Surviving Stupidity - Part 4*

A TALE OF LOVE AND GREED

Our 30-year old, 33’ Chris Craft cabin cruiser was polished to a sheen, engines in purring condition, galley stocked with canned goods we’d eat if, horrors, we didn’t catch fresh seafood. We planned to live on our boat and cruise the San Juan Island area for 100 days - over three months of fishing, crabbing, clamming, sunning, and exploring.

My husband and I had been planning this adventure for over a year. Michael’s mechanical expertise guaranteed the two big engines of the boat ready to handle any difficult waters we might encounter. He pored over navigation charts in the weeks preceding our departure while I worked on organizing the loose sightseeing plan for the 100 days.

Once we were on our way, days passed with beautiful and marvelous precision. All we dared to hope for materialized. The sightseeing proved exquisite and the seafood was bountiful wherever we went.

One day, two and a half months into our adventure, we discovered an oyster bed of magnificent proportions. Over our two-day stay in those waters, we ate our fill of fried oysters - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Two weeks prior to this "find," an educated fisherwoman in Paradise Cove told us oysters would keep several weeks if they remained in wet sacks. Remembering this, Michael stuffed two gunnysacks full and stowed them in the bow of our 15’ dinghy.


On day 98 of the trip, we motored our melancholy way back to Anacortes, Washington. As we entered the channel between Vashon and Blake Islands, fierce winds kicked up. We knew our timing for navigating this area was poor concerning tides and currents, but we did not plan on the gusting winds. Michael turned on the ship-to-shore radio and listened to the weather report. Strong winds forecast. Well, they got that right!

The flying bridge performed like a sail in the fierce winds and Michael’s full concentration was needed to keep the boat on course. I stayed at the stern to monitor the 15’ dinghy.

I stepped up by the helm to speak to Michael. Turning toward the stern, I noticed something very wrong. I yelled into the wind, “Michael, the dinghy’s swamping." “Oh, s---, come and hold the wheel” he hollered.

By this time, all six life jackets and the cushions from the dinghy - anything that would float - bobbed on the wind-whipped, ragged-topped waves. I struggled to keep the wheel straight as the big boat's engines strained. 

I threw the engines into neutral, left the helm and began to assist Michael in his struggle to pull in the towline attached to the dinghy. Impossible, I thought. A 15’ boat filled with water, almost totally submerged. Pull it in? 

How we managed is a mystery, but by leaning over the railing, pulling on the tow ropes, we moved the dingy closer to the diving platform of the bigger boat. Then, slowly, slowly, hand over hand, we worked to pull the bow of the dinghy onto the platform, allowing some of the water to run out.

Michael went back to the helm and engaged the engines. The wind continued to form strong, erratic, cresting waves. As the boat motored in circles, riding the swells, I hung one-handed off the handrail of the ladder leading up to the flying bridge. Pike pole in my right hand, I managed to hook most of the equipment that had sloshed out, including cushions and life jackets.

Finally, we moved the boats over to a calm-water area near the shore. The dinghy bow still rested on the diving platform. Michael stepped down into the dinghy and began bailing water.

After scooping most of the water out of the dinghy, he reached into the recess under the bow. As he pulled out the two brown sacks filled with oysters, he looked up at me. Although neither of us said anything, we realized our greed almost caused both of the boats to sink.

We dumped the contents of the sacks into the water. Two very contrite people motored slowly to Gig Harbor where we regrouped and counted our blessings over a pitcher of beer.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, 
but not every man's greed.  

~Mahatma Gandhi

*Seems there's no end to it!