Glad to Be of Service!

[Dougo]

My brother & I were enjoying some great sailing a couple weeks ago and eventually the wind died and the fun came to an end - so we thought.

We were sitting on our terrace overlooking the lake, as we do often, when we see a a power boat (about a 20 footer) with the engine compartment open and paddling to the south. Also, a quite attractive young lady in a bikini was accompanying our gallant gondola pilot. So I looked at Bro and said, "we need to help these folks!"

We headed down to the dock and started the trusty Honda and headed out to rescue the damsel in distress (and, yes, the dude, too). We towed Babe & dude to their dock a short way up the lake and returned home.

My elderly Dad was on the terrace the whole time and informed us that as we headed out he heard the young lady exclaim, "Oh crap! Not a F---ing sailboat!" And that was the quote! Of course we couldn't hear the comment over the roar of my 5 HP.

Job well done and a couple beers later, we laughed our keesters off! No good deed goes unpunished! Cheers to sailboaters!

 

[justsomeguy]

F'in sailboats! Good on ya.

 

[ggrizzard]

ix:

Somebody needs to remember their cell phone!

 

[whatfiero]

glad to be of service

next time hoist the sails and tow them in under sail and tell them how easy it would be to install a mast on that thing and you'll never have motor problems again

 

[Freedom77]

Tell 'em how many miles per gallon you get in a good breeze:cussing: Stinkpots, UH!! Fair Winds and Full Sails.

 

[BobM]

I was coming in last year and there was powerboat mid channel, as I passed by I saw legs sticking out of the engine compartment so I circled around and asked him if he wanted a tow. He wasn't too proud to take me up on it as it was pretty dark by that point. He had done some major repairs and apparently decided on a test run a little to close to sunset.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I've towed in powerboaters. They were all appreciative. Maybe it's the lake powerboaters who are a different breed.

 

[Winkfish]

Over the years, I've towed in quite a few people, turned over some two stroke oil to another, handed over a battery jump pack to yet another. I've also been towed in (once by a jet ski - the horror!! ), and I recently had several boaters pass me by when I was stranded in Florida. Luckily I am a member of Sea Tow.

I dare say that, regardless of said "boat babe's" comments, the skipper of the boat you saved could not have cared less whether it was a sailboat or powerboat that towed him in.

In closing, I can't imagine ever ignoring another boater in distress except in the most extreme and unusual circumstances.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I agree.....the code of the sea means that you MUST help another boater if you can help them safely. Regardless if they are a power boat, a sailboat, a knowledgeable steward of the sea, or a horse's rump, it is imperative that we help each other. When you are out there, we are all we have for each other.

 

[kenn]

I agree.....the code of the sea means that you MUST help another boater if you can help them safely. Regardless if they are a power boat, a sailboat, a knowledgeable steward of the sea, or a horse's rump, it is imperative that we help each other. When you are out there, we are all we have for each other.

I help out for selfish reasons - you get to meet strangers and you usually get a new story to tell

 

[Benny17441]

Yes she probably knows by experience how horny them sailors can be.

 

[SenecaDaze]

Yes she probably knows by experience how horny them sailors can be.

LOL:naughty:

 

[BobT]

Shocking! Salacious lechery, under the guise of altruism. We are appalled. Did you get any pictures?

 

[Kordie]

In closing, I can't imagine ever ignoring another boater in distress except in the most extreme and unusual circumstances.

Unless it causes undue risk to your vessel then you'd be breaking maritime law not to help. Well done mate

 

[Ray Bowles]

The only thing worse that having a broken powerboat is having a "girlfriend" like her.
Nicely done Dougo.
Ray

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I was just leaving my marina for a sunset sail when I saw a young man in a small fishing boat giving the slow wave emergency signal. I headed over to find three in the boat. His comment was "Thank god, somebody who finally knows what my signal means." In the upper Mid-West many boaters are under trained. (Is that humor dry enough?)

Since it was a small boat, I offered to take the passengers aboard. The girlfriend immediately leaped aboard and asked for the head. Turns out they had been out on the water for nine hours. First fishing trip this season and the motor won't run. (They were within a short paddle of the shore, had there been a paddle on-board).

I offer to tow him into the marina. He asks me to tow him 9 miles upstream to their ramp! He got towed into my marina.

Our marina owner had their outboard running in ten minutes. I was back out under sail when they roared by. No wave or nothing. Still, I'll stop and help whenever I can.

 

[Dougo]

Shocking! Salacious lechery, under the guise of altruism. We are appalled. Did you get any pictures?

No, no pictures (hate that "hind sight is 20/20" stuff!)

I'd do it again (and probably will). Laws or no laws, it's the right thing to do.

 

[BobM]

It was kind of fun towing a powerboater in with my sailboat ;-) When I joined my club a guy who was one of the officers said "Not another sailboater!" To which I replied. "If it helps I can motor around a lot. I think I burned a whole 5 gallons last year."

 

[UPSGUY]

On 15Aug2004 S/V Liberte responded to a call for assistance from USCG San Juan. The Liberte was skippered by a crew of Auxiliary and went out to assist a disabled 25' motorboat reported to be 10 miles off shore from St Croix.
By the time the vessel in distress was located 17 miles off shore the crew of Liberte determined it safer to tow to St Thomas rather than back to St Croix.
The whole rescue round trip took over 17 hours most of which was done under sail.
Under the conditions encountered (hi winds and waves) the sailboat was actually the best vessel available for the job.
I take a lot of pride in this story as it was my dad who skippered Liberte that night. If you would like to read the full report PM me and I'll send you a copy.