4 miles from the marina by this point and decided to head back. Well, the old girl decided to play games and not allow me to come about. No matter what I did she simply would not allow me to reverse course. I turned on the trolling motor only to discover either a dead battery or a bad connection because it would not run! I decided the only thing to do since I was too far from another ramp or shallow water to keep going forward was to jibe. Although I had pulled in most of the main sheet and had the mainsail centered it still whipped over at a high rate of speed when it reversed heeling the boat completely down to the gunnel with water beginning to come into the cockpit. I quickly clawed my way to the high side and hiked out to get the boat back on its feet. Fortunately it worked and now I was headed back to the marina in 20 plus kt winds. I knew I was going to have to tack in or at worst paddle since the motor was out. However the wind kept pushing me back toward the center of the lake, right into the hydrilla bed, which I now could not see. I soon found myself right in the middle of the "Sargasso Sea of Lake Harris" and was unable to move. It was now getting late and would soon be dark. I had to arrange for a Sea Tow to pull me out of the weeds and take me back to the marina (I had to pay for his trip back anyway and this was much faster). All in all it cost me $500.00 for the tow since there was no one else on the water right then. By the time the Sea Tow got to me I had actually drifted out of the hydrilla and probably, had it been daylight, could have sailed back but it was dark and the winds were still high.
So, yes it was a disaster that could have been averted if I had not decided i was a better sailor then I actually was and if I had insured the motor and battery were operational. I am now off to the marina to properly put The Lusty Slogger to bed (I just threw everything in the cockpit and made sure the dock lines were secure and went home!)
I need to pay more attention to the weather report, not only for rain but for high winds as well.
It was the era of the mustaches! 