[Sabreman]

So many things to tell, so little disk space......

I could tell about the time we nearly sunk the boat dockside while filling the fresh water (forgot to put the cap on the tank), or about the time that we nearly rammed a buoy immediately after telling our guests how much experience that we (I) have, or about the time that we lost an anchor off the Salem Nuclear plant, or the time that I grounded my father's boat, hit a buoy, and nearly another during a single sail, but I'll tell THIS story instead.....

We arrive at Smith Island, MD and there is a 2-3kt current in the very narrow (75'?) channel. We make a pass to check out the public pier and do a 180 deg turn to go back and tie up. The boat gets caught in the current and we're going sideways down the channel, so I gun the engine to kick the bow around before we plant ourselves in a marsh. The bow comes around and we're now on our reciprocal course when I see a small marina immediately to port. I forget about the current and make a 90 deg turn to the dock. We get caught in the current again and are now up to full speed because I forgot to take the engine out of full forward. The dock is now getting REALLY BIG, REALLY FAST. I cut the engine..... and stall it. My poor wife on the bow is now looking at me like I'm a madman as we head for the dock. Just before we make contact, I fly the length of the boat, over the bow pulpit, an onto the dock to fend off. The rest of the boat is in the current and the stern is swiveling toward ..... a Hinckley...... I hold on for all I'm worth and pivot the bow on a piling and she finally stops. No damage, but a REALLY humbled skipper.

I told the marina owner (who's also a waterman) what happened before someone else told him. His reply was that if you didn't do something like that from time to time, then you didn't spend very much time on the water.

My wife and I now talk out maneuvers in advance, and stick to the plan.