Those words, spoken by a panicked nine-year old, had me moving towards the lake at warp speed. What I saw when I got there was the tiny Sail Fish floating mast down in rough water. Her captain bobbing up and down in the chop working in vain to right her. Grandma had waded in waist deep, her shouts of instruction indistinguishable, gobbled up by the blowing wind.
A pleasant afternoon sail on the lake with Grandpa had turned frightening for the nine year old when a gust of wind grabbed the little boat, gave it a toss leaving it belly up in the water; her mast lodged in the mud; her crew rendered helpless. Our heroine managed to get herself to shore while the captain remained steadfastly with his vessel.
Grandma, The Kid and I scrambled to launch our old floater and raced to the rescue. Our boat was masterfully manuevered to avoid striking the disabled craft and The Kid plunged into the chop. It didn't take long to determine that the team in the water could not summon enough leverage to right the little sail boat. The reinforcements were called to action. I piloted the rescue vessel while Grandma attempted to grab the tow line. Steering was difficult due to gusty winds and the fact that there were now two men in the water from whom to steer clear. Once the tow line was secured we slowly made our way to shallow water eventually releasing the mast from its muddy resting place. Soon the little Sun Fish was righted and moved to the safety of the shore. It was quite another thing piloting the rescue vessel back to the dock. I admit that in the face of those gale force winds more than one attempt was needed to bring her safely to rest along side the dock.
It was a rescue at sea that was Coast Guard worthy even if it took place a mere 50 yards off shore in a light chop and 15 mph winds. But if I told you all of that in the beginning it would have spoiled the story wouldn't it?
2 comments:
Very nicely done - the rescue and the story.
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