It was Saturday.
It wasnt raining.
Thats why I had to check to prove it was Saturday, as it always rains on Saturday.
This was a strange Saturday.
The forecast said 15mph winds running from the West, which is roughly straight down the harbour for us.
Time to go boating I said.
They groaned.
Last trip was good, but tiring hunting for mothers purse.
They had got bored.
The wife rang.
"I want to take the kids to the pics."
Er.....
Only if I can have your boyfriend.
"What?!?"
Boating.
I need crew.
Ok. Ill tell him hes going.
Met her outside the flicks and swapped kids for boyfriend.
Time to go out to play.
Been looking forward to this.
Got to the slip. It was the one with all the boats in the way.
Boyfriend isnt exactly the most technically minded person Ive ever met.
With his help, it took an extra 45 mins to get the boat in the water and ready to go.
Hmmm....
15 mph.....
The water was cresting ( had white foam on th etops of its waves).
It was also blowing directly onto the end of the slip.
Im sort of standing there thinking there was something wrong with this...
Last time I looked at a map, the slip pointed South, not West.
Never mind. Boat time..
Got him to sit in the front.
Er... No the other side. Im going to turn left and the sail will be on the left so you need to be on the right...
Forget port and starboard...We are working on left and right.
Hes in the front.
I point the boat in the waves, push it and jump on.
Er....
It doesnt usually go this fast in 15 mph winds....
The wind was hitting the boat from the starboard side and about 90 degrees to the direction the boat was pointed in.
We were reaching.
There was a lot of wind.
WIth a bit of effort I persuaded boyfriend to get off the floor and lean out.
Struggled a bit as it seemed hanging on wasnt quite second nature.
The wind was strong enough that I had the back sail right out to try to stop the wind tipping over the boat.
As teh wind was hitting us in the side, so were the waves it was making.
They were only 2 or 3 ft tall, but close together and they were rocking the boat.
Badly.
Im leaning in and out trying to stop the boat rolling side to side. I believe this is called a death roll if it gets too bad and can turn the boat over.
Boyfriend was looking really happy.
I was trying not to let on I was really concerned.
We couldnt get too close to the shore because of the jetties and boats everywhere.
I wasnt really in controll of the boat and could easily have hit one.
The boom was out so far it was against the port shroud. This is the wire on the left that stops the mast falling over.
I couldnt let it out any more to reduce speed and roll. It wont go past that point.
I guess we were still doing over 10mph.
I know that sounds slow, but on an out of control boat thats hell bent on sinking itself....
In front of us I could see the ferry terminal coming up. I could also see the waves there were considerably bigger.
The water there is "Maintained to a depth of 7.5m", or too deep.
Frightened.
Dont like not being in control.
Boyfriend was looking soooo happy.
Wish I could be that er, unaware.
Just before the terminal, theres a small bay behind the Yacht club.
My kids jump in there frequently.
I know its only 3 ft deep.
Decided.
If Im going to have a crash, I want to do it in 3 ft of water rather than the "Maintained 7.5m"
