Hello,
I have a small 24"
Jeanneau One Design, that i used to use in regattas, but nowadays is just to go East and West in the Algarve (Portugal) coast. I live in Faro, the capital of Algarve.
Some time ago, when going to Vilamoura marina (biggest in the Algarve, with 1000
boat places - 15 miles from Faro) with a 20-25 kts SW
wind (weak, i know, but the
boat only weights 1400kg), and against what i normally do, i put the
sails down, folded and put them in the sailbag inside the boat, and with the powerful
outboard Suzuki 4hp (!) i went to the marina entrance. Waves were about 1.5m, and exactly at the time the boat passes the E breakwater the
engine stops! There was enough
fuel, i pumped the gas to the
engine, but nothing happened. As the boat started to move towards the breakwater, i started shouting to my girlfriend (she is still the same!) - i don't remeber what - and i run to deploy the
anchor. At the same time the
anchor grabs the bottom, i feel the
keel touching the breakwater (at least the boat turned and only the
keel touched the rocks). I went to the
radio and started to ask to the marina staff for help. When the
radio conversation finished, i went out and saw:
- My girlfriend on top of the rocks of the breakwater using the
spinnaker pole to push the boat away from the rocks (i never suposed that she would
work so good with the spi);
- A
RIB dragging a zillion rubber buoys that was finishing a hard days
work taking the people on the beach to a ride on some strange looking buoy. The
RIB took us out of the breakwater, and Little Song gently came with all the awkward buoys to the marina
reception pontoon. A bit of relief and shame was on my face...
Not very amusing, i know, but i confess: i'll never put the
sails in the bag before the boat is secure on the pontoon again!
Jorge - Faro - Algarve -
Portugal
(Little Song is a beautiful white 24''
Jeanneau One Design)