Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Block Island

With a three day summer week-end approaching, a group of us chartered a small sloop to sail on Long Island Sound. All started out well but by day two the weather kicked up and the Coast Guard was predicting a good blow so we headed for Block Island to anchor. Our ten pound Danforth anchor took a bite about twenty feet off the beach and we stayed awake all night on anchor watch. Many other boaters had also sought shelter and with daylight there were many swinging in the wind with resultant tangled anchor lines. The Coast Guard station was still flying storm flags and it appeared we would not get out very soon. As most of us were due back in our respective offices we lined up to use the radiophone - a common band - to announce our probable absences. We could overhear other boaters doing the same. One embarrassed chap in advising his office also had to explain that his secretary would also be among the missing. The moral seems to be "don't give your secretary sailing lessons."
tjs
Next - Indian Ocean

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