There is nothing much worse than a 3 am call to a boat yard operator. You awake to a frantic call and yes that is wind you hear in the background. The adrenaline pumped voice is overcoming the screach of the wind. Something about a loose furler is being blurted through the little speaker followed by the words “you’d better get down here….NOW. My initial thoughts are,”where is the boat going to go?” Afterall it is on the hard and cannot really move, or can it? During this brief conversation, you have already thrown a coat on and shoed the feet for the trek down to the water.
Upon arrival into the cold, dark and loud scene of chaos, you are shocked to see that not only is the largest boat in the yard moving around on it’s stands. Someone of pure genius has managed to take the unfurled jib sheet to a stand underneath the boat. Great, not only is the boat trying to gain inertial headway on the concrete, the very device meant to keep her upright is dancing underneath the boat at the end of a wild sheet.
Yes, the winds can be cruel. But this too shall pass, and so it does. Bringing a beautiful dawn with peace and a bright clean yard. As if nothing ever occurred, we begin another day in early spring.
The rain follows and hundreds of boats sit and fill ever so slowly with natures bounty. Yes boats leak, and it is amazing how much water they can accumulate when sitting in the yard. Like giant bath tubs. We investigate, unplug and drill when necessary. Out comes water, lots of water and with it, anything else that can make its way to our bright clean decks.
These are the things I never thought about when dreaming of being a boatyard operator. Now I know and ask two questions of the boaters in our yards. “Is your furler tied off well? and “Did you unplug your boat?” Please be a great land yachtsman and abide by these two very important rec’s. Thank you and good day.
