Your most embarrassing Incident?

[Gludy]

What is your most embarrassing incident?

Mine is one I reported on a few years back on this forum …..

I have been boating about 4 years now and during that time had a few embarrassing incidents. If I had to pin down just one it would be my first Mayday rescue.

I was out on Drumbeat with a number of guests and belting along back to the harbour when a friend shouted that there was smoke coming from the bow of a yacht on the starboard bow side – we were some distance away.

Taking a look we all saw that there were a fair number of people gathered on the bow of the medium sized yacht ( raggie) boat and one was waving his arms in the Mayday fashion – up together and down along his side – smoke was clearly coming up from the bow …. It was fairly obvious they had no radio and were on fire – it would take me no time at all at almost 30 knots to reach them and so I turned to starboard to go to the rescue shouting instructions to the crew as to what we were going to do ….. exciting stuff really.

As we approached the crowd on the bow of the raggie stood there in open eyed amazement – it was obvious they way they were dressed that they were not all boating people and were clearly in wide eyed shock …. Understandable because even the most experienced boating people should be scared of fire at sea!

It was then and only then when we could see the whites of their eyes that my friend shouted in a high voice to turn away and abandon the rescue … I turned the boat away at high speed and my friend then explained to me it was a funeral party spreading the ashes of someone. The arm waving was the symbolic way of spreading the ashes and the smoke – that blue – grey smoke was the ashes – we probably managed to scoop up a fair amount of those ashes and cycle them through my gin palaces engines ……. I am afraid they had to hold onto the rails and each other as our wash hit them but apart from that it seems no harm was done ….. I had a drink in the club when I got back after that one!

 

[Nick_H]

Single handed on the boat, rushing out at full speed to put out the fenders while the boat drifted in Lymington river, without first opening the patio doors.

 

[tcm]

cripes, i don't think i can match that!

I did nip over to have close look at a "free, abandoned" dinghy once or twice - but on both occassions the old dishcloth left on the sponsons turned out to be an alpha/diver flag...

 

[hlb]

Think everyone already know my catalogue of embarrassments.

Though on a simmilar note, we dashed over to the lifeboat off Charletown, to see what the fun was. Thought it was a sort of fun day with all the folk onboard. It was laying a wreath!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[davedpc]

Trying to show my mate on His tommahawk how to back up against 4 kots of tide [ferry glide] between 2 moored boats. Unfortunatley I was not used to twin 4 lever controls where you have to take off all throttle before you shift. I ended up damaging both His and my other mates flybridge on which He was on board behind. Thank gwod for insurance but will they let Me forget it. Dave.

 

[deborahann]

arriving in high summer to a very crowded beach by dinghy, for the dog to jump off the front and immediately pee on the children's clothes lying on the beach. The mother was quite nice about it considering, she said no don't wash em. I'll manage.

 

[Captain Coochie]

If you can think it ive done it and the only way to save face is to be proud of it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Nautorius]

Waking up when at anchor in the med (Siesta) by a sloshing at the bow. Climbed out of the hatch to check if we had dragged to find a couple holding onto the anchor chain and going at it full throtle. Seconds after poping my head over the girl looked up and told me that she would prefer it if I did not watch (well the actual words started with an F!) The cheek of it on my anchor chain as well! I was pretty embarased.

Paul

 

[BrendanS]

I'm embarrassed to say I can't really think of any really embarrassing incidents. Given my love of rough weather boating, there should be several.

Then it suddenly occurs to me, really embarrassing incident was buggering the traveller on Zefenders yacht on last years Cherbourg cruise. Think I screwed it big time. Still not sure what went wrong, as not that used to raggie stuff. But him and Paddywackcocker had a great time unwinding the main from the mast? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Oh, and there was the time I lost several of Observers fenders in one day! I have no reasonable explanation for that other than I was tired. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[abraxus]

[ QUOTE ]
Then it suddenly occurs to me, really embarrassing incident was buggering the traveller on Zefenders yacht on last years Cherbourg cruise.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that particular gypsy will think twice before hitching a ride on a yacht again.

 

[BrendanS]

You're quite right. Though buggering the traveller is different to buggering the gypsy

 

[muckypup]

Not really embassasing for me, but for my mother. Many years ago both my parents were in a small hire boat with outboard halfway across Windermere, me dad thought it wasn't going fast enough and decided to take the engine apart. Needless to say it didn't go after putting it back together again and they had to be rescued....

 

[Major Catastrophe]

I have already posted mine once. But here we go again:


When I first got my brand new boat last year, I prepared for a 5AM departure from home.

I prepped the boat, trailer and car and left the whole rig all joined up properly so I could drive straight out in the morning without waking up the neighbours.

Lessons learned:


1. If the tow is a bit stiff and accompanied by loud noises, one should consider taking off the wheel clamp.

2. Don't lay winch handle on trailer, you will never see it again.

3. A locked wheel clamp will complete one whole revolution and will leave deep scour mark in drive.

4. Combination of all of the above WIILL wake the neighbours.

5. Keep checklist and actually read it before engaging gear.

 

[peterbird]

Several years ago and new to boating, left marina totally confident and new nothing. Ran aground on mud bank within 200 meters of marina and had to wait for nearly 6 hours for tide to finish going out and then come back in again before we could get off! What a plonker /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Coupe]

Arriving into home berth first time with new boat (39ft). Previous boat was 28ft. You know the stuff, friends and family around to go out for a spin etc etc. Me full of confidence as it was the same berth I had used for 15 months. Weather perfect, no wind, slack water etc etc. Turned in as usual then bang - forgot about the new length behind me and smacked the bathing platform on opposide finger pontoon. What an idiot /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I look over at thet finger now and there is so much room. Anyway, made the gang laugh /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Petrolia]

I came to standing at the reception desk of a 4 star hotel with a couple of porters looking at me as if I'd come from another planet. "Why they looking at me like that, where am I" ?

I then realised I was only wearing my underpants ! I thought it must just be a terrible dream, but unfortunately it wasn't.

When I remembered my name they escorted me back to my room. I checked out later that morning & never went back.

Lucky it was 02:00 in the morning or it would have been even more embarrassing. I swore I'd never drink again.

How I came to be standing there ? Now that's another story.