Storm Ties – On Wednesday, June17, five boats sailed
to Whiskey Rock to overnight there. The
weather reports were threatening and around 1600 (4 pm) the skies across the
lake near the Three Sisters was darkening and there was an occasional lightning
flash. Over the next half hour or so we
watched a storm with big winds, big waves, and heavy rain march across the lake
toward us. Precautions were taken. Extra fenders were put along the hulls of
several boats (me included); and additional dock lines were tied between our
boats and the dock. I added a second bow
line and a second stern line. When the
storm hit, we all ducked inside our respective boats to ride out the
storm. Inside Snickerdoodle was like
being inside a washing machine. I wedged
myself on the starboard settee and found myself seeing the most amazing
sights. First, the boat across the dock;
then the sky; then the dock - - repeated over and over. Stuff that never leaves it’s place on settee
shelves or the shelves behind the stove was dislodged and flew toward the
starboard side of the boat. All of the
miscellaneous food that started on the counter tops was thrown onto the floor. And, the boat was continuously brought up
short on the dock lines as rocked to and froe while the dock was also rocking
violently.
Suddenly, there was a
loud bang – much like a gun discharging.
I knew at once that one of the dock lines had snapped - - and I went on
deck to survey the
situation. I brought with me a 20 ft
long dock line (1/2”) and a 50 foot dock line (7/16”). It was one of the stern lines that had
snapped (3/8” dacron line). I replace it
with the 20 foot line… and then put an additional line on the bow and took the
tail of that line back to make up an additional spring line.
Things were still
topsy-turvey and the waves were still knocking the dock and boats around. By 1830 (6:30 pm) the storm was pretty much
blow off to the east. The wind shifted from
the south and the waves stopped entering the bay.
What is the
“number one” lesson learned? Make sure
to take extra fenders and docking lines along whenever cruising around the
lake. Yes, these do take up valuable
room below… but, when you need that extra fender or have to re-tie a broken
dock line, you will be glad that you had them.
Of course, the next morning everything was calm and minimal breezes all day long.
