I went out on Prudence last week with extended family and had a great time. We were mostly there to show off the boat for the first time, have a bite in the cockpit and then decided we'd sneak in a quick motor around the harbor. We went out to the mouth of the harbor thinking we'd do a quick run around the buoy a 1/4 mile offshore but decided to turn around when the bouncing got too out of control for the moms holding the kids/babies on the forward deck.
As we headed back into the harbor I saw a Catalina 25(?) drifting towards the rocks. As I kept an eye on it, I had a hard time knowing if the boat needed help or not. I couldn't really tell if the boat had no power but I did see that the sails were rolled up. I kept on heading in toward the main channel talking to my stepdad deciding whether to go over there and help or just call the coast guard and keep a safe distance. I decided to first motor over near him and see if indeed he needed help. As I started to head his way, I grabbed the handheld VHF and noticed that he was in trouble but made no panic signs. At one point he had one hand the on boat pulpit and was footing the boat off the rocks.
I kept my distance as I have way less experience and control with my sailboat as I do with my fishing boat and didn't want to have two boats on the rocks. I yelled and asked if he needed assistance and he replied that he was ok. His boat clearly wasn't ok as it was banging on the rocks. I told him that I'd call the coast guard and he said not to worry about it. At that point I thought that I could throw him a line and I would back us into the main channel. This took a few attempts as my step dad took the tiller and I threw the line. I never could get it to him as I had my step dad who has never been on this boat keep her some distance away. Strangely in my mind I contemplated trying to make a quick Monkey's Fist. No way. I then took control of the helm, backed upwind and let the wind drift the bow down closer to the boat in distress and we finally made the throw and pulled her to the channel.
What had happened was that the Catalina had caught a line around her outboard and lost power and control. Strangely her boom was broken and tied to the mast so she was basically a poor powerboat with a lot of windage. Her owner never seemed panic and never really wanted our help. He spent a couple minutes anchored and unwrapped the line from the prop as we watched to see that he got the outboard started. I think he may have waved a "thanks" and then motored off but here's another weird thing. Instead of going straight into the harbor to take a break he motored quickly off toward the harbor mouth, threw down the anchor and began fishing.Wow.
It was a strange event. After and even during really, I couldn't figure out if it was better for me to help him off the rocks or to call the Coast Guard. I was cautious getting near him as I had a boat full of family on board and it was a decision that I'm not entirely sure of even after the fact. I'd say now that I've done it I'd do it again as I have a little experience. I sure hope someone would help too if they saw me in that position. Mark one karma point down for Prudence. In retrospect I should have contacted the coast guard afterwards to let them know that there was a sailboat fishing the channel that might be filling with water and need assistance.
As we headed back into the harbor I saw a Catalina 25(?) drifting towards the rocks. As I kept an eye on it, I had a hard time knowing if the boat needed help or not. I couldn't really tell if the boat had no power but I did see that the sails were rolled up. I kept on heading in toward the main channel talking to my stepdad deciding whether to go over there and help or just call the coast guard and keep a safe distance. I decided to first motor over near him and see if indeed he needed help. As I started to head his way, I grabbed the handheld VHF and noticed that he was in trouble but made no panic signs. At one point he had one hand the on boat pulpit and was footing the boat off the rocks.
I kept my distance as I have way less experience and control with my sailboat as I do with my fishing boat and didn't want to have two boats on the rocks. I yelled and asked if he needed assistance and he replied that he was ok. His boat clearly wasn't ok as it was banging on the rocks. I told him that I'd call the coast guard and he said not to worry about it. At that point I thought that I could throw him a line and I would back us into the main channel. This took a few attempts as my step dad took the tiller and I threw the line. I never could get it to him as I had my step dad who has never been on this boat keep her some distance away. Strangely in my mind I contemplated trying to make a quick Monkey's Fist. No way. I then took control of the helm, backed upwind and let the wind drift the bow down closer to the boat in distress and we finally made the throw and pulled her to the channel.
What had happened was that the Catalina had caught a line around her outboard and lost power and control. Strangely her boom was broken and tied to the mast so she was basically a poor powerboat with a lot of windage. Her owner never seemed panic and never really wanted our help. He spent a couple minutes anchored and unwrapped the line from the prop as we watched to see that he got the outboard started. I think he may have waved a "thanks" and then motored off but here's another weird thing. Instead of going straight into the harbor to take a break he motored quickly off toward the harbor mouth, threw down the anchor and began fishing.Wow.
It was a strange event. After and even during really, I couldn't figure out if it was better for me to help him off the rocks or to call the Coast Guard. I was cautious getting near him as I had a boat full of family on board and it was a decision that I'm not entirely sure of even after the fact. I'd say now that I've done it I'd do it again as I have a little experience. I sure hope someone would help too if they saw me in that position. Mark one karma point down for Prudence. In retrospect I should have contacted the coast guard afterwards to let them know that there was a sailboat fishing the channel that might be filling with water and need assistance.
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