tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266108914902271629.post6087669928336739371..comments2023-09-25T08:48:48.104-07:00Comments on John Vigor's Blog: A swimming championJohn Vigorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215080385571534292noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266108914902271629.post-18086483119275844152012-10-12T14:54:17.636-07:002012-10-12T14:54:17.636-07:00We were involved in a grounding on a falling tide ...We were involved in a grounding on a falling tide a few years ago. Somewhat similar situation in that neither of us had a tender but only about 400' separated our LAYLA and a Cape Island fishing boat. Difference in our circumstance was that the tidal current was across our stern, runnning probably close to 2 knots. <br />The skipper had played out hunderds of feet of poly with a fender on the free end, the idea being that my wife would swim across and retrieve it. Skipper and I communicated via VHF after my wife had snagged the fender but she could not make any way across the current. I bellowed to her to hang on for dear life and then asked the skipper to tow her upstream. THe idea being that she have the advantage of the current, she managed to hang on and then resumed the swim.<br />We were laid over close to 45 degrees by the time she back got along side. He asked me several times over the radio whether towing from the top of the mast was a wise idea, him figuring he'd tear the rig right off it. I had rigged tow lines end to end secured to the Main haylard and had the coils of line on several stanchions on what ended up being the high side. I took the buoy from her, climbed up and made the knot from his line to mine and dropped it over the side. No sooner had I released the line then skipper took off, Mrs. was still in the water! Down to the low side and helped her aboard and then back to the high side, at one point nearly getting snagged in the streaming line. <br />Once the tow line came taught LAYLA pirouetted and off we went with water flooding over the coaming and into the cockpit.<br />Back on the VHF I indicated when the depth looked Ok. I had closed thruhulls at the beginning of the adventure but had neglected to consider the engine room vents on the aft deck, amazing how much water can flood in through a 3" opening! <br />No question in my mind that DW (da woife) saved the Boat.Greg Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01315668323419929446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266108914902271629.post-31500307084298859942012-10-04T07:13:54.730-07:002012-10-04T07:13:54.730-07:00Likely wearing a wetsuit and fins, perhaps even sc...Likely wearing a wetsuit and fins, perhaps even scuba gear. I'd expect a marine towing outfit to be equiped with such.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com