My first Rescue.

I only had to get rescued once last summer. Hmmm – that’s once too many!

Due to A. getting on in her pregnancy and also her travel for her work, I spent a lot of time single handing (sailing alone) at the end of the summer. I usually didn’t go far and often just went ‘bobbing’. This is what my wife and I call it when there is little wind, so we just motor a mile or so off shore and just bob around. You know, hang out.

I went out one day after work – sailing west up the lake toward Oakville. The wind was very light, but I could still move along. I planned to tack my way west then sail downwind home again. Well, about the time I got to the Mississauga/Oakville border – the wind died. So I bobbed. As the sun was getting low in the sky, I decided to fire up the motor and go home. Turned the key – the motor turned over – but would not run. Dang thing! Tried it again – then for longer and longer runs of the starter. Nothing – the engine would not catch.

I did not have any tools with me and at that point I’m not sure where I would have started anyway. I banged around on the engine, thinking that a strategic hit somewhere would magically solve fix it. (I fix appliances for a living, and sometimes when all else fails, the ‘big hammer’ method works. The method is as follows. Take a big hammer – hit the appliance several times and see if it works.) Anyway, not this time.

The sun was now going below the horizon, so it was time to call for help. I did not have my cel phone with me, so I got on the VHF radio and notified the local Coast Guard of my situation. They in turn tried to raise the Peel Marine Police unit who are stationed out of my marina – in fact about 10 slips down from us. But for some reason, they were not answering their phone or radios. So the Toronto Marine unit had to be called. They were on their way, but would take a while. Fine by me – just get me in before nightfall.

Back to bobbing – and bobbing – and more bobbing. Finally, off in the distance I could see the hard bottom orange zodiac coming. They tied a line up to me, but would not take me to my marina. I guess that they are to tow into the nearest “safe harbour” which was the Port Credit Harbour Marina. My marina is only about half a mile from Port Credit Harbour Marina. OK – not much I can do – they have the weapons. They towed me in and put me on the cement wall at the entrance of the harbour. A very exposed and not a really safe place, plus the cement wall towers over the deck of my boat by about 6 feet. Nice – thanks guys!

Just as I was tying off, a power boater friend of mine was coming out the bay on his way home to my marina. I begged help – he complied and soon I was moving home at the end of about 100 feet of line. Thanks Tim!

Next – engine repairs and tunes.