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Blogs by Pamela Ackerson
Sailing 7/12/2006 6:12:31 AM
We love sailing. We used to sail almost every available weekend. Then, too many things were dropped in our lap and the sailboat was put aside temporarily. However, I still had hope and each Spring I would go into the cabin and clean, etc., preparing for the possiblility that we would be able to take the boat out.
Alas, something always came up and we didn't make it.
Well, my friends, this year we were determined. We were going to take the boat out. So on the 4th of July, we did a bit of work around the house, then packed a cooler with bbq'd chicken and lemonade, hooked up the boat to the Jeep and off we went to the river. (After the shuttle went off--we tried going before the shuttle but didn't quite make it).
Most boaters are wonderful, caring people and thank the good Lord they were the ones at the boat ramp that day! Normally, I'm the one who holds the rope while my husband puts the boat in. Well, I couldn't get the boat off the trailer. It wouldn't budge no matter how far in he put the boat. So, here I am walking down the ramp through the water and hopping in the jeep, praying that water wouldn't rush into the vehicle.
Ha! No water in the jeep, yeah.
Here we go now, jeep in gear, hubby pushing boat, another boater has the rope and off the boat ramp I go. Woohoo! The boat is in the water!
And so is half the trailer. My daughter and husband jump in the water and grab the parts that are floating away. The trailer fell apart! Oh my stars! It had been so long since we had the boat out, we hadn't foreseen that the wood had rotted underneath the boat. I was stunned.
We were, oh so very, lucky that my husband chose to use the ramp near the yacht club. We prayed that there was an available slip. Where were we to park the boat while we repaired the trailer? It's not like we could just anchor it and walk to shore.
That decision made, out of the ramp area we went. We were in shallow water and pulled out the trolling motor to guide her into a slip. "No," God said, "no." A gush of wind pushed us aground not 15 feet from an empty slip. The trolling motor stopped working. Blink...blink...blink
I laughed. What else can you do? It was comical. My husband has been boating for over 30 years. (I only have about 10 years experience) He's a sailer and we looked as if we have never been on the water. This is where it comes down to helpful people. We had almost everyone within our immediate area come to our aid.
Two power boats pulled us out and off the ground. We were able to swing around and put the boat into the slip. A couple in a john boat helped us steer in the proper direction and people on the dock grabbed the rope I threw to them. Please let the slip be big enough for the boat...
Phew! We did it. With the help of many, many people. We did it.
The boat is in the water! Yeah, we made it into the water. Next step, the actual sailing of the boat.
