Ok, here's another:
Location: St Kilda Marina Boatramp (relatively uncrowded on this particular day, luckily
.
Situation: Launching our TS for the first time since last summer.
Weather: Nice sunny day, light winds.
We rig up without major incident, although I'd raised the mast and then had to partly lower it *twice* after finding one halyard or other stuck under the mast step. I'm sure I had them clear before the mast went up - they seem to move when I'm not looking!
Anyone got any solutions??
I backed the boat down the ramp with the wife holding the stern line. I get out of the car, and with the bow line in one hand check that everything is clear. Next thing I hear: "Honey, the stern line is caught" - sure enough, passed
over the pushpit rather than under. Muttering some small expletives under my breath, I drop the bow line and clamber over the bow and down to the stern. This is not a good day.
Whilst getting the stern line sorted I become aware of a gentle movement and the rush of water and look up to find that the boat has launched itself with me on it!! Luckily there wasn't much wind and we coast gently to the jetty opposite where I can hastily jump out and tie up, but it could have been a real disaster moving at speed in a (usually) crowded marina with no rudder or engine.
Lessons learned:
1. Make sure the mooring lines are ready
before getting to the ramp.
2. Don't unhook the winch until you really are ready to launch!
--Cameron