I had imagined that most of the boats left out in the Port Hadlock anchorage by this stage of the winter had had their anchoring systems pretty well tested by the harshest northerly winds and waves that La Nina could throw at them. After the great culling of the Thanksgiving storm, in which at least three vessels were sunk and a handful more badly damaged, I figured we had gotten most of the drama out of the way early and didn’t have to worry about more wreckage and heartbreak. Apart from a little Catalina that got away somehow in a southerly a few weeks ago and drifted north toward Indian Island (to the Navy’s great displeasure; when I lost sight of it, it was on track to tangle up in their floating fence, and I later heard their radio traffic was pretty irate), that was pretty much the case until last week.
One of the sailboats that had gotten slammed up against the marina breakwater during the Thanksgiving storm had returned to the mooring field, though, despite still having gaping holes in the hull and having been dismasted. I imagine money was tight and the owner had nowhere else to go. He may also have subconsciously had a sort of death-wish for the vessel, too (I know the feeling), though, because I happened to look out the window on Friday to see her stuck in the mud just inshore of the marina.
Fortunately, the tide was rising, the mud flats were partly sheltered from wave action by the marina docks, and it just so happens that Port Hadlock Vessel Assist is moored at the dock right next to where it was all happening. They literally just backed straight out of their slip and got a line on her. It wasn’t all a cake walk, though:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWYRMmFc-7s[/youtube]
And it got even worse as they got out from behind the breakwater and put her on their beam to push her into a temporary slip:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FwOCD67xQc[/youtube]
Bouncy ride! I ran out of memory on the camera before they got her tucked away, but it took a few goes with the waves on the beam. Nonetheless, once again a very professional, tidy job by Port Hadlock Vessel Assist.
While all this was happening, a yawl that also happened to be over there (with a crew aboard; the grounded yacht was empty and unlivable) raised sail and took off south through the Cut into Oak Bay. The tide was against him and the roller coaster was operating at full speed off Indian Island as the current smashed into the wind, but he swept right down south under sail anyway. It looked like fun. I have often wondered why I don’t see more of the boats out there doing exactly that when the storms blow in; you’re a ten minute sail from safety, no matter how rough it is running in the Cut. I was happy to see someone taking the opportunity this time around. He was back later in the evening when the winds dropped, safe and sound.