Friday, June 18, 1993

The day got off to a great start. We left the dock a little after ten. Twenty minutes later, we were aground.
Usually, Roy checks the chart very carefully before we leave, but apparently he didn't this time. I was putting the lines and fenders away when I noticed we were on the wrong side of the channel marker. I started to say something to Roy, but then I figured he knew what he was doing. All of a sudden, BLOOMP.
Fortunately, Roy has towing insurance. The powerful little tow boat pulled us back to deep water in a few minutes, but one of the bow cleats flew off in the process. If I'd been standing on the bow, I'd have been knocked cold.
The tow boat operator had us tie up to the fuel dock, so he could get Roy's signature. Roy told me it would be a starboard tie. I was getting the lines and fenders ready on the starboard side, when he said it would be a port tie. I was scrambling to move the lines and fenders to the port side, when he told me to get out the flat fender, so I went to the lazarette to get the flat fender, but before I could get it all the way out, Roy yelled at me to take the lines from the guy on the dock, so I ran to do that. As soon as we were tied to the dock, he wanted the flat fender. Man!
The towing bill came to $312. Fortunately, we're insured for $350.
It was a perfect day for sailing. The wind was out of the east at 15-20 knots. Waves were 4-6 feet. The sun was shining, and the sky was blue. We zoomed north at 6 1/2 knots under sail, with a little assist from the Gulf Stream. Despite our late start, we reached Palm Beach in daylight and dropped anchor in the middle of the harbor.