After a very enjoyable time at the Wharf we decided to go just 20 miles and anchor out near Pensacola in ordered to watch the Blue Angels perform an Air Show from their home base.
Wow, we soon crossed into Florida and today is only November 2. We seem to be making pretty good time although I had originally hoped to be across the Gulf sometime in early November. Hopefully we will get a good window to cross without any delays.
It was a beautiful warm day and the anchorage was already busy when we arrived. We set our hook and helped Seamoore raft to us as we have many times before. We were all settled and enjoying the ambiance by 11 AM with a Bloody Mary,... a couple of Caesars,... and then some beers. You get the picture; we were having a good time in this beautiful setting. Many other planes were putting on displays throughout the day but we were ready for the Blue Angels. At the 2 PM starting time our drinks were full, the binoculars were handy and our cameras at the ready.
AND THEN
All hell broke out. A 38 foot boat lost control and hit our bow pulpit. He tried to gain control but got involved with my anchor line; he hit the bow pulpit again before backing off and almost hitting a sail boat. Mean while the Angels arrived and were screaming over head doing their thing. The boat who hit us left the scene immediately after gaining control of his vessel. I tried to raise him on the radio but no response. I decided to report the incident to the Coast Guard and after taking done the particulars passed me onto to the FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission, I think). They also took down the particulars but did not have a boat available to come out to investigate at the time. They did promise to send out someone later to deliver a "self reporting" accident form. OK. I was finally done... but so were the Blue Angels; I missed it all.
An hour or so later, while I was still waiting for the FWC Officer, the boat called and we exchanged contact info. Well the long and the short of it is that my 300 foot anchor rode needs replacing and they have agreed to cover the cost. They could not get cash so I have subsequently received a money order to cover damages which only their bank will cash. Of course, we have moved on and it may be weeks before we are in a city with their bank close by. Hopefully, it will all work out in the end.
Well that did put a damper on things but we rebounded and had a great dinner in a great setting. While motoring around in the dinghy most if not all of the neighboring boats witnessed the incident and some even had photos of the boat to support us if need be.
Well I had hoped that was the end of the excitement for that day but NO. The anchorage was crowded and a number of late comers were too close to give both boats their full swing room. Sure enough when the tide changed and was opposite the wind, every boat re-acted differently to the two forces. My fly bridge and the fact that we were 2 boats swung around with the wind. The nearby sail boats were lower to the water and had a full keel so were affected more by the tide. Just before midnight we were very close to a couple of sailboats. It looked OK for the time being so I went to bed. An hour later I heard strange noises and quickly discovered that the 2 sailboats were in front of us. I pulled on our anchor line which had gone slack and got us in front of them again. At 2 PM the tide changed and the wind picked up from the same direction as the previous afternoon. We seemed to separate from the other boats so I went back to sleep. The next morning all of the boats were in the same position, with the same clearances as the previous day. Go figure.
Glad all is well with no damage!
ReplyDelete32F with snow flurries this past week so enjoy that heat, sun and drinks.
Wish I was there.
Carol