When we came into Hope Town the other day, we saw a mooring ball we wanted to pick up. You remember mooring ball adventures from a previous posting… Well, all was going perfect! Then the starboard engine died! We thought Carey had taken care of the problem with the engines dyeing, but evidently it didn't stick. This is the point where everything falls apart. We can’t pick up the ball because we don’t have the steering control that is needed. Carey is trying to start the engine but we are gaining on other moored boats. At this point I decide I better try and start the engine while he watches where we are going so we don’t hit anything… it’s almost too late… Carey keeps repeating, sweetheart, sweetheart… the repetitiveness of these words is really a cry for help, but nothing else was coming from him... just sweetheart, sweetheart……. I started to look around to see if I could figure out what was going on… and sure enough there was a boat, a big catamaran right next to us, Carey is trying to negotiate a turn, things are not going well.
I had no fender out to grab and run with. So I ran forward empty handed and cruised the deck waiting to see if and where we would hit this other big boat... We missed her just as Carey gunned SongBirds one working engine… oh saved again!!! Good job captain!
I occupied myself with trying to start the one failed engine, the harbour here is packed with boats and I was not sure I wanted to watch as our hero maneuvered a 25’ wide newly painted boat among such a cluster. I peeked over once in a while to make sure he was still breathing. I gave up on the engine and helped where I could with water depth and hiding mooring balls. We came around again to the mooring ball we wanted, Carey offset our approach to account for current and tide so I was able to snag the mooring and bring it up. Perfect! He did it! Nothing hit, nothing damaged and no one died (except for that darn engine!).
Honey I think we need to buy for wine if our engines are going to keep dying like this.
Today we went aground in our dinghy. Of course it was much easier getting it off the bottom then a 40’ catamaran. As soon as Carey got out of the boat we started to float. But, we enjoyed the adventure and the simplicity of it… and the lack of stress it created!!
We have included a couple of pictures of a traditional Abaco sailing and sculling dinghy. Weiner Malone is the primary builder of these boats and is now 80 years old. Rumor has it he never admires boats (since today most of them are fiberglass) but was admiring our dinghy and was glad to hear that we had built it ourselves. He really liked her lines and thought her quite lovely. I felt proud.
We are not going to be able to head south yet. Our weather window closed in on us, so we are going to head north for some exploration. Once we see a window opening we’ll head south down to Staniel Cay. It sounds like we will meet up with Jared and Ruthie, who will be sailing in from FL. We will hang out in Staniel Cay until April 1st or so when Jeff will fly out and hook up with all of us. We are then off to the Land and Sea Park in Exuma.
Lesson Learned
Never think you have any problems resolved, they are only in a state of suspension until further notice.
When in small places or if there are any boats anywhere near… get out a fender to carry around just in case you need to fend off another boat, or something worse.
Buy more wine or take up drinking beer, it’s cheaper!
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