l'escargot
Well-Known Member
.... I fell in the river tonight.
Was heading over to Lymington tonight, several of us try to have a night away at the end of the season - own boats, singlehanded, few drinks, a bite to eat and back the next day. Was going to be 5 boats tonight.
Left it a bit late this year with the clocks gone back and then the only day we could all do it was neaps. Finally managed to scrape off the mud at Newport just after 4pm and headed for Cowes in the drizzle with vis not too good. In the time it took to get to Cowes, not only had it got dark but the promised southerly had swung round to west, bang on the nose.
Still, headed off round Egypt point with the wind over tide slop but as things weren't getting any better by Gurnard decided it wasn't worth the hassle - long old beat into the wind in the dark, turn up cold and tired, so decided to head back.
Gentle motor back up the river, almost tempted to stop off at the Folly for the night, but resisted and carried on up to Newport. Point into pontoon and boat grinds to a halt about 6 foot from the pontoon - bloody neaps. No big problem, lassoo a cleat and pull the boat towards the pontoon, can usually pull the boat over the ridge in the mud and the keels settle into their usual slot.
Jump from the boat onto the pontoon (made that one, ha /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) turn round and pull the pulpit in, boat is almost over the ridge, just one more tug and it's there. Then it happened.
Holding onto the pulpit and giving it a sharp tug, instead of the boat coming in, my feet headed towards the side of the boat - I know there are signs saying "Pontoons slippery when wet", bloody obvious isn't it, especially now. End result boat 3 foot from the pontoon and me hanging from the pulpit with feet dangling in the water.
Now upper arm strength was never my thing. Can't get a foot up onto the boat, can just about get a toe to the pontoon, but no purchase. If I leave it any longer the tide will drop and the boat will be sat where it is until 5 am and I don't fancy "hanging around" all night or getting up early in the morning.
So no great drama, the boat is aground, the pontoon is in reach, time for a paddle. So we go ankle deep in mud, thigh deep in water and not anticipated, chest high to pontoon! Spend the next five minutes trying to pull myself up onto the pontoon. Finally do it, manage to push the boat off, leap aboard leaving a trail of mud across the boat and slip into a berth further up with a bit more water.
Oh well, oilies needed a wash.
Was heading over to Lymington tonight, several of us try to have a night away at the end of the season - own boats, singlehanded, few drinks, a bite to eat and back the next day. Was going to be 5 boats tonight.
Left it a bit late this year with the clocks gone back and then the only day we could all do it was neaps. Finally managed to scrape off the mud at Newport just after 4pm and headed for Cowes in the drizzle with vis not too good. In the time it took to get to Cowes, not only had it got dark but the promised southerly had swung round to west, bang on the nose.
Still, headed off round Egypt point with the wind over tide slop but as things weren't getting any better by Gurnard decided it wasn't worth the hassle - long old beat into the wind in the dark, turn up cold and tired, so decided to head back.
Gentle motor back up the river, almost tempted to stop off at the Folly for the night, but resisted and carried on up to Newport. Point into pontoon and boat grinds to a halt about 6 foot from the pontoon - bloody neaps. No big problem, lassoo a cleat and pull the boat towards the pontoon, can usually pull the boat over the ridge in the mud and the keels settle into their usual slot.
Jump from the boat onto the pontoon (made that one, ha /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) turn round and pull the pulpit in, boat is almost over the ridge, just one more tug and it's there. Then it happened.
Holding onto the pulpit and giving it a sharp tug, instead of the boat coming in, my feet headed towards the side of the boat - I know there are signs saying "Pontoons slippery when wet", bloody obvious isn't it, especially now. End result boat 3 foot from the pontoon and me hanging from the pulpit with feet dangling in the water.
Now upper arm strength was never my thing. Can't get a foot up onto the boat, can just about get a toe to the pontoon, but no purchase. If I leave it any longer the tide will drop and the boat will be sat where it is until 5 am and I don't fancy "hanging around" all night or getting up early in the morning.
So no great drama, the boat is aground, the pontoon is in reach, time for a paddle. So we go ankle deep in mud, thigh deep in water and not anticipated, chest high to pontoon! Spend the next five minutes trying to pull myself up onto the pontoon. Finally do it, manage to push the boat off, leap aboard leaving a trail of mud across the boat and slip into a berth further up with a bit more water.
Oh well, oilies needed a wash.
