Assassin
Well-Known Member
This post is in response to several people badgering me to post this true story, and to see what other strange rescues boaters have been involved in.
The story begins on a balmy summers evening as we, and two friends were on the boat's flybridge having a snack and a drink, and watching the world go by, we were anchored up about 1/2 mile off the coast. Suddenly we saw one hot air balloon, then another, then several appeared in the distance; they were descending at a rapid pace and landing on the cliff top. Suddenly one overshot the top of the cliff and was heading down into the sea, then its burners suddenly lit up and it levelled out and did not crash into the sea, as it headed out towards us its occupants began waving.
Being the sociable sorts, we waved back as it levelled out and its basket was about the same height as our flybridge, it climbed and descended again, but still came towards us, there was a lot of onlookers on the cliff edge. As it neared us we realised it was frantic waving, not the social sort of waving, and we put our plates and cups down and pulled up the anchor and went slowly towards them. With a little careful handling we drew slowly alongside the basket and were in speaking distance, and they asked for help as they had had a freak wind which blew them off course, and they missed landing on the cliff, and had one gas bottle with less than 15% of gas remaining.
A plan was hatched to keep them at that height and attach a couple of warps and tow them back to the shore where they could ditch either in shallow water, or try to get back over land. We gave them one of our two way radios we keep on board, so had contact, we secured two lines and very slowly and carefully eased them back to shore, aided by a very gentle wind and the two stern cleats. Keeping a wary eye on the depth we managed to get them nearly to the bottom of the cliff as there was no beach. We detached one rope and radioed and told them to throw it to the other balloonists on the clifftop and they could try to pull them in if they gained a little more height to clear the pot of the cliff.
After several attempts they managed to throw a rope to those on the clifftop who secured it to the towbar of a recovery 4X4 which one of them used to transport their balloon and its gear. We slowly released the remaining line from our stern cleat and let it out slowly, and the 4X4 eased slowly forwards until the balloon was well over the top of the cliff, and safe, it landed without incident.
We agreed to travel up the coast to an inlet to meet them, our equipment was returned along with many thanks and much gratitude, and later in the year we were rewarded with a free balloon ride.
I have towed many things over the years, some normal, some slightly strange, but never a hot air balloon until then.
The story begins on a balmy summers evening as we, and two friends were on the boat's flybridge having a snack and a drink, and watching the world go by, we were anchored up about 1/2 mile off the coast. Suddenly we saw one hot air balloon, then another, then several appeared in the distance; they were descending at a rapid pace and landing on the cliff top. Suddenly one overshot the top of the cliff and was heading down into the sea, then its burners suddenly lit up and it levelled out and did not crash into the sea, as it headed out towards us its occupants began waving.
Being the sociable sorts, we waved back as it levelled out and its basket was about the same height as our flybridge, it climbed and descended again, but still came towards us, there was a lot of onlookers on the cliff edge. As it neared us we realised it was frantic waving, not the social sort of waving, and we put our plates and cups down and pulled up the anchor and went slowly towards them. With a little careful handling we drew slowly alongside the basket and were in speaking distance, and they asked for help as they had had a freak wind which blew them off course, and they missed landing on the cliff, and had one gas bottle with less than 15% of gas remaining.
A plan was hatched to keep them at that height and attach a couple of warps and tow them back to the shore where they could ditch either in shallow water, or try to get back over land. We gave them one of our two way radios we keep on board, so had contact, we secured two lines and very slowly and carefully eased them back to shore, aided by a very gentle wind and the two stern cleats. Keeping a wary eye on the depth we managed to get them nearly to the bottom of the cliff as there was no beach. We detached one rope and radioed and told them to throw it to the other balloonists on the clifftop and they could try to pull them in if they gained a little more height to clear the pot of the cliff.
After several attempts they managed to throw a rope to those on the clifftop who secured it to the towbar of a recovery 4X4 which one of them used to transport their balloon and its gear. We slowly released the remaining line from our stern cleat and let it out slowly, and the 4X4 eased slowly forwards until the balloon was well over the top of the cliff, and safe, it landed without incident.
We agreed to travel up the coast to an inlet to meet them, our equipment was returned along with many thanks and much gratitude, and later in the year we were rewarded with a free balloon ride.
I have towed many things over the years, some normal, some slightly strange, but never a hot air balloon until then.
