Quite a few factors came into play that lead up to yesterdays' mini dramas.
Firstly could not find my key to the mitsi a couple of weeks back which is one of those new fangled things, that electronically control more functions than a space rocket. Meantime whilst searching high & low for it to no avail, have been operating off the emergency key which hangs around my neck for that was lost, then would be going nowhere other than being towed to the workshop. Could have purchased a replacement but at $700 plus can think of a lot of things I would rather spend that sort of money on.
Secondly sold the motorhome recently including the 10 ft tinny & small motor carried on the back to a nice young lady. I was concerned that she & her partner had very little experience with small boats, so it was arranged that we would take the boat somewhere suitable to show them how things work & demonstrate various safety procedures. The forecast for yesterday was at times showing zero wind or at the most 10 knts therefore that was the day decided on. The plan was for Vinnie to tow the 5.5 mtr Maclay that we could use as a safety boat whilst they familiarised with the operating technique ... simple as .... what could possibly go wrong ?
Ever reliable Vinnie turned up on time as per usual & set about to hitch the trailer on to the back of his wagon whilst I was walking around in a semi stupor having not slept a wink due to an upset tummy. Were about to hitch it on when the realisation hit me that I use one of those lockable pins & no prizes for guessing where it is kept ... yeah dead right on the now missing mitsi key ring.
Have often wondered just how secure those pins are for they look as tho a decent hammer blow would snap them off so now was an appropriate time to find out & amazingly enough Vinnie had a spare one in his car if we managed to remove the existing one. Ok it took more than one blow as that only succeeded in smashing my "recovery" cup of strong black coffee, but with the aid of a hacksaw on the third blow it broke off allowing us to put the new one in its' place & was the precise time I remembered that the boat ignition key had a spare key on it.
In due course Nicole & Aiden arrived so it was off we go according to plan to Gulf Harbour where it was intended we would all go do a bit of fishing before starting the small boat safety demos. OK normally I prefer to fish with only two on board with a max of three but on this occasion the forecast was so good decided four would be ok. The conditions initially on the way out in the face of a lively chilly stherly were considerably more lumpy than anticipated however the forecast said it would drop right off when the wind began to swing to a SW direction in about an hour .... so no worries .... better think again Bazza!
Anchored at our intended spot, started fishing & the fish were on the bite but mostly small apart from one keeper, however action was such that surely a fair catch was reasonably assured. Unfortunately the wind was increasing making things a tad uncomfortable so puled anchor to move to shallower water quite close to land where it appeared to be calmer & in short order Vinnie brought another keeper on board but as the wind appeared to be swinging it was decided the end of the peninsular would most likely afford some shelter ... wrong again ... the bloody wind intensified & swung back to the south. Conditions were decidedly uncomfortable with the wind howling thru the Tiri channel against the tide creating rolling close together whitecaps .... time to demonstrate a safety lesson & call it a day before things got any worse. Turned out to be a sound decision as was slow progress making our way back ploughing into angry short chop often dropping the bow into a trough as the next rolled then surged over the foredeck causing a mini waterfall to cascade through the forward hatch drenching our gear stowed below
but amazingly enough phones etc. survived OK. Likewise Vinnie who took a tumble dislodging one of the seats off its' pedestal, creating even less secure hold on space.
When giving the preliminary verbal safety run down, had never imagined the initial practical demo would turn out to be so overly realistic. Much of the advice that had been given was now being put to the actual test such as allowing excess fuel for the return trip as we were burning double the normal amount not being able to plane so needed to swap tanks, also the wisdom of wearing life jackets was being reinforced, even if later on ironically it occurred to me that the skipper was the only one that did not put his on ... what a silly bugger ... will need to have a word with him !
Arrived back at the ramp finally mostly wet thru & worse for wear so the relative comfort afforded in the motorhome was most welcome. The trials & tribulations however were not over completely over with our safe return as I had failed to raise the motor & when driving off the skeg dragged on the concrete ram modifying its' shape slightly.
It was decide to move to Army Bay in the hope of calmer conditions to carry out the small boat run down trials & were pleased to find the conditions were ideal to conduct the lessons.
OK as the old saying states "It is an ill wind (no pun intended) that blows no good " for the day saw one very positive highlight namely :- At one stage Nicole said "what are those?" whilst pointing to something under the standing platform ... and ... would you believe it ... they were my missing keys ... could have kissed her & think in actual fact I did.
OK given the conditions they both passed their tests with flying colours & altho unplanned, probably could have not undergone a series of more severe tests & learnt some valuable lessons such as it often pays to listen to instincts rather than, helpful as they are, rely entirely on forecast.
The pics give no true indications of just how rough the sea became even tho relatively calm at that point.
They went home with some freshly caught & smoked snapper which hopefully they enjoyed.
When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT
fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!!