Sail-World.com : Dinghy Danger - could it happen to you?
My own near miss was even simpler, my son Martin was left to pump up the dinghy for a trip out to Aurora moored well out in Skerries bay.
We decided to row out, nice steady offshore wind, so I put the electric outboard agus battery in the bottom for the return trip.
About half way we were hit by a squall that pushed us off course and away from Aurora towards the open sea.
We rowed to the lea of a nearby yacht, Martin grabbed hold, and I began to put the outboard on the transom when he announced his arse was getting wet. I looked and saw the side he was sitting on was bending down to wave level.
The squall blew through and I got him to sit in the bottom and we motored back to shore safely, me thinking we must have a slow puncture.
Checked the dinghy by pumping her up hard and leaving overnight, still rock hard next morning.
I should have realised my big strong son,6`7" and 19 st and never one to break sweat unnecessarily, had stopped pumping as soon as the dinghy shaped up.
My fault though for not checking. I had the hand held VHF and didn,t feel in real danger but I am more careful now.
Safe sailing
Connect with Facebook
